WORST DAY EVER... In 5 years of full timing!

[@PenelopetheTruck]

No-one ever wants to have to change a tyre on these rigs! But at least you were somewhere decent with a view. Those switchbacks were tight! Well done for having so much patience in that traffic 😅

[@TheGapDecaders]

Cheers guys, yeah it's a pain but hey ho 😂 Little choice and thankfully Izzy was cool with it 🙏

[@Colorado4x4Van]

Had one of those days back in June...enough to make a grown man cry, but we carry on! Great spot to end up!

[@TheGapDecaders]

Thank you and yep, it happens 😩 You know I won't learn from it and I've no doubt it'll happen again 😂😂🙏

[@martinbooker213]

I'm glad it's not just me that gets into those situations 😂😂😂

[@TheGapDecaders]

Hi Martin, Thing is, I never learn... if the route looks interesting, I could be there again tomorrow 😂

[@mikefilder4885]

Wow, what a day! Watching the video you could feel and share the adrenaline charged experience. We visited Kotor in 2018 on two Harleys, travelling from the Durres in Albania direction. It too was a hideous experience, travelling from many kilometres on roads that we still under construction, sheer drops with no edge protection, some of the hardcore was the size of tennis balls, and then on to hot tarmac that had just been layed. And worst of all riding through a tunnel that was under construction, with dust so thick you couldn't see where you were going! And, at the same time having to pass men working using large plant. An interesting country to drive through! I think Izzy deserves a few days in a hotel with some major pampering! Enjoy your travels but keep safe.

[@TheGapDecaders]

Flamming heck Mike, don't be suggesting ideas like that 😀 Sounds truly hideous but I think you just nailed it in your summary, "an interesting country. to drive through" Although it's early days in Albania, our first impressions are, it'll be lovely when it's finished. 😉 Cheers Mike 🙏

[@DanUK1984]

Chin up guys. Turning round is tough, being wrong is the worst!

[@TheGapDecaders]

very true 😀

[@TheTonypod]

You can guarantee that tomorrow is going to be better, keep on trucking !

[@TheGapDecaders]

Absolutely, a shit day travelling is better than a good day in the office. 🙏😀

[@johnwarburton7673]

OMG guys, fair play for persevering! I don’t wanna take sides but….🙄. The ‘Italian Job’ sprung to mind when I saw that pass. Hope that’s all the dramas out the way now👍.

[@TheGapDecaders]

LOL... not far off. Izzy just said "it will be, if you do what I say" cheers John 🙏😀

[@annvanderaa2630]

Oh god, what a sh**t day. We’ve had similar days and did nothing but swear! On the positive side: you will never forget this day! Somehow the days during which you have real highs and lows, are the ones that stay with you. Anyway, I had another very entertaining lunch break. Felt really sorry for you guys, but I also had to laugh, because we can so relate (especially the apologising bits and the “I should have listened” parts 😂😂😂). Take care and enjoy!!

[@TheGapDecaders]

Hi Ann, 😂 Thank you and pleased we could be of service 😁You're absolutely right, you don't forget these days in a hurry, but I'll (Phil) never change, you have to explore those roads to get to the best places. 🙏🍷😀

[@martinrobinson2996]

Loved this episode (?!), guess you might have to do more assembling - Humous maybe, I'll bring the crudites........😃

[@TheGapDecaders]

LOL, This made Izzy laugh. I think so 😩😀😀👍🏻

[@eddy802]

Merch T-Shirt... "It seemed like a good idea at the time!"

[@TheGapDecaders]

Brilliant... love it - food for thought 👌😀

[@hairadditions]

Just an educated guess about the noise. When I go through the mersey tunnels sometimes they have the extractor fans going to get rid off the exhaust fumes. It sounds like a jet engine at the fans are massive. they have them placed along the tunnel so the noise is constant as you drive through the tunnel. :Loving watching your travels. Keeps safe.

