Igoumenitsa, Greece – Dec 2017

I’ll be wild camping over the next couple of days and I therefore decided to stay one more night in “Drepano Camping” (near Igoumenitsa) although it vies with the place I stayed at in Munich as the worst campsite on the tour so far. It has all the basic facilities and is well placed (right on the coast with some nice views and just a short bike ride from Igoumenitsa Town)  but it looks as if it hasn’t been cleaned in weeks.

The view above is from near where the Van is parked. That is Igoumenitsa the other side of the bay

… and that’s the wetland (a bird sanctuary) behind where I am parked. Like I said, Drepano is not badly sited

The only other people staying on the site are Simon and Julie Thomson whom I met briefly in Shkoder, Albania. They are the only Brits I have seen for weeks (since Belgium) and last night we polished off a few bottles of wine swapping stories and catching up on events in Albania.

This morning I cycled into Igoumenitsa to have a look around but stayed only for a quick coffee and to buy fresh doughnuts (I’ve been craving doughnuts for weeks). You’ll understand why I didn’t stay longer when I tell you that Lonely Planet describes Igoumenitsa as “a port city and… is not very attractive and there’s little to draw you here other than the promise of sailing to lovelier shores.” Not very kind but… true.

Igoumenitsa. Enough said.

Ksamil to Greece – Dec 2017

Waved cheerio to Mairin & Todd but, otherwise, I did very little yesterday. It was a total “chill” day. I simply drank some wine and watched the first four episodes of the latest Peaky Blinders series on the BBC catch-up facility.

Actually, it hasn’t been all that different today with my only priorities being a short drive across the border into Greece and to put my watch forward another hour.

I have really enjoyed Albania. Yes, the roads and the standard of driving are about as bad as they could be and; there is a marked shortage of the luxury items I currently crave (after almost 2 months on the road) and; there is a really serious rubbish problem (the place makes Canterbury look spotlessly clean) but, without a doubt, I have not come across a more friendly and welcoming people anywhere in Europe – so many total strangers have gone out of their way to offer help or advice or simply ask how I am finding Albania and if I am enjoying my stay. Lovely place, lovely people.

I would have stayed another couple of days but the weather forecast for the Ksamil area is not good for the next two weeks or so and, while the north of Greece (about 30 miles away) is likely to be very wet for the next two days, it is scheduled to get significantly better in the area just south of Igoumenitsa. It is amazing how the weather can vary so much over such a short distance; it’ll be the mountains I suppose.

By Albanian standards the roads weren’t too bad coming over the border to Greece today but there was monsoon style rain for parts of the journey. At times the windscreen wipers on the Van couldn’t cope and I had to pull in. I’m currently parked up just outside Igoumenitsa; it’s raining cats and dogs and I am not going any further. There’s an open bottle of Bailey’s in the fridge and the freezer is half full of ice. Job done!

The main road to Greece – Been on worse since arriving in Albania

The Greek side of the border

Do I stay with Igoumenitsa and the coast road to Syvota (which has long been on my list of places to visit) or make a short detour to Ioannina (and take in the road to Papingo which I also fancy)? I suppose I could stay in the region a little longer and do both

The road to Papingo