Epic off-road adventure in Eastern Europe Documentary

This adventure starts in Sweden and since we are surrounded by water we head for the coast where the ferry awaits to take us over to Poland and the continent. It's a fantastic feeling to enter the ferry with only minimal luggage knowing that for the next month we would ride the back roads of Eastern Europe with no plans or reservations whatsoever. It will in many ways be a learning experience but without a doubt an adventure of a lifetime. For Romania first but we're going to go as far south in Poland as we find interesting today on small roads and transport but small roads so that'd be good. It's a lovely day in Gdynia. Seymour is showing his packing skills. We were heading for the Carpathian mountains in Romania but after studying the map too long we just call it the shrimp. I've set my sights on the beer over there. They're here! Even though we wanted to reach Romania we did not hurry through Poland on any highways. Using the small roads and staying at small nice pensions and eating local food we got a good taste of the local culture. At this point we're closing in on Slovakia and Hungary which we need to cross before reaching Romania. The small border crossings were often unmanned that we didn't even need to stop so this crossing into Hungary should be no different. He went home. What? You have to go back. Oh, I see. No! What? Ukraine! We're going to Hungary! What happened? We're on our way to Ukraine! No! Ukraine! This is a twist. What the hell? That wasn't so bad at least. Yeah. This was okay. Hello Hungary! We're going to the Norwegian border. Now the coast to Romania was clear. It was going to be our last border for a few days so we could take it. Big bite of that shrimp for Carpathians. We got a fresh start in Satumare in Romania and the adventure started right away. Here we are in Satumare and we're going straight up and there is the tent. Someone pooped on my bike. The recent heavy rains made this road into a mud fest. With a clay surface perfect for pottery we opted to bail out and take a detour around this park. Accommodation is never hard to find in Romania and this day we needed a base camp more than ever. So now it's time for the big repair session of this trip. So far. So we will have to repair Robert's tail tidy and we have to repair Seymour's tire. We're fixed up and ready to go already. It's half past nine and we fixed all the problems. So now let's go to get some breakfast and then hit the Trans-Euro trail again. In Romania you will also see a lot of places called Vulcanizare. These are tire shops that will mend your punctured tires or tubes professionally. Oh shit. So maybe we see each other again. Maybe not. Yeah. We now entered the national park in the Kalmani mountains and the huge sulphur mine. The trails there are rocky and steep but the view is amazing and we weren't alone. How are you? I'm fine. Robert. Sorry? Robert. Dominic. Dominic? Yes. My name is Robert Dominic. Oh, ok. So my name is Dominic, not Robert. Where are you from? Poland. Are you ok? It goes with the trade, I guess. It comes with adventure riding. What's the adventure without some mishaps? As long as no one is injured it's all good. The pensions are very accommodating even if you arrive as an ogre from the swamp. Usually you get to park in the gated backyard and use the hose. At this point we had made arrangements to meet our friend Dragos from Dual Sport Romania. He would be our host for the next few days until we continued down south. We can stay here? Yeah. No rope. Dragos got us new tubes waiting for us here. So that's good. I'm happy and he falls in front of me. And I go jumping in the puddle. Me and Remus, we were in the 990s just ripping, ripping. Commando. My guys want me to be last. Good doggy. We have a runner. Run for it. Run. Run for it. We didn't arrive in a typically rainy season or anything. It's just that up in the mountains you will encounter dusty roads and deep puddles. And of course the occasional bear. Hello bear, bear. Don't be such a pussy, it's nothing. Oh shit. Salutare, salutare. Salut, salut. What, they like Romanian sausage more? I don't know. Come after me, you doggy. Come after me. You're doing a great job, Dragos. Thank you. I'm used to them. It was lying by some stairs an old one in blue. In the back of this building is the building where they print Chouchi. Right there. After a full day on the trails we had built up a big appetite. But of course we didn't have to tell Dragos that. I'm doing some adventure washing. It's great to have a day off the bike every once in a while. So we jumped in the back seat of Dragos' car