Penguins Bike

Day 45 - First Car Ride in Seven Weeks - Shkodër, Albania to Valbonë, Albania

DavidSarah

August 4, 2026 biked 0 miles bussed many miles and ferried many miles

We abandoned our bikes to escape into the mountains. Our other friend, Ali, just did it and so many people suggested it. We couldn’t pass on an epic pass with the view of the Accursed Mountains. Especially one that so many people who travel to Shkodër complete.

It’s quite the series of logistics but the plan is to-

  1. Buy a cheap backpack because we don’t have any and panniers suck as luggage carriers.

  2. Drop off bikes at our guesthouse in Shkodër the night before.

  3. Wake up early to catch a bus from Shkodër to Koman to catch a 9am ferry to Fierzë.

  4. Take ferry ride through mind ruining scenes.

  5. Take another bus from Fierzë to Valbonë.

  6. Check into a guesthouse—basically a homestay with too many beds.

  7. Walk around too many old beds.

  8. Eat a prepared meal from the guesthouse.

  9. Go to sleep early to wake up early again.

Early morning Shkodër walk.
GPS fits perfectly in our new backpack and got his own seat on the bus! He was happy about that and felt like a big boy.
His seat mate had a moose friend! Some French ladies had a stuffed moose from Finland.
Windy first bus ride to catch the 9am ferry.
This bus ride ended in a traffic jam in a tunnel.
The boat was packed. Bordering on unsafely packed.
The departure terminal at Komen was a zoo of cars and people where this tunnel exited.
Sitting on floor room only.
Gabs is a gazer.
And a cuddle boy.
Crowded!
Egg face
Banana face
Sarah couldn’t resist taking this picture. He stood there for longer than you’d think. A video would’ve been hilarious even though the picture makes her laugh every time she sees it.
Such a cool bend we just ferried through.
And another one off to the side. These mountains are so groovy.
No dock, just dirt near Fierzë.
Bus 2 from Fierzë to Valbonë. We didn't have a ticket, but they took our money. And almost our vomit.
The guesthouse was on the other side of a riverbed. I guess it only fills in spring.
Too many beds.
But GPS got his own for the first time.
We managed to use all of them.
Dried up rock river bed.
Can’t stop looking at these sharp mountains
Guesthouse Dardani. Love the roof.
Dinner was a lot of local food. Sarah loves the cucumber, tomato and white cheese salad.
There were puppies! The little girl is trying to find the mama because the babies are hungry! And the girl really liked playing "basketball".
Walked out into the riverbed for sunset.
So many pretty mountain flowers that the coast just doesn’t have.
Our private dining experience.