COVID CHANGES PLANS! 😒 - Australia to Scotland by road - Episode 98

The whiskey did it’s job and we slept comfortably warm that night! These campgrounds with hot showers are a luxury and in these cheaper Eastern European countries they’re also somewhat affordable! Packed up and back in the muddy Troopy we hit the road again northbound for Serbia. This was a potentially problematic border crossing as due to COVID restrictions, Australia was not on the approved list for entry via land borders. Not for any other reason that we believe these countries worked on a reciprocal basis; if they’re not on Australia’s approved list, Australias not on theirs. This was the route we needed to take though to get to Romania so with clear copies of all our documentation in hand we decided to try our luck and attempt the crossing. The border lies over a canyon and due to the topography the gates are actually kilometres apart, connected by a road which runs along the bottom. Arriving at the Serbian border it turns out we had nothing to worry about, the crossing was seamless, the officials friendly and welcoming, and we were on our way again.
Our destination for the day is a large snaking river canyon known as Uvac Canyon. We had two options to get there - Google, or Maps.me. Following Google would see us continue on the nice smooth easy road through the gorge, Maps.me had an alternate route which apparently was an hour faster. Although main roads may be easy they can also breeze past culture and are often altered with niceties for travellers. We prefer to see more of a country’s everyday life and as our time here was short we opted for the wild card Maps.me route. Climbing up and out of the populated area it didn’t take long before we were off the black top again and into the mud. Passing a huge dairy farm we found Maps.me evidently hadn’t been updated recently and the road had been washed away. Thankfully we still had reception and managed to make out on Google satellite what looked to be a road (unmarked) not far back that traversed around the damaged section.
Now back on course the new track bought us out of the muddy wooded slopes and on top of a gentle rolling plateau. A shepherd moving his herd blocked the track so we stopped for a quick chat. We were a long way from any western tourist route up here so it must have been an odd sight for him. Oddly, hiking across the field was also a group of Serbian landscape photographers. They happened to make our social media details on the back of the Troopy and sent us some pics later of us trying to break through the herd. So thanks if you’re reading this!
As it turns out, and to no surprise or care, our Map.me adventure costs us double what it said it was going to save and we made it to the canyon just as the sun was setting. The walk from the parking area is several hundred metres over a small hill to a little rickety timber viewing platform. The platform sits over the edge of the canyon as it takes an incredible form, carving through the landscape, continually folding back on itself as if it’s been compressed end to end. The high water mark forms a perfect contrasting two tone divide along the canyon walls., something not usually visible earlier in the season. The sky is clear and filled with countless golden eagles and vultures (endangered griffon vultures) soaring collectively in the evening thermals. We watch the sunset over the farms on the opposing side and as night falls the temperature plunges so we hastily make the hike back to the warmth of the Troopy.
Read the rest over on our Patreon account here - www.patreon.com/thewayoverland

[@jasonpetersharpe]

Filmmaking at its absolute best. Raw. Real. Unpredictable. Life

[@TheWayOverland]

Thanks Jason 👍🏻

[@cleanenergyinside1921]

Your cinematography has improved by leaps and bounds since you first started your journey from Australia. The scenes that you share with us could be compiled and packaged as a documentary of sorts of your journey. Great job, guys. Keep it up!

[@TheWayOverland]

Thanks, it's been a bit of a journey learning how to make videos. Watching back those earlier episodes makes us laugh. Still much to learn though! We've talked about doing just that and putting footage together into a longer format style episode. Might have a little breather though before starting the process of filtering through those thousands of hours footage. Cheers

[@cleanenergyinside1921]

@@TheWayOverland Its ok. Take your time doing one. Your videos are bloody good already. Cheers! 😉

[@Landyutility_Travels]

It's been great following along from the beginning, it'll be quite sad when you finish maybe the next episode , what ever you get upto next I wish you both well , Gary

[@TheWayOverland]

Thanks Gary, appreciate the support for so long.

[@mountainconstructions]

New hair looks awesome in this video 😊😊

[@kel8026]

It's so cool that I can relive a lot of my overland trips too, but often in different seasons. In recent episodes I've got to visit all over again this Serbian river lookout, Mostar bridge, the hot spring things in Albania, the coast of Turkey, Tbilisi, the Pamirs etc etc... lots of these good spots!

[@TheWayOverland]

Sounds like you've got to all the good spots Kel. Glad we could take you back. Cheers

[@peteregan3862]

That lookout was amazing. The ring of white stone is like that upstream of Hoover Dam in the US - I assume you were showing us a dam with low water level. And all those hunting birds riding thermals. Great to see all those people you meet, including the shepherds, happy to greet and assist you.

