Cycling across Europe in 2021

Rode from Igoumenitsa, north west Greece in through Pindo mountains about 150km inland to Metsovo, about 250km east of Thesaloniki. Aim is Thesaloniki by Oct 2nd and look at the travel options to Turkey. The covid protocol so far. There were mass covid test off the ship into Greece a week ago and unannounced. The protocol outlined in Italy was test in Italy pre departure only and no test in Greece port...but there was infact  testing in Greece which means any + off that ferry impacts all on ferry. Most people on ferry were jabbed and so they did not do test in Italy as they are jabbed & therefore their c19 status untested as they stepped onto ferry.  In Madrid in July no test on arrival. The only test was in london pre departure. Greece seemed the opposite to how arrival in Madrid worked.  So, crossing land borders is an unknown and I'm thinking fly out of Greece early October as reliable online rules exist on what protocols are as holiday .makers travel via airports ...

Arranging pcr test at Bari in order to board a ship to Greece Sept 19th approximately. Aim is 3 week ride across Greece and assess if the land border to Turkey is feasible or maybe I fly put of Greece.I'm not sure yet but studying routes. It looks like cyclists did land border a month ago to Turkey. I think Turkey just need pcr. No jab reqd

Not far from Bari and Brindisi. Easy day. Took a rest yesterday and felt much stronger all round for it.

14/9 Vasto to Serracapriolla 60km  Very hot and seriously pretty countryside. Big hills. Near Foggia. Day 52. 3000km since July 10th.

13/9 North of Pescara to Vasto-100km Great ride. V pretty. Rode with 3 Dutch guys. They were good company for 40km to campsite. They 'd heard of me from rider 200km North they'd chatted too. 

/9 Civatova Marche to nr Pescara 90km

Campsite good. Beach and quiet. €15. Head on cycle path tomorrow to Pescsra approximately 

I rested for 2 full days at Cesenatico. The campsite was quiet and nice mini super markey near by. It is pretty easy to chill put and nor do much but catch up on soc medis, news, listen to podcasts, study map for ride south to Brindisi.  46 days since left Madrid. 9 days rest 37 days riding.  64 days since leaving Edinburgh to ride to Stansted airport for flight to Madrid Sun goes down at 7.30pm now near centre of Italy and evenings slightly cold. Hot in day.  Back in july in Spain evenings were hot and sun up to 9.30pm. I love love the change of season and the measure of time physically observable. I will work my way to the bottom of Italy next week and study the boat situation and covid test for boat. Greece only requests test by pcr. I need leave EU by october 20th as that is 90days/180 days from arriving in EU/Schengen(no internal border in EU) on 23/7. Turkey might be feasible or east of Adriatic. Winter will halt cycling tour & living outdoors  ...

Sept 7th Alfonise to Cesenatico '80km Back roads a priority and avoif heavy traffic in the urban centres of Ravenna and Forli. Campsite €12.00 Just noticed it was quite dark by 8.30pm tonight and evening is no longer warm. Can feel winter"s very early but noticeable signs. The date jumped out at me too. I took a picture. A truly amazing and shocking year but plenty goodness too.  The 60 days since setting off 8/7 has been an adventure. 7 weeks in tent with 5 nights wild camp. And 4 warmshower app hosts. good to be got out of it Cesenatico is by the  beach. Hom etown of Marco Pantani. 

Now near Ravenna. Rode 270kmin past 3 days south east from Milan. Aim to Ride to Cesenatico tomorrow Sept 7th. 

28/8-1/9, Italy Cuneo to Alesssandria via Carru About 220km south of French border.  Stayed at airbnb in carru. Whole flat to self and took 3 day break from bike. Needed a rest. In Italy am now 80km west south west of Milan.  Tomorrow will be approx 70km from near Alessandria to Ceranova. Studying route for September too. Still warm in September so will ride a bit further south and keep researching where I travel at the end of 90 days in 180 days in schengen EU.  Post brexit uk passports allow 90 days within back to back 180 day timeline. So by oct 20 I leave EU. Kayake.com has good restrictions search engine using country travelling from and gives summaries of where is open for flights and whether just PCR or antigen required and outlines no quarantine desinations. Quite useful. Turkey to EU not possible but Turkey to croatia or slovenia id open with pcr as the only required doc to enter balkan, east of adriatic..and from Croatia or Slovenia or Albania 1 can ...