UGLY YET BEAUTIFUL- The reality of Albania

[@philipTOMPSETT]

Great vid thanks. Must do Albania next year. Cheers

[@TheGapDecaders]

Thank you 👍🏻😀

[@johnwarburton7673]

Thanks again guys, Albania seams a real mixed bag, the rubbish is shocking 😮. Them new tyres look good 😊. So I cooked Tanya Izzy’s Chicken Biryani the other day. We didn’t like it…… we loved it 👍. Looking forward to the next one🍷

[@TheGapDecaders]

Cheers John, really pleased you like the Biryani, Izzy's chuffed to bits 😁🙏 A bit more exploring in Albania and hopefully, we'll leave with a slightly improved (rubbish) experience. 👍🏻🍷

[@notseamus]

Keep that banter coming 😉. We do love a bit of well intentioned bants

[@TheGapDecaders]

Hi Paul, we'll try 😀 Hope you're both well 🤞👍🏻

[@sallycameron131]

Ah just love Albania, yes the rubbish is a problem, driving is a nightmare especially Tirana! The Albanian people are so welcoming and friendly! Great vlog as always ❤

[@TheGapDecaders]

Hi Sally, thank you. Looking forward to getting back into the Albanian countryside after Corfu. 🙏😀

[@phylroberts8830]

It looks fabulous.

[@TheGapDecaders]

Thank you 😀

[@julianwithers1256]

The mountain drive looks amazing, again. Love a mountain drive. Such a shame about the rubbish issues. It seems to be a such a wide spread problem now. We were back in Thailand for a couple of months and the amount of plastic rubbish on some of the beaches was so depressing and has increased significantly over the last few years. Well done on the puppy saving. Must have been hard to let go.

[@TheGapDecaders]

Hi Julian, thank you and such a shame to hear Thailand's plagued with plastic, such a gorgeous country. Have fun 👍🏻😀

[@kevinhasker]

You guys are so lucky. I have a feeling that you hit Albania before it becomes overly developed. When you can park close to a beach for free. I mean, the traffic and litter situations will probably improve, but at the cost of massive development. I am so jealous that you managed to hit it in this perfect window.

[@TheGapDecaders]

Hi Kev, I think you're right, I reckon within the next five certainly ten years it'll be a completely different experience. Hotel complexes, beach clubs and private apartments will swallow the coastline... much like Croatia. Cheers as always 🙏😀

[@deansutcliffe3596]

Great footage again what do you do on the truck maintenance front don't think I've seen you lift a spanner yet 😊

[@TheGapDecaders]

Hi Dean and cheers, That's the beauty of an old truck and fortunately this one's been looked after, it's only got 60k miles and gets a full service every time we're back in the UK. That said, 25 years in the army working with trucks has taught me well. I know this little truck inside out, coupled with daily pre and post checks helps me keep on top of it, and if it needs something, it gets it. But in fairness, we haven’t had many issues - - rear hub seals - rear suspension rubber stoppers and bushes - turbo hose and clip - tyres (obviously) - diesel heater What I'm not good at is documenting the little jobs in and around the hab area, silicone, tightening the odd handle and general faffing with WD40 etc. note to self, must try harder 😂😂👍🏻

[@ERMRacing]

Love the videos and can't wait to get my rig over to Europe next year for my adventure. One question about diesel fuel - here in the US we can by off-road diesel which is not taxed. It's for farm equipment and such that do not drive on the roads. I use it for my diesel heaters since they have separate fuel tanks from the one for the bus. Do they have such a thing throughout Europe?

[@robhughes4249]

For reference. Bacon sarnie Brown sauce. :) Ta for the step pics :)

[@TheGapDecaders]

Hi Rob, our pleasure. We think you’ve done a tidy job, looks great 👍🏻 🍅😂🙏

[@brentcockcroft4171]

Hi love your videos, but can you tell me what was the reason for getting 7.5 tonnes truck as apposed to say a xl Marc, or similar. Thanks in advance, keep the videos coming

[@TheGapDecaders]

Hi Brent, our little rig's 8.4t but yes it's on the small side. I've been around trucks all my adult life and generally speaking, the bigger you go the more expensive the running costs get. We owned two A-Class motorhomes, so making the transition to a small truck was met with a cautious approach, and arguably it's more nimble. That said, we've bought a bigger/heavier base vehicle (MAN TGM 18t) to build our new Overlander, but that's more about spending 3-5 years in the America's in a vehicle I've built and know inside out. One thing we have learn't in nearly 5.5 years of full time travel, there's no such thing as the perfect vehicle. 🙏😀

[@KevIsOffGrid]

Some good twisty roads there.

[@TheGapDecaders]

Hi Kev, definitely. I think you'd like the mountain scene here. 👍🏻

[@tramptruck4859]

Have to agree with you about the rubbish, tragic, especially considering how beautiful the country is. I'll be interested to see Corfu again, I've many happy memories and friends there.

[@TheGapDecaders]

Really like Corfu, but I have to confess to taking a break from filming and having a holiday with family. We explored the island by car and scooter which was great, not the best place for anything bigger than a smallish van, but beautiful. 👍🏻😀

[@mikefilder4885]

Great video, loved the mountain driving and sea shots. It must get quite challenging in your rig sometimes with the narrow roads, overhanging rocks and unknown villages etc. Agree, the roads can be hideous, in 2018 we did Albania on Harleys and wondered if we were going to make it without some sort of damage. Hope you're enjoying Corfu.

