Sue and Ken Slater are from Melbourne, Australia. The MGs Beijing to London along the Silk Road, 2010 presented a great opportunity to travel in a convoy of six MG classic cars with like minded adventurers. Ken is a retired secondary school principal who spends his time with his sons, building and renovating houses and classic cars. His other passion is the Collingwood football team. Sue works as an educational consultant and enjoys life, family and friends.
9:58 am
#81 Hey Dave, where’s Macedonia?
Dave and Laurel consult a map
The road less travelled and there's a little donkey under that load of hay. Albania
The role of lead car has been rotated which is great and a bit of fun. Mary and Reg had done a sterling job with some help from their Tom-Tom. Leaving Edessa, Greece, it was Dave and Laurel who said they would do a turn as lead car for the drive into Macedonia and then on to Albania.
I happened to comment to Dave that we didn’t have Macedonia named as a country on the side of the cars. His response was it must have been an oversight as he had planned the route via Macedonia. Dave has done an amazing job planning and coordinating this drive and he has spent countless hours making contacts wherever it is possible to highlight the MG marquee. And it is all coming together for him.
We had a great drive and another unbelievably easy border crossing, just a quick stamp in our passports. Shortly into the drive and after the border crossing we were all a bit confused as the lake on the map was showing up on the wrong side of the road. Still not to worry.
We stopped at a restaurant by the lake for lunch and Dave proceeded to sort through his national flags so he could hoist the flag on to his car as he drove through Macedonia. After a brief consultation, the waiter pointed to the national flag flying near the restaurant and it became apparent we were in Albania, not Macedonia. Laughter all around.
We had taken a slight deviation and missed Macedonia all together. Not a problem as it was one less border crossing, the trout lunch was delicious and we had chosen to take the roads less travelled with no sign posting so we could see the real sights.
The following morning Dave was heard to say on the CB to the new lead car “don’t worry if we take a wrong turn as we are all here to enjoy the drive and yesterday I missed a country”
True Dave and we are all very relaxed and enjoying ourselves. It is great to have the freedom we didn’t have in China and the Stans where we couldn’t deviate from the nominated route. Plus the list of countries on the side of the car is exactly the way we have driven but Dave wont live this one down!
Not sure exactly where you are in Albania ( you may well be in the next country by now) but I’d listen to the locals if they mention landmines!
why are my posts being rejected and edited!!!
this is not free press man