POB: Peaks of the Balkans Trail with Dr J

Day one. Rugova Valley to a Wild camp at Maja e Badrakuti. 13.6 km

Every time we saw this sign we shouted “POB!!!”

This café/hut was still under construction,but we still managed to get a cup of tea and a free biscuit thingy 😁
The aforementioned biscuit thingy 😁

Irnbru jelly babies on tour.

Look epic, okay look like a twonk instead 🙄

Our supermarket bought stove because the camping supplies shop was unexpectedly closed 😭
Cheers 🍻
Try to relax, I can’t I’m two tents 😬

Day two. Maja e Badrakut wild camp to a mountain bothy above Hridsko Jezero lake. 18.9 km.

Just a Doc a dancing 🤣

These shelters were strategically placed & always welcome 😁

No water at camp but managed to fill up on the way down 😁
As Doc was about to take a photo of these houses an old woman came out holding what looked like a voodoo doll & started saying something & pointing to her house, I’m sure it was all nice stuff but I’ve heard of Hansel and Gretel 😬
Where’s your trekking pole 🤔 oh yeah in the back of the taxi 😬

Lake Hridsko Jezero
Doc, look like you are having fun 😊
A wonderful mountain hut/bothy for our second night on the trail 😁
It had all the mod cons, even a bath 😁 #sitclub
Doc was an excellent fire starter 😁

Day three. Mountain bothy to a Hostel in Plav. 14.6 km

A cracking view to wake up to from the mountain hut
As I looked up Doc was wearing sunglasses, but Doc didn’t have any sunglasses, apparently she had found them on the trail 🤣

We somehow adopted a dog on the way to Plav, it had already escorted three Polish trekkers out of Plav.
Does this pack make my bum look big 😭

You’ve been framed.

Bought gas from the hostel & ditched the stove, looks like several people had the same idea, he won’t notice one more 😬

Day four From the hostel in Plav to a Wild camp at Fusha e Runicës.

As we climbed out of Plav we were treated to a cracking inversion 😍
Such fun 😐
Come on man hurry up with the tea.
Oh no, we thought we’d lost the dog in Plav but she found us 🤣

A stray dog + a flock of sheep, what could possibly go wrong 😬

These dogs blended in really well with the sheep.

Me and my shadow….
Hello, is any of that for me 😋
Undoubtedly our favourite camp spot of the trip, so much so we changed our plans so we could camp there again 🙂

Day five Fusha e Runicës wild camp to Bujtina Zemra Traditës guesthouse just outside Theth.

As we left camp & headed down to the valley we were treated to yet another Inversion 😍

Here comes the man in black.

A cafe part way down the valley.

The surrounding mountains were absolutely stunning 😍
Doc seemed to be pleased to be crossing from Montenegro into Albania 😁
If you go down to the woods today….

An abandoned encampment, but it had running water 😁

An old bunker, an old bugger & a daft dog.

The path zigged and zagged all the way to the valley floor from here.

A local brew

Day six Bujtina Zemra Traditës guesthouse to guesthouse Natyra in Valbone.

Unexpected cafe halfway up a mountain 😁

Erm, excuse me do you mind stopping for a moment whilst we squeeze past please 😬

Haha this a way haha that a way…

Not the best path to walk on, I wonder if it becomes a river again in winter 🤔

Day seven guesthouse Natyra Valbone to a wild camp at Fusha e Runicës.

A little lizard

Down you go before I throw you down.

Watching the shepherds move their sheep around.
Albanian chocolate 😋
Using the sun to recharge some batteries.

Day eight Wild Camp at Fusha e Runicës to guesthouse Bashkimi Dobërdoll.

Day nine Guesthouse Bashkimi at Dobërdoll to a wild camp at Maja e Badrakuti.

Day ten Wild camp at Maja e Badrakuti to Sky hostel at Peje.

Day ten a rest day 🤣

Day eleven staying in a log cabin at Reke e Allages.

Day twelve finishing off the trail.

3 comments

  1. That looks like a brilliant adventure, superb weather and scenery.
    Good to the standards are still being maintained, and jelly babies are still on the kit list, but no Hobnobs!
    The legend of wood nymph, was George supposed to be an anagram of Gorge ?

    Liked by 1 person

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