[@TheGapDecaders]

Cheers Mike, yeah it's usually tree's and balconies we've gotta look out for but on the whole, it's not too bad. I know it's only 5 years ago but I can imagine doing those roads on a Harley, wasn’t ideal 😂 Corfu's great although we've been static, just as well as we'd be very limited in where we could explore. 🙏🍷😀

[@michaelgarcher]

Another great episode of your travels, Albania looks amazing, shame about the plastic. Two votes here with Izzy and the washing… Loved the matching yellow T-shirts, how often does that happen? We often do it unintentionally ourselves.

[@TheGapDecaders]

LOL, Cheers Michael, Yeah the matching t-shirts definitely we're planned 😂 Hopefully we can showcase Albania in a different light. 🤞🙏

[@ClewleysOnTour]

I do remember the driving in Albania being ‘adventurous’ 😂😂

[@TheGapDecaders]

😂😂 I like that 👍🏻

[@martinrobinson2996]

Its all to do with Brexit - Litres of air were reduced by a ratio of 28/27 to recognise the exit of BG

[@PeterColvin-e1z]

Forgot to say we are currently in Greece and all we hear are cockerels and dogs 😮😮😂

[@TheGapDecaders]

LOL, brilliant... we're both sat here laughing 😂🙏

[@livingworkingoutsidebox]

10:25 views of mountains ⛰️ like that are just jaw dropping. I love views of the ocean, but those mountains just remind me of my time in Germany. We used to take long weekends and drive to the mountains to ski in the winter or hike in the spring and ☀️ Or take a longer holiday and travel to and around Austria and Southern Tyrol. 🏔🏞🏕 Thoughts on a subject I'm not very familiar with. But why do you think the people throw trash around the way they do? Are they considered a poorer 1st world or borderline 2nd world country? Hopefully the government will spend some money on a good don't litter campaign in schools and on socials. In the 70s when I was a weeeeeeee bit of a lad.😊 They launched the Crying Indian (sorry crying Native American) campaign. Huge success for an anti litter campaign. Did the UK have something similar? I do remember the E.U. getting in a bit of a fuss about Cornwall and Devon along with some other places about the pollution there. Seemed to help. 🤔 Maybe they will do something similar in Albania. That ruin park up did look awesome even with the graffiti. 😮 Loved the cow 🐄 on the beach ⛱️ 😊

[@TheGapDecaders]

Yeah it's hard to beat a good mountain road with a view of the sea. I'm sensing you used to serve in southern Germany? I only say that, as I did and can totally relate to those Bavarian, South Tyrol mountain-scapes. In terms of rubbish, we we're speaking with a few people a week ago who informed us, they've only just introduced the correct waste/litter disposal into schools, hard to believe. There's been litter campaigns running for the past 40+ years accross the UK and europe, so it's going to take time. I think the bigger issue is the lack of funding and infrastructure. I think within the next ten years it'll be a different places, looking somewhat more like Croatia and Montenegro. Thank you and appreciate your thoughts 🍷😀

[@PeterColvin-e1z]

They are not switch backs this is an American term. It is a hairpin bend 😂😂

[@TheGapDecaders]

Three years working with Americans, maybe that's where i got it from 😀🙏

[@adrianog4148]

albanias field tracks are good enough for your vehicle. dont understand all the complain. other than that regular roads are very good in albania and freshly paved. please dont misinform people.

[@TheGapDecaders]

Hello, the roads throughout Albania are reasonably good and I know they're continuously improving them, however, some of the paved roads we experienced were shockingly bad. I (Phil) loved the tracks and we're really keen to return as there's so much to see and explore. If you watch all our Albania videos, you'll see that we're positive about our time there and pride ourselves on being honest about the countries we visit.

[@gordonbryson2986]

Another great blog ,cannot believe how bad them drivers are ,roads are well where are they? How can a country have such friendly generous people,cracking scenery yet so much crap left at their arses beggars belief,Izzy looked comfy in the hotel having a bevy 🍷👍really great content you both put out eager for the next one so keep em coming guys All the best from Fiona and Gordon fae bonnie Scotland

[@User12345fan]

Where have you gone? The roads you are traveling through are not main roads by any means, even in America there’s plenty of dirt roads. I get what message you are trying to sell. It sounds more interesting to have that sweet and sour opinion for your audience.

[@TheGapDecaders]

After nearly 5.5 years full-timing across Europe, we like to mix it up. I could put all sorts of fluff in there but I like to keep our travels pretty real, can't wait to get on the dirt roads in America. 🙏😀

[@dudeleboski2692]

Just study a bit on Albania’s Communist history, and you will be shocked!

[@TheGapDecaders]

Yeah, it's come a long way in a short space of time. I think they've got a taste of what could be (with the tourism boast in recent years) and there’s no going back to those communist days.

[@Sheikh_spire]

Done that trip 15 years ago. The dirt is still the same. I am waiting to hear about the time when you got scammed in Albania

[@TheGapDecaders]

We were expecting hassle and scammers, but the truth is we didn’t witness anything other than incredible scenery and nice people.