So we had no reverse gear and then leaving Bansko the forward gears were obviously not working well. We had enjoyed being at the top of the mountain and decide to head to the Rila monastery and hope that we got there ok. The monastery was truly stunning with the amazing paintings everywhere. We stopped in the car park beyond the monastery and because it was so big and so empty we didn't have to worry about reversing! The next day we headed for Sofia and followi...

So we found lake kerkini which is just south of the border with Bulgaria. It is a huge lake and totally unspoilt . We saw huge numbers of birds including pelicans, wintering flamingos and even an eagle. It was really spectacular. We crossed the border without any problems and headed for the little town of Melnik. It was lovely with an amazing landscape of sandstone hills . They are known as the pyramids. We did a fabulous walk up the canyon right up to the top ab...

Terry has just written an e mail and so I will keep this short! We really loved the Pelaponnese and found so many beautiful passes and mountain towns. We hit the coast and started north . All the towns were quiet as the season has finished and we could park on the edge of the shoreline and enjoy strolling along the seaside. The weather has been lovely and warm hitting 30 degrees and feeling great! Yesterday we arrived at Mount Olympus and found that you can park...

We arrived yesterday here in Greece and we have spent the last day and a half travelling through the mountains down the centre of the Pelaponese. It is a wonderful landscape with mountains and quiet villages. It has been so hot today and really sunny and has felt as if we are on a summer holiday!!! We wild camped yesterday in a forest which was great and the only things we saw were goats and wild pigs!!!!! We have travelled through Tripoli and Sparta today and ...

Having enjoyed Florence we moved on to San Gimingano a beautiful walled medieval town. We arrived at lunchtime and then spent an hour wandering around having been bused from the campsite which was about 1/2 kilometres away. Next day we went up early into town and really enjoyed pottering about round the narrow streets and admiring the view from the walls over the hillsides. After a terrific thunderstorm during the night we left next morning in a downpour gratefu...