23 September 2025 (sunny and hot 29C) 27km

 4770 KMS

Thanks to Briana for the map and Shaz for working out the mileage 😊

Last day of riding for the Continental part of the tour.

Sixteen weeks and nine countries.

Memories good and bad, but mostly good to last us, at least until we do it all again.

The bikes have been fantastic, the road surfaces varied and the traffic....well, those of you who have been following from Croatia, know how we feel about the traffic.

Once again, as happens everytime we tour on our bikes, it's the people we meet who go toward making our adventures so fulfilling.

And for me the best part of it all is doing it with my best friend.

In 1986 when I asked if she would like to cycle around Europe with me and her answer was "Why would I want to do that?" I didn't think that 39 years later we would still be doing it and loving it.

If you read the news, go on your phone, or watch television, the world always seems to be in a mess, with bad news the headlines.

If you really want to see what the world can be like, jump on a bike and ride at a pace where you can experience the country, it's people and scenery.

Only then do you realise that your average human being is just like you and I.

Trying to earn a living, put food on the table and a roof over their heads and somewhere along the way having fun with family and friends.

Our exit from Corfu will bring the blog to a close, even though, after a break with family and friends in England, we will write short updates about our ride to London from Liverpool.

They won't be everyday, but check just in case something happens.

Thanks to everyone for coming along for the ride.

To know that so many people are following our travels, (16,000 views so far), makes us feel closer to home.

Cheers for your support.

During the night, at 1.38 am actually, I confronted two German guys, who have been here as long as us.

The other night I heard one of them laughing from the other end of the camp, but let it go.

Last night I didn't.

I was expecting a childish comeback, even though these two were anywhere between 25 - 35.

They were chatting up the two women opposite them.

When I mentioned how loud they were talking and I could hear them from the other end, they said

"No one else has complained"

I said " It's 1.38am. If you want to talk, go outside the gates"

Fully expecting to be going back again I went back to the tent.

Fortunately, they either moved off, or shut up, either option suited me. 

6.30am dawned and we packed up in dim light. By 7.25am the light was good enough to ride.

Tom from Oswestry was awake, but Archie slept on. Tom offered to help us out if we needed anything around the Oswestry area, which was nice.

Said goodbye and literally flew along the main road, with only a little traffic, until we reached Corfu, when it exploded.

Picked up breakfast at the supermarket and headed into Corfu town to find somewhere to eat it.

Called into an Intersport store on the way to see if they also stocked bike boxes, but alas, they did not. 

Arrived at The Cycling Route and chatted with Dimitrus about the boxes.

He only has one full sized box, but can give us a few others to make a full size box. Not ideal, but better than nothing.

He also said he would drop off the boxes to our accommodation, all for 30 Euro, which is a heck of a lot better than the guy who wanted to wrap our bikes in plastic and charge us 45€ each bike.

His friend can pick us up on Thursday at 11.30am and take us to the airport for Euro 30. Also much better than plastic wrap guy.

Only 2kms away, but taxi vans are charging Euro 45 - 60.

From the shop we whipped around the corner to a place selling stanley knives, packing tape and marker pen.

Previously we'd called into an electrical store for cable ties. 

Currently we are sitting in a cafe on the fringe of the old town, drinking coffee. High priced coffee as well at 3.50€ apiece, but at least they had nice toilets.

Back in Corfu on another hot, cloudless day.

Can't move into the apartment before 3pm, so we're hoping for a swim followed by a relax in the shade by the cricket wicket in town.

Pushed our bikes around the coastal path trying to avoid the cruise ship passengers who were all over town.

Met a bunch of them from Bradford and Leeds who couldn't believe how far we've come.

With typical Yorkshire humour, one says, "I was knackered just walking down the gangplank off the ship." 

Looks like a nice place for a nap.

At 12.40pm we were crashed out under a tree, in the shade, in between the old fortress and the cricket wicket.

As I write, Julia is flat out. This break of fifteen days has come at just the right time.

Even though we've had time in Ksamil and Paleo, we've still done a lot of exercise. Hoping England can be more relaxed. 

At 2.00pm Julia suggested we turn up early to the apartment, which we did and the key was under the mat, so we let ourselves in.

Sorted through our gear picking out what can definitely go and what is a maybe for England. 

Mid afternoon and Dimitrus arrives with one really good box and two smaller boxes that somehow, we have to try to turn into one average "it'll do the job" box.

We got them inside and immediately began cleaning Julia's bike to go in the good box.

As she took parts off it to pack individually, I would clean it up.

Both of us worked on getting things to fit and taking pedals off and handlebars and saddle.

The front wheel came off and was cable tied to her frame and because she has done this trip with baskets, front and back, they need to fit in also.

The only saving grace in this whole scenario is that we have a 30kg weight allowance, rather than our normal 23kg, which we'll have on our trip home. 

Took some photos so we can remember how to put it all back together in Liverpool.

At 6.45pm we wandered up to the supermarket.

One of these “small, so we'll sting you" outfits. Back to the apartment to eat. Had scrambled eggs and salad, just the trick.

It's been a long day. 

Our riding in Europe has come to an end. With the standard of driving since Croatia, we are extremely grateful to have finished what we set out to do.

I would not recommend the Baltic coast road if this is your first cycle tour. It's enough to put you off cycling forever.

However, some of the views and swims we had were beautiful...not worth dying for...but stunning. 

As long as we can get these bikes into the boxes, our flight to Liverpool will take off at 10pm Thursday and after clearing customs in Liverpool, it will be around 1am.

Then we have to put them together again, in the airport before cycling to the Wirral.

I will do an update on that as I'm sure we will have something worth reading, if only our lack of sleep. 

Night night.