Storms, Springs, and Greek Escapes: Our Journey from Albania to the Peloponnese

From Albania to Lefkada: A New Chapter Begins

With Wiki & Lukas still convoying with us, it was time to finally cross the border into Greece. Our first stop? Obviously, a Lidl! We might have gotten a bit overexcited, spending €134 on supplies. After the Lidl haul, we headed straight into Ioannina, where a storm seemed to be looming. We quickly made our way to a chapel to set up camp for the night. It was the perfect spot to mark our first night in Greece, mountains in the backdrop, a fire crackling, and a curry cooking. It really set the tone for what promised to be an unforgettable Greek adventure.

Acheron Springs: DIY Rapids and Cold Waters

The next morning, we woke to the peaceful sounds of nature, far from civilization but not too far from our campmates. After a couple of coffees, we threw together a semi sort of plan for the day, aiming to head towards Lefkada. However, things never go exactly as planned. A tip from our friend Ben had us detouring to Acheron Springs. We couldn’t resist, after all, it wasn’t too far off our route. The springs were breathtaking, cold, fast flowing water in a stunningly scenic location. Lukas, always up for some fun, brought out his inflatable rubber ring, and the four of us decided to create our own makeshift rapids. We couldn’t afford the official boat ride, but honestly, our DIY adventure was way more fun.

A Quick Stop at Zalongo: Stretching Legs and Sights

On our way to Lefkada, we took a detour to stretch our legs. Above a monastery, we found a monument called the Dance of Zalongo. No idea what it was about, but it looked cool and those 120 steps were a perfect leg stretch! We were definitely feeling the heat by this point, so we continued our journey towards the Greek coast for a much needed dip in the sea.

Lefkada: Beauty, Challenges, and Mechanical Woes

Finally, we arrived in Lefkada, a place we'd been eagerly anticipating. While Lefkada itself was beautiful, it didn’t quite live up to the hype for us. The winding, narrow roads made it tough to navigate, especially with our large vans. On top of that, the noisy clutch had started getting noisier. Still, we managed to make it to a beach for an afternoon of swimming. By evening, we parked outside yet another monastery. As the clutch issue continued to worsen, we decided to stay there until Monday, hoping to find a garage that could give us a second opinion.

Storm Warning: Escaping Lefkada in Time

After four different garages and no real answers, we were feeling a bit deflated. We decided to head back to Lefkada, only to be greeted by an ominous storm warning. As we sat there, Darian was approached by a woman whose husband and daughter were still out in a kayak, and they were getting worried as the storm approached. We called the police, hoping to get the coastguard to assist, but luckily the family returned safely after only ten minutes on the phone. Just as the rain started to pour, we sought refuge, and while the storm came in hard, our van only leaked a little. Not too bad, all things considered!

New Tyres, Clear Skies: Heading to the Peloponnese

After getting new tyres fitted, we finally made our way towards the Peloponnese. Wiki & Lukas decided to join us for the drive, and although the weather was still a bit stormy, we made it to the ferry crossing over to the peninsula. As we emerged from the clouds, the sun shone through, as if to welcome us to the next chapter of our journey.

Next time, we’ll take you on our adventures around the Peloponnese, from historic sites to hidden beaches, and a few unexpected surprises along the way!