[@TheGapDecaders]

Thank you, appreciated 😀 Yep, you could well be right, just never heard them that loud below. 👍🏻

[@askthechicken]

Omg! What a day you had! You weren’t joking when you said it was bad! Not sure how we would have coped….. at least you were both still talking to each at the end 🤣I love how determined you both are. Great to catch up ❤

[@TheGapDecaders]

Hi Amanda, 😁😁thank you and yes... not my finest hour, but all part of the adventure 🍷🙏 We really enjoyed the catch up, enjoy Scotland 😀

[@TwoFourCharlie007]

We did that serpentine road back in May, spectacular views, but we were on motorcycles….sure you’ll be laughing about it…..one day….🥴 certainly been an adventure!!

[@TheGapDecaders]

lol, fabulous road and can imagine it was a blast on the bike 😀👍🏻

[@Overlandtravelling]

You don't want to go down that road, Phil 😂 stress is a killer. Good video. 👍

[@TheGapDecaders]

😂😂 I can just hear you saying this 😁, wish you'd have told me beforehand, Cheers 🍷🙏

[@Overlandtravelling]

@@TheGapDecaders 😂😂 I laughed so much. KZbin Gold. Don't tell Izzy 😃

[@TheGapDecaders]

LOL, I can just imagine Emma's reaction 😂@@Overlandtravelling

[@normamanty7069]

Wow, so sorry you went through all that, Kotor and all that area is very densely populated and very touristy ( ie cruises come in! Ugh) so I am not surprised it was hard to find any place. We stayed near Strp on the west area of the lake - MUCH better , less touristy a bit. But the whole area is and has been discovered for years

[@TheGapDecaders]

Hi thanks, Yep, it was one heck of a day but it happens, I can imagine it's fabulous out of season and with no cruise ships. 🙏😀

[@normamanty7069]

@@TheGapDecaders I think Kotor is always in season 🤪 Thanks for the video footage of inside the walls at Kotor, glad you were able to make it - it was crowded by the time we drove through from Strp area mid morning ( lake side route 😉) so we did a slow drive by only, wanting to get out of the crowds and on to Petrovac and Lake Skadar. Have followed you two through Morocco ( was great to see your videos of that country as we visited just this past May 😊) , now watching your Montenegro into Albania adventure. Will you be going as far as Turkey? (Hope to visit there in May or Sept. 2024). Like the way you two travel and your attitude under adverse situations - which can be expected on the road, it’s part of the experience😊😉. Enjoy! And keep the videos coming.

[@chrisnichols6255]

Oh Phil what can I say , you know she’s always right ! 21:41

[@TheGapDecaders]

LOL...😁 as much as it pains me, I know. But don't tell her that 🍷😀

[@reveandrobl4906]

Good luck for tomorrow guys, that looked like one tough day.

[@TheGapDecaders]

😀😀 Thank you 🍷

[@DaveH-t9s]

What a day and I was feeling stressed out on the drive too! It must be hellish changing the wheel and what kit do you have ? At least your improvise adapt and overcome mentality shone through. If in doubt listen to Izzy!

[@TheGapDecaders]

Thank you, one to remember 😀 No choice, you just gotta make it happen, usual wheel-changing kit with the help of my torque gun and a 30mm long reach socket, I have it down to about 40 minutes now, which isn’t too bad. Of course, Izzy's loving all the acknowledgment 😀🍷🙏

[@michaelgarcher]

What a fun day that looked like, glad you made it through. Phil, was the tyre issue karma for not listening to Izzy?

[@TheGapDecaders]

Hi Michael, Izzy's loving this suggestion and saying yes, that's exactly it 😂 Not to be repeated in a hurry. 🍷😀

[@alanbell6999]

Big truck small road.vanlife is a constant comprise congratulations no swear words 😊

[@TheGapDecaders]

Hi Alan, always and yes we managed to keep calm, although admittedly there were several occasions when one or two may have slipped out 😉 😀

[@Dandy-Offroad]

The only way to drive this street is in the early morning up when buses are not yet driving. We got stock on this read as well in low season end of April, already there too many buses and one broken bus blocked the road for 2 hours. But don’t we like the adventure, the thrill to make it? We all knew before it would be a hairy road. 😅 But I recommend not to drive with a truck, at least not during normal day time. But you will laugh, we parked at the circle on the top of the monument on Lovćen - not sure if you had been there. Kind regards, Andreas