and he took us to the monastery. They are still renovating but we can still get in. Wow. This is the workshop. It's interesting. When I was a kid he was a little child and he started when he was a little child there. Ok, so he made the bar here. Yes. All those small details. Yes. Do you see her? No. Ok, so now we're off again. Goodbye to the pension. Heading for the strategic road and some offroad. Fixing the air pressure. Yes. It's a car. Wow. Oh, a dead dog. Dead wild dog. Ok, Seymour. No. Ok. That's working out. It's going to be working out. There are Audi cars and a Skoda up here. Oh, ****. You were not serious. You were joking, I thought. Can you go a little bit more forward? Yes, but they are really crazy. What are they doing here? Did they go up all the way here with the cars? Yes. Wow. What did I say? And there is nothing, really nothing. Some exercise. Pulse. Nerves. Cramp. What a fantastic track. Do you like it? I can see from the big smile ear to ear from your face. I stopped the camera and thought that's enough and then just a minute later I have to film again. Oh, ATVs it was. I thought it was something else. Yep. Hello. Check it out. Really? Be careful. Don't overconfident yourself. Yep. I cannot take it in. Accept it. I have to lick my teeth because they are dry because I'm driving with my open mouth and smiling. Just think about how you used to be. I hope your day was fine today. We are very serious people. Polenta. Polenta, of course. So much. Let's do like this. Thank you. It was great meeting you. Thank you for everything. Good morning. Coffee on the way? Oh, look at this. Let's leave this fantastic place. Let's go. Romania had really enchanted us with its beauty, food and hospitality. But now we set off for new adventures. Just coming down from the mountains going south, everything became flat as a pancake. They don't want me on the top. There are two penthouses at the top of the hill. We would stay just one more night in Romania by the Danube river with Bulgaria on the other side. They are very old. It was a few days since we crossed the last border but crossing into Bulgaria should not be a problem. Unless someone realizes the motorcycle registration documents are back in Sweden. But that would be terrible. Luckily the police would rather let us go than to be stuck with us for the rest of the day. He was pretty sure we would be someone else's problem soon. On our way to cross the Danube over to Bulgaria. We had some trouble with Seymour's documents because he has the owner's document registration digitally as an image. There was a bit of struggle there so we'll see how this will play out. So actually no one else was bothered with the papers again for the rest of the trip. They just sprayed us. On our way down through Bulgaria we stayed at the famous biker oasis called Motocamp Bulgaria. They have everything you need. Accomodation, camping, food, workshop and tires plus a lot of meets and events. So you need to stop by if you're in the area. And of course we had to check out a few of the epic monuments that Bulgaria has so many of. Like the Budzludza monument with its futuristic design on the top of a mountain. And there is the grumpy security guard I'm told. You used to be able to enter the abandoned building but now it was closed and guarded due to renovation. The interior is supposed to be very beautiful with mosaic art on the walls so it will be well worth a visit again when it's restored. We only stayed one night in Bulgaria because it was getting hot and we were eager to get to our most southern destination. And go for a swim. Closing in on Tasos. Tasos is closing in, yes. It has a lot of off-road trails also so perhaps we'll find them or we just... Over the mountains of this nice lagoon we're gonna go to. Or we just watch it on YouTube and drink beer and swim all night. And close the door in the night because there are some sheep and some goats inside. I thought you said assassins but you said... Good morning! So this morning we're up a bit early because we're going up to the highest point of this island attempting to reach the summit at 1200 meters. It's quite a small island so it's quite a high mountain for that size. So we're going on the trails. Anna Anna come back! The almost circular island of Tasos has a peak of more than 1100 meters and a lot of small mountain roads. The view from the top is supposed to be spectacular so that was what we were aiming for today. But quite a nice view. We were now at our most southern point of the trip. It was time to leave this beautiful island and our new greek granny and head up towards the west side of Balkan. Some gyros on the beach. Homemade. A lot more people today. Now we're at a gas station in Hetland. 