Back Home Blues

Sunday 6 October 2024

There is something about the momentum of travel that makes you want to just keep moving, to never stop.”  Bill Bryson

We’re back home, unpacked the van and started the mammoth task of giving everything a good wash, ourselves included!

The drive back through northern Italy, Switzerland, France and Belgium was a delight. We avoided the toll roads and pootled slowly along local and national roads enjoying the ever changing scenery. And the sun was shining on us for our last day in Brugge, culminating with the most stunning sunset in Dunkirk before we caught our ferry back home.

Looking back on our trip -  the Zagori region of Northern Greece and the island of Lefkada were wonderful. Some aspects of Albania really disappointed us but the natural landscape and archeological sites were impressive. And we enjoyed visiting some new places in Turkey as well as returning to some familiar haunts. We haven’t decided where our next roadtrip will take us, first I have to earn a bit of money to fund it. For those interested in the stats and costs …

7175 miles, 44 days away & total cost of £3014

16 countries (3 main plus 13 transited through)

Cost breakdown as follows:

Ferries (Dover-Dunkirk & Durres-Bari) £340

Vignettes & Tolls £203

Fuel £941

Food & drink in £363

Food & drink out £493

Campsites £214

Museums & Attractions £186

Misc (gas/insurance/data outside EU) £274

Overnight stops:

 5 nights with friends

11 on campsites

  1 overnight on ferry

27 wild camped 

I’ve taken over 1500 photos on this trip which I need to whittle down to allow me to create a 2024 Road Trips photobook (to include our Spring Spain and Portugal trip).

So that’s it for this trip - we hope you’ve enjoyed following our journey. Kath & Dave 

- - - - - 

Travel isn’t always pretty. 

It isn’t always comfortable. 

Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. 

But that’s okay. 

The journey changes you; it should change you. 

It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. 

Hopefully, you leave something good behind.

- Anthony Bourdain