11 September 2025 (rain and thunder then hot and sunny) 0km

Ju here. We have always found these cycle tours to feel so good and beneficial for the body. Obviously the daily exercise is a huge plus and on this tour especially, we have really had to push ourselves at times. We are so pleased that we have still been able to do these tough days and in a strange way, our bodies have seemed to relish it. Which at our age is very gratifying. When you're younger you tend to take these things for granted. But we have been constantly amazed that we can be absolutely knackered at night, fall into bed and by the next morning, our bodies feel completely healed again and ready to go.

We are very pleased and very grateful that our bodies continue to look after us.

We also think living outside for 24 hours a day is something our systems appreciate. It certainly makes you very aware of your surroundings. What the weather is doing (or going to do), the temperature, how close it's getting to sunset, the air quality etc etc. just little cues that your body is observing subconsciously and maybe adjusting to as well.

As soon as we are near a city you can see and smell the smog and once you're in amongst it, the exhaust fumes can be quite overpowering. It's certainly a great incentive to get out of cities fast. Losing the smog and the traffic makes you feel like you can breathe again.

Pete here. Still woke early at 5.52am

Body saying " You've slept in"

And it is strange to wake and find yourself thinking, "So ...what do I do now?" 

After breakfast, we took a walk into the township and down to the beaches we visited last night.

The day had dawned with definite storm clouds hanging overhead and a thunderstorm warning.

As we walked, we were scoping out places where we could shelter between apartment moves later. We needed to move from our first apartment (because the WiFi was rubbish), by 10am. But we couldn't move into the next one we had booked until 11.30am, which was of course when the thunderstorm was due to hit.

But in the meantime we enjoyed our little walk through town and down to the beach. We were relieved to see it deserted and get a glimpse of how beautiful this area would have been before all the tourists came.

Explored along the coast passing through one private resort after another and seeing how clear the water was without zillions of people.

However, the rain decided to come early so we walked back to the apartment at an ever quickening pace as the rain slowly increased in intensity.

Packed up our bikes and thankfully the rain had eased by 10am as we wandered through town. Found a hotel with a good overhang which we could park the bikes under and ordered two cappuccinos.

Brody and Aimee called us while we were there which was a nice way to pass the time. (As we were the only customers outside, we didn't feel bad taking the call).

About 11.30am we walked up the road to the new apartment, the Villa Center and Pool. There must be some sort of tax dodge going on here. There are apartments all over the place and they're all doing the well known “don't finish the house or you'll have to pay tax” dodge. But most of the places we have stayed, don't actually have their name displayed outside and often have a very different name on the building. Such was the case with the Villa Center and Pool, which was actually called Hotel Agimi. We only knew we were at the right place by the map location and the photos.

Very nice but just a room with an en suite, but did have great air con and WiFi, which are the two important things.

Settled in, took a walk into town to get some food and money, then back to the room and air conditioning to eat and check out other options, if required. 

As the afternoon passed we went for a dip in the pool, which could have done with a clean to be honest, but it did the trick, followed by a workout on their rooftop patio, which had enough shade for us to be comfortable.

Showered back at the room and researched Corfu hotel prices and think we'll probably be camping again over there! The prices are very similar to what you would pay for a night in NZ, whereas tonight's hotel is $70 (payable only by cash of course!).

The tourism industry all through the Balkans is making the most out of the numbers coming through and why wouldn't you? There is building going on everywhere but especially in Ksamil. We look at the overcrowded beaches and just think, you need to stop this madness now. There's already too many visitors for the beaches and we're not even here for the high season! And just finish all the existing buildings before you start new ones.

Out to dinner at a gluten free option restaurant. First one we've encountered on the trip, so we had to make the most of it.

Not only was the food really nice, but the young waiter had the most welcoming personality and smile in all the Balkan countries.

So, I gave him a tip. 

"Make sure you change your undies before you go out". 

Back to the hotel for the night where we might stay for another night or try and find somewhere cheaper.