36-37 degrees. And they're coming with a solar panel. And so we reached the border of North Macedonia and we were instantly greeted by organ donors playing Tom Cruise. Hello! After waiting out the weather by Lake Orid it was time to head for Albania. Lake Orid. We didn't see much of it when we got here. Ok, here's the border. Macedonia to Albania. Let's see. Maybe we should stop and get some paper. To get instant adventure we pulled up some old Raleigh GPX files that we got from a friend. So we set off into the Albanian mountains. Isn't it beautiful? So beautiful! We're going to fix the pump again tomorrow. That's right! Let's start by putting this thing in. Hello! We had a flat tire but we're done with it. Beer! We'll make you relax a bit in the shoulders while riding. Oh, that's yours? Backroad club. You got it for free? Not totally free. It's like three batches of beer. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Cheers! Here are the Germans! This is a huge tire. Especially a one-person tire. My god! It feels weird. Pow, pow, pow! What did he hit? So now we had ridden the cool Raleigh GPX files for a while. Turns out, in Albania, you don't need Raleigh GPX files to find adventure. So we booked a hotel online and used Google Maps to find the way. That's when the real adventure started. So let me present the Google Navigation Adventure. Örebro land. Did he say something? I can't see it. To Lora. Okay, so the next road. Okay. Yeah, right there. Exactly. It's supposed to be over there. Okay, okay, that stops. Yeah, exactly. Okay. Where are you from? Sweden. Okay, thank you. Okay. Lure? Good. Yes. Oh. Finally we reached the destination in the beautiful valley of Fusilure. There are only rough roads to this place and it was hours from the closest town. Adventurous indeed and now we reached the hotel and we don't have cash. We have paid with card on all the hotels but they don't take hotel. Here he is with a beer. We're going to solve it with a bank transfer or something because there are no banks within 50 kilometers or two hours on these roads. Just had a shower. It was wonderful and I don't usually pee in the shower but here you can do that because you shower and you have the toilet. It's a combo and it's very practical. The owner Hassan just waved away the cash problems and brought us food and beer instead. We would later send him the money with interest. So, ready to pack the bikes and continue on the journey. The TET comes over the mountains there. We came through that valley and it all, the normal road starts here so we will continue on this. And as a nice gesture we helped Hassan film and photograph his hotel from the drone which he liked very much. Thank you. 1070 meters we have slept last night. Yes. That's why we are so energetic. Don't wonder that all the tourist signs on the window were from 4WD clubs. A few meters but a bit calmer. So, gasoline? For this? Up more, up, up. Can you even turn it on? We can float out of there. The car is coming. Let's go. Does it go in there? No, this is a old town. Pull out until there. I'll pull in the stomach like hell. Yes, do it. It's deadly hot. At least 36, 38, something like that. So, we'll jump in here pretty soon. Sea view, sea view. Oh, there's a little window. This is the sea view. Well, yeah, I see the sea. Quite nice. Swimming in the Kotor Bay. Kotor Bay. That little open window there at the top. From all the bumpy roads there was not much on the bike that was still fastened. But we tightened everything and went out riding again in the surroundings around Kotor. It's nice. Packing is going on. Leaving Kotor today and we are heading for Croatia, somewhere in Croatia. So, we are in Ni, or Kni, or something. Just grabbing a bite to eat before we hit the trails. And this is what we are eating. Ok, ok. Let's go then. If it's tight, then it's tight, probably. It's cozy. Can't go long, safety first. Are you staying here? No, I'm staying here. Poor little guys. Oh, oh, oh. You don't have to sell it so nicely to those who are coming. No, it doesn't feel good. You have to be quiet. It's nice to put things on. Yes, it is. You have to hook it on the red one. That one with the current? Yes. Which side should I stand on? Yes. We park our bikes here. Now they have scared us a little bit because they are turning around because of this steep hill in front of us. We will see what happens there. If you stand on the right side, it will probably go well. We have a little... I don't know. I don't know at all. It's a damn... What do you say? We'll try it. Let's see. I