[@TheGapDecaders]

Yes, you don't know what you don't know 😂 We recognise it now but you're exactly right, I (Phil) can't help myself and am drawn to these places. I know where it is, how on earth did you get there, I thought that was more of a hiking destination 😂🍷👍🏻

[@tobydenn670]

We feel for you….. the combination of small roads and switchbacks then thinking something had gone wrong with the truck in the tunnel….. that must be our worst nightmare. Glad you made it through safely for a glass of red!

[@TheGapDecaders]

Hi Toby, yeah it was a bit of a day... but a glass of red makes the world a better place 🍷🙏😁

[@Tillerman56]

Montenegro is OK traffic wise, except for the coastal areas. Drivers become quite murderous on the really narrow roads.

[@TheGapDecaders]

Agreed, inland is easy but hellish on these roads with every man/woman for themselves. 😩🙏

[@spirit5_of_adventure]

All part of the adventure and days like like that are always memorable talking points (especially in hindsight) Just a pity about the valve. Stay safe guys and we hope all goes smoothly now.

[@TheGapDecaders]

Hi both, thank you and that's exactly it. Although not to be repeated anytime soon 🍷😀

[@spirit5_of_adventure]

@@TheGapDecaders We’ll drink to that 👍🏻🍷🍷

[@gordonbryson2986]

Jeez mate some day that was! Izzy was not a happy bunny ,hope that's all the bad stuff over Looking forward to the next one after you've had a shower from the wheel change Take care Fiona and Gordon from bonnie Scotland

[@TheGapDecaders]

Hi both, yeah it was a heck of a day. Thankfully Izzy's cool with it (she's used to my ways) 😂🙏🍷

[@Rebla01]

What a mission 😂 never mind, I’d love to hear some of the off camera comments 😲🤣🤣

[@TheGapDecaders]

😂😂... it would probably go viral if it wasn’t for all the beeps 😫😫🍷

[@TheMattK2011]

I did that road in a lightning storm and it was scary enough in 5m long Land Cruiser that I remember it well, least I did not have turn around and go back 🙂

[@TheGapDecaders]

I can imagine it was one heck of a light show though 😁👍🏻

[@TheMattK2011]

@@TheGapDecaders I was very pleased to reach the bottom 😁👍

[@KevIsOffGrid]

Win some lose some; you survived.

[@TheGapDecaders]

Hi Kev Exactly, ya gotta put yourself out there. 🙏

[@mk-doshka]

Very stressful day,, but I love how u both kept positive and moved on to cheers ❤ I am planning an overland trip with my darling, just waiting to get married wich is something important in our culture to live and travel together.. Am getting alot of inspiration and positive vibes from you guys.. May Allah keep you safe and protect your fabulous Family 💕❤️ Cheers from Sudan and Russia from my Fiancee and I. We are always Sit together to watch your Video to prepare ourselves to our Journey. Thanks 💕

[@TheGapDecaders]

Thank you, the internet is a wonderful thing, to know people much further afield are enjoying our travels, gives us a lot of pleasure. Good luck with your overlanding journey and thank you for your lovely comment. 🙏😀

[@Rob.1340]

👍😎

[@livingworkingoutsidebox]

Well well well women might not be as strong as men or like mechanical things like men do. But I swear they have that sixth sense to pick up on what most likely isn't the right choice. Not to mention they are for the most part smarter than us.😊🤨🤔🌞👍😉 Glad you're both ok.👍 You touched on a good point that perhaps regular car driving folks don't think about. The weight limits on some of these "Roads less traveled " Thanks for sharing 👍

[@TheGapDecaders]

😂😂 Indeed... although I daren’t acknowledge that fact, I think she's going to hold onto this one for a little while 😩 We've come across this quite a lot here in the Balkans, little patience and every man for himself. As always, Cheers 🍷🙏😀