Day 6 continued

I was starting to think I had taken the wrong road ( sat nav was of limited use as not loaded with maps from croatia to Turkey ) when around the bend of a single track tarmac road was the border crossing with Albania. After a very through checking of the various paperwork we passed through.
Well I thought the people of Montenegro had it bad with run down towns and poor roads but Albania was another story ! Housing was in a bad state and a lot of people appeared to be living in make shift timber buildings on the road side.
Arriving at Shkoder we crossed the river on the worst road bridge I've used. Wish I could have got the camera out but I was much to busy trying to avoid the 6" nails, rotten timbers and cars coming the other way with no room to pass. May sound daft but it was a laugh, like a scene from the long way round.
Thankfully the road widened to motorway dimensions and we managed motorway speeds for the first time today. Only problem was the occasional truck going the wrong way or a donkey and cart in the middle of the road oh and must not forget pedestrians trying to run across. It was all good experience for later in the day.

We managed to get lost in Tirane in peak rush hour. I rode with all my senses running on overdrive as cars,lorries,scooter,carts,bicycles and people fought to get home through the grid locked city. We just didn't seem to be making much progress then I thought when in Rome.... So I rode like everyone else, forgetting about the highway code and started to get through. The highlight of Tirane had to be the lorry load of timber that had a live sheep perched on top hanging on for dear life as the lorry lurched fro side to side.
After Tirane we climbed into the mountains. I was concerned as I'd heard that it was not the wisest thing to be doing as darkness descended in this part of the world. We carried on stunned by the most dramatic sunset over the mountain tops that stretched as far as you could see. It was now getting on for 7.00pm and we arrived in the town of Elbasen, nearly dark we narrowly avoided a manhole without any cover, no signage or guarding. We took this as a warning and found a reasonable looking hotel.
As we pulled up this little old chubby Albanian chap comes running out gesturing to us to come in. I was having non of it until 1, I new how much and 2, would my bike be safe! After trying to explain that I wanted the bike locked up undercover a lady appeared with a roll of bin bags! It was so hard not to laugh. In the end the guy who looked liked he ran the place said he would keep an eye on the bike all night if it was put up under the main door to the hotel, I agreed and we showerd and fell into bed.
Total miles to day a measly 226 but it was the best and hardest day so far.

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