[@TheWayOverland]

That's correct Peter, low water level, it'll come back up after the melt. A lot of those hunting birds are the endangered griffon vultures; huge!

[@philbriggs5807]

Another great vid - thanks guys. I so enjoy seeing your travels...and I'm really keen to see them through the rest of Europe. I'm expecting to see a full tour of UK. Ha! Do what you want, go where you go.. just please share it in your amazing way! Have I mentioned that you're by far the best KZbinrs..possibly ever? Your footage and editing is superb. You team it up with great music, you make it easy to watch & listen to you with your laid-back Aussie style. Perfect combo! Please keep up the great content :)

[@TheWayOverland]

Cheers Phil, appreciate the feedback. There'll be a rather quick loop around a rather cold, yet very picturesque part of the UK coming up in the next few episodes. 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 👌🏻

[@vintageradioman]

Wow what a beautiful scenery. As an Afghan American I hope to see you guy’s some day in Irvine California my wife is a great cook and you guy’s are more welcome to be our guest:) Also I love your car my dad had one in Afghanistan it was given to him as a company vehicle because he was a doctor.

[@TheWayOverland]

Thanks! Appreciate the offer. If we make it to the States we might hold you to that! From what we saw of Afghanistan while passing through that region the Troopy would be the perfect vehicle. Lucky man.

[@BricelynTowne]

Wifey Kids and I love watching your adventures! Thank you for sharing all of this with the world!

[@TheWayOverland]

No worries, thanks for coming along!

[@stevestott1514]

What a beautiful video of all the awesome countryside views and old buildings in that area . The bridges and that restaurant were beautiful and the food , well let’s just say now I’m hungry . Cheers and thanks again for sharing your wonderful journey with us your over landing friends . From Steve Stott in Sutherlin Oregon U.S.A. :) :) 🥂👍🏼

[@TheWayOverland]

Cheers Steve, definitely some beautiful architecture, food, and wine in this part of the world! 🍻

[@johndiaz7240]

You always teach us about this lovely world we live in ,thanks.

[@TheWayOverland]

No worries John

[@riamriam6758]

Continue the safe travels team. Thanks for the upload as always

[@TheWayOverland]

Cheers

[@MrFillefloe]

We just came back from a Balkan trip, crossing the same borders as you did, going to many of the same places. And i must say, i'd much rather go in the off season. It was extremely crowded everywhere. Sure it might be colder but i'd say it's much better time to travel. To bad you missed Romania, my favorite country in Europe for overlanding. There is some places that are still really wild, and you can easily get the sense of beeing completely alone in some parts of the country. Was hoping that you would go to Sweden aswell. Wish you all the best, //Swe_overland

[@TheWayOverland]

You're spot on, going out of season is more enjoyable, Finding that sweet spot on the shoulder season, where the weather still good and the crowds are minimal is what we usually aim for. We had heard great things about Romania, especially as you say, the remote off-road areas. Unfortunate, though we'll be back to cover off the places we missed, including Romania and Scandinavia among others. Cheers

[@gebi4pejo1]

How beautiful was that lookout😍 safe travels

[@TheWayOverland]

Thanks Sandra

[@simonmcinnes1504]

Great views - thank you for sharing.

[@TheWayOverland]

No worries 👍🏻

[@fredbossenmeyer4123]

superb landscape

[@molokomawela1565]

Lol some professional 'half time commentary' from Mark on the Covid situation.

[@TheWayOverland]

Haha yeah just making sure everyone is well informed.

[@Simon-tg7jg]

Another awesome episode !

[@TheWayOverland]

Thanks Simon!

[@fabulousoffroaddesigns5080]

It looks like you'd "Did Sunrise" are getting close to each other.

[@TheWayOverland]

Very close on KZbin yes, though we're just catching up on older footage now. Tim and Kelsey would have to go a loooong way East before we run into each other.

[@fromtheroad3081]

Sad to see it coming to an end.

[@TheWayOverland]

Time to start planning - Pan-Am? 🤔

[@fromtheroad3081]

@@TheWayOverland nice 😁

[@southernaspectnz]

Another great video

[@TheWayOverland]

Cheers

[@flysoutbackadventures]

Another great vid guys. Bit of a shame u have to wrap it up in a couple of weeks. I've been enjoying your travels. Are u bringing the troopy back to WA ? If so, I'll keep an eye out for you.

