16/11/2012 – Oslo to Israel. Day 59 - Albania's Roads...

Distance cycled: 118km from Skadarska lake camping to some camping ground/hotel 30km east of Durres, Albania.
Average speed: 20km/h
Moving time: 5h54m
Total distance: 5196km
Border X'ings: 19
Money spent: €14

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I cycled over more fucked up terrain today than I have ever before; Vietnam was bad but Albania's secondary roads were even worse.
The morning was great, with the wind blowing me in the right direction and roads very manageable, it wasn't until the afternoon when I hit the worst of it. Potholes that varied in size and depth sometimes exceeding the width of the road, with the need of being constantly astute as taking your eyes off the road you could undoubtedly fall into a muddy bicycle sized hole.
And this is no exaggeration, cars would be swerving all over the road trying to find the best, least bumpy path, and they have suspension; I have a ridged frame with bits of rubber filled with air along with my questionable padded seat to cushion my ass from this pure ridiculousness.
In the state that I saw these roads today it makes you wonder how they got as bad as they are, often there were sections of road that just stop being...road.
Ok, put it this way, it was difficult enough with a bicycle but sometimes today it would seem even a pedestrian would struggle.
Anyway, I was still able to cover a considerable distance hoping I could make it to Durres where I had organized, through warm-showers, a place to stay. If it weren't for the road I would have made it before dark but unfortunately not; instead I found a roadside camping ground that was very fancy with a restaurant, swimming pool and friendly staff.
Again I was the only one in the camping, but I entertained the staff with short stories from my trip to get here. The owner gave me some free beer and I treated myself to a meal in the restaurant that was pretty terrible but cheap.

Lonesome camping, and the first time i have paid for a camping spot… mind you it was only 3 EURO

The town of Puke…

Interesting modes of transportation of goods, people and livestock.

These HUGE mentions would be surrounded by half built or half destroyed buildings… the contrast between wealthy and poor is all too obvious

Roads, i had to cycle over… if you can call them roads?