Croatia / Slovenia: Yearly Vacation - Albania - The End
Seventeen days, two motorcycles, one destination. For this year's holiday, Nada and I headed to Albania, planning to explore its coastline from north to south before turning towards the mountains and making our way home through some of the country's most scenic landscapes.
The final day of our holiday had arrived, bringing our Albanian motorcycle adventure to its conclusion. Yet even on the last day there was still plenty to experience before heading home.
Before sunrise, Nada and I were already on our feet. At 6 a.m. we set off on a short hike to the fortress overlooking Omiš, hoping to catch the first light of the day. The hike rewarded us with beautiful views over the Adriatic and the quiet town still waking up below, while we spent some time taking photographs in the soft morning light.
While exploring the fortress, we also managed to wake up the ticket seller, who apparently spends his nights there. That meant there was no escaping the entrance fee, but in return we were treated to a morning shot of travarica and a pleasant conversation before continuing our walk.
Our circular route eventually brought us down to the Cetina River, where we stopped to admire the striking bridge spanning the canyon below. It was a fitting final sightseeing stop before it was finally time to pack our bags, start the engines and begin the journey towards Slovenia.
The route home was straightforward. After a few local roads around Omiš, we joined the motorway and covered the remaining kilometres at a relaxed pace. Crossing into Slovenia felt a little strange after more than two weeks on the road, but home was now within easy reach.
Before the final push home, we stopped in Črnomelj for lunch at Restaurant Samarin. Since Nada knew the owners, we were welcomed like old friends. Good food, a relaxed chat and a short break were exactly what we needed before riding the last kilometres back home. Soon there was only one task left: the last stretch home.
Our Albanian adventure was over, but the memories of mountain passes, coastal roads, ferry crossings, unexpected encounters and endless hospitality will stay with us for a very long time.
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| Omiš was still asleep as we began our climb towards Starigrad Fortress. |
Before the sun arrived, our headlamps showed the way.
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| Perched on the cliffs above town, Starigrad Fortress has guarded Omiš for centuries. |
The fortress or Fortica was built during the Croatian-Ottoman wars as a primary defence against the Ottoman Empire. The precipitous fortification is sited on a 262 m ridge above the town Omiš. In the event of attack, its purpose was to provide refuge for local people and be a stronghold where they could retreat to and resist the Turks.
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| A two-storey square tower stands at its highest point, serving as both a lookout post and keep. |
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| A breathtaking view of Omiš, where the Cetina River meets the Adriatic Sea. |
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| The early start rewarded us with the fortress almost entirely to ourselves. |
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| Looking across the Adriatic towards Brač from high above Omiš. |
After a complimentary shot of homemade travarica and a friendly chat with the ticket seller, we made our way back down to Omiš.
Descending from Starigrad Fortress towards the Cetina River and its remarkable cliff-to-cliff bridge.
With the fortress behind us, we wandered through the quiet streets of Omiš, enjoying the calm morning atmosphere before returning to the apartment and preparing for the ride home - Garmin Connect.
Shortly after leaving Omiš, the odometer on Blue Horse rolled over to 130000 kilometres. After years of adventures and countless mountain passes, ferries and border crossings, the old Yamaha was still running as reliably as ever.
Lunch in Črnomelj came with a taste of home. After two weeks on the road, traditional Slovenian cuisine was hard to resist.
After thousands of kilometres across the Balkans, I finally encountered the latest technology. A restaurant robot. To be fair, it mostly collected dirty dishes, but it still earned a place in the travel diary. A few hours later, Blue Horse and Thunder rolled safely home. As tradition dictates, the successful completion of another motorcycle adventure was celebrated with a shot of medica.
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| Day 17: From Omiš to Podljubelj - 529 km. |
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| From 3 October to 19 October, the adventure added up to 3765 kilometres of unforgettable roads, mountain passes, ferry crossings, coastal rides and unexpected encounters. |
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