[@TheWayOverland]

Cheers, yeah it was a bit unfortunate to miss those Eastern Euro countries though we had to roll with the punches. It did allow us to get to see more of the UK though when we finally arrived. The Troopy will be back in WA maybe towards the end of the year. Have to do some more travel in the East first.

[@ViDiaz]

Super entertained videos... listening to the c0vid thing makes me ask myself what is the real delay of the trip and these videos... can you tell us? thanks for sharing your adventures...!

[@TheWayOverland]

Thanks Victor, we passed through this region late last year.

[@tjp3217]

Noooo..... It's all coming to an end!

[@TheWayOverland]

Yep, sooner than you think! Maybe even this weekend! 😉

[@RanDomRikM]

Well done guys. What are your plans when you reach the U.K? Or are your plans to make it up as you go along?

[@TheWayOverland]

Thanks! We kind of went with the flow, this change of direction and focus on getting to the UK, combined with an earlier shipping date meant we had more time in the UK. Exploring the North and the South was what eventuated.

[@RanDomRikM]

@@TheWayOverland sounds like you folks left the U.K. already? Looking forward to seeing that video, I bet it was quite a shock seeing what a mess the U.K. is now.

[@mark-]

From the Uk to Canada to South America ? keep it rolling.

[@TheWayOverland]

That would be great, we've done NY to Panama though it would be good to do the Pan Am properly.

[@AnitaCripps]

How was it driving through Europe in a right hand drive car? We (Aussies) bought a car in Germany to get a LHD, but the paperwork was a pain in the a**. Buying the next one in the UK (or shipping from aus) would be easier for the next trip but I worry about the daily practicalities of it?

[@TheWayOverland]

No problems at all. I drove a lot in Europe in RHD UK vehicles too when I was younger with no dramas, except for a little Franco-British rivalry in smaller rural French villages. Unlike the Middle East, Central America, and North Africa, on our latest route we didn't require having one or the other and it changed back and forth several times over the countries.

[@landyandy4x4]

Nice ,I'll have to settle of Scotland next week 🙄 untill march 2023 than it's the start of my world trip 🥳🥳,if you're still in the UK maybe we could share a camp fire and a beer !

[@TheWayOverland]

Cheers, maybe even before next week. 😉 Would love to enjoy a cold beer in those warmer conditions you guys have been experiencing of late though unfortunately we've already left. Keep it on ice though, we'll see you on the road somewhere else on your journey 🍻

[@landyandy4x4]

Yes no worries see you on the road , where are you going next ?

[@TheWayOverland]

Going to explore our big beautiful backyard for a while first, South to North Pan-Am has been discussed though we've done half of it before so maybe Africa? Not sure yet.

[@landyandy4x4]

@@TheWayOverland cool I'm doing the pan American next year.africa good you'll love it there

[@Michael00000001]

Don't get it. When was this? Temperature should be 38°C now and no way the leaves are yellow at this season.

[@TheWayOverland]

Indeed, and very little COVID restrictions now also. For multiple reasons, mainly Aus. border restrictions, these episodes have been delayed.

[@mohdnawas10]

It's super cold in August ?? Come to dubai its 50 degree Celsius ☺️😃

[@TheWayOverland]

This was filmed much later than August. It's been quite warm there this year though, definitely not hitting 50 like Dubai.

[@supchick5757]

Stunning autumn leaves 🍁 🍃 what a beautiful location 😊 Have you discovered the channel Rust to Roadtrip? They have done a lot of really great videos in Eastern Europe too 😊

[@TheWayOverland]

The colours around there were so vibrant! We haven't, will have a look, thanks.

[@lcoid6329]

damn this one is amazingggg!! word of advice, is there any way you can change the patreon mode to one-off only? i'd like to support

[@TheWayOverland]

Thanks! Sorry for the delay, was having a little break from the internet. The way our Patreon is setup we can't though you can contribute one of payments in the videos on KZbin by clicking the $ sign at the bottom. Appreciate the support!

[@salmanulfarish3828]

where are you both from ?!

[@TheWayOverland]

Australia

[@mohdnawas10]

Please speak in UK accent. Pls pls 🙏 🙏 🙏 🙏

[@TheWayOverland]

We're not British mate.

[@worstchannelever5232]

To much cab footage and windscreen footage is really boring sorry to complain but it's really interested stuff the other 50 % was really interested

[@TheWayOverland]

Can't make videos to please everyone. Some people might enjoy seeing the countryside of countries they've never visited, or maybe never will.