26 Weeks on the Road: It’s the People Who Make the Journey Unforgettable

After half a year on the road, logging 26 weeks, 182 days, and over 4,368 hours, there’s no one I’d rather have by my side than my best mate and travel partner, Janelle. 262,080 minutes, of me trying to behave myself beside her!!!

With every bend in the road and unexpected stop, it’s become clear that this journey is just as much about the people we meet as the places we explore. Time and again, chance encounters have coloured our days and connected us to the world in ways only travel can.

One thing’s for sure: the universe has a way of arranging these encounters.?

Call them God-coincidences or call it divine timing, but we keep bumping into people at just the right moment, from helpful Toyota dealership staff in Hungary, Kiev and Albania, to strangers who quickly become friends.

Take today, for instance. Janelle had popped into the supermarket, and I happened to strike up a conversation with an Italian policeman sitting on a nearby bench. Turns out, he’s a police sergeant, just like I was, and before long, we’re chatting away like old mates, sharing stories of the badge and life on the road. It’s moments like these that remind you how small the world can be.? (He didn’t wake us up in our campsite and give us a ticket, like our last encounter with the Italian Police).

And then there’s the hardware store encounter. We’d actually driven past the place, then had that sudden feeling to turn back—just a quick errand, right? But as soon as I told the shop owner I didn’t have cash, he waved it off and gave me the tape I needed for free. )It is a cash only society over here, which we’re quickly understanding). I thanked him by handing over one of our Kiwi keyrings, and you’d think I’d given him a priceless artifact! Out came strong Turkish coffee, water, and endless smiles.

Our Albanian adventures have continued to bring new faces. Up in the Theth mountains, we stopped for a bite after a winding drive along breathtaking cliffs, and a young waiter no older than 20 blew us away with his warmth and knowledge of the area. Another Kiwi keyring passed hands, and we’re fast becoming unofficial ambassadors!

Then, high on the winding Leqet e Hotit Pass, (Albania)we pulled over, only to be joined by an Indian couple in a trusty Range Rover on their own overland journey from the UK to India. Without a word, we all shared a look of recognition—another pair of kindred spirits! Plans were made for a future visit to India, promises exchanged for real Indian meals, and the adventure continued.

As we wound down for the day, a pair of motorcyclists from Kosovo pulled up, offering tips on the best routes through Albania. After sharing a laugh, they roared off toward the sunset, adding to the colourful cast of characters that make this journey memorable.

The day’s final stop was a gem of a restaurant right next to a petrol station—unexpectedly delightful, with three courses for €24 that were as delicious as they were filling. I even ordered a salad. Who’d have thought?

The road has tested us, no doubt—Lake Ohrid in Macedonia was hard to leave behind—but each twist and turn has been more than worthwhile. Albania has captivated us, not just with its landscape but with the warmth and generosity of its people, so far.?

It’s these encounters, these people, that truly breathe life into the overland journey.?