Peaklander Posted May 4, 2016 Author Share Posted May 4, 2016 We were there towards the end of 2013. It was getting hotter at Exmouth and everyone was driving away from it! It is quite understandable that the busy season is the less hot season! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaklander Posted May 10, 2016 Author Share Posted May 10, 2016 Back on the north side of the Corinth canal we travelled north towards Meteora, famed for huge rock outcrops (that's not the correct word really) on which several monasteries have been built. To get there we were travelling through mountains as usual in Greece and we had the un-nerving experience of a true cloudburst as we went through and are of great instability. the mountains were very shaley and as the water poured down, we were underneath. We were too scared to take many photos as the rocks on the road were falling there in front of us and so we just drove, hoping. This is typical view of Meteora It's a mecca for climbers and sightseers and every outcrop has a monastery on top! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 Looking at what you have built in the back and then where you've taken the car, I dread whatever the "replacement Defender" will turn out to be compared to what you've got. Cheer up, even a Freelander is up to that sort of stuff, ask me how I know! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bowie69 Posted May 10, 2016 Share Posted May 10, 2016 It's a mecca for climbers and sightseers and every outcrop has a monastery on top! Do you see the irony in what you said there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaklander Posted May 10, 2016 Author Share Posted May 10, 2016 Ooo errr! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaklander Posted May 10, 2016 Author Share Posted May 10, 2016 From Meteora we went west to Ioannina a large city (for Greece) in the north west. It's a lovely place, hugging the side of a large lake, which is where the camp site is. We spent a few days here amongst just a very few non-Greek tourists and went on drive up into the mountains - one day to the Vikos Gorge which is a spectacular narrow and deep gorge that's as good as any you will ever see. Near here is Igoumenitsa, which is a popular port through which travellers access Greece from Italy and it's not far to one of the border crossings to Albania. That was our next country - and the contrast as you move across the border is startling. The hills and mountains on the Greek side are thickly wooded and those just over the border are barren. It was a weird transition and is apparently a result of the previous regime that required good visibility of the border area (don't quote me). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaklander Posted May 10, 2016 Author Share Posted May 10, 2016 We headed for an hour or so to Gjirocaster, an old town north of the border entry. It's spectacular old town and castle above. Slick cobbled streets and plenty of stares and waves as an English Land Rover drove past these shops. This is the right part of the world in which to be "English" - the Greeks and Albanians are so happy to talk and share experiences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaklander Posted May 10, 2016 Author Share Posted May 10, 2016 Whereas Greece is laid back and has a pace of its own, Albania is busy and everyone is extremely industrious. It's full of contrasts - just look at this roundabout: and this was a common sight: The main roads are well surfaced but narrow or very narrow. Side roads are unpredictable and rapidly turn into bumps, holes and gravel. If an Albanian says that the road is OK then it needs care. Otherwise it's a bit of a challenge. We bought a good map and it was easy to get around - there are traffic police everywhere and they stop a lot of traffic. We were stopped twice in a week, once so the two officers could shake hands and wish us a happy holiday (in English) and the second time to remind us to turn-on our lights (daytime lights everywhere) and then we got a handshake from them too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaklander Posted May 10, 2016 Author Share Posted May 10, 2016 We made our way to the coast - the Albanian Riviera. This was another spectacular part of the trip. We found a beach backed with three small campsites - we chose one run by "Dennis" - who has a great command of the English language. This is his site: and this is the beach outside his gates The campsite is a small area under olive trees If you have ever seen Greek electrical hook-up or campsite plumbing then you will know that the standards are low. You might be surprised to hear that standards in Albania are as good as you would expect anywhere. Dennis' site is lovely and very well maintained. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaklander Posted May 10, 2016 Author Share Posted May 10, 2016 There was a smattering of "Europeans" on the site - mostly in motorhomes, one or two quite interesting ones; plus the odd overnighter - like James who was on a cycle ride from the UK to Istanbul - who was very matter-of-fact and just acting as if he was riding down the street to work in the UK. A couple from Germany in this Iveco camper and a German couple with a very young family in this truck Unlike us they had all used the ferry from Italy. No-one fancied the drive through Serbia / Macedonia. In fact the only "overlanders" we met, had driven further east through Romania and Bulgaria, to enter Greece in the north-east. This route has been recommended several times - it's supposed to be very nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davo Posted May 16, 2016 Share Posted May 16, 2016 Cheer up, even a Freelander is up to that sort of stuff, ask me how I know! Good God man, did you sleep in the back as well??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FridgeFreezer Posted May 16, 2016 Share Posted May 16, 2016 Good God man, did you sleep in the back as well??? Not on that trip although I have done when we caned it to Andorra and back driving in shifts! My point was more that you don't *need* a Defender for most of the things people do with them, most overlanding that gets done by most people could be done equally well with an old estate with a roof rack, or a panel van. Of course it's nowhere near as much fun in something so dull. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peaklander Posted May 16, 2016 Author Share Posted May 16, 2016 Which reminds me, I've got plenty more pics to post... Nothing very extreme tho'? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Davo Posted May 17, 2016 Share Posted May 17, 2016 Not on that trip although I have done when we caned it to Andorra and back driving in shifts! My point was more that you don't *need* a Defender for most of the things people do with them, most overlanding that gets done by most people could be done equally well with an old estate with a roof rack, or a panel van. Of course it's nowhere near as much fun in something so dull. This is all true, but the point I was clumsily subtly alluring to is that because the Defender design is so versatile it covers most situations, and the boxy shape makes it really easy to make/adapt/bodge things into and onto it. So here we have a great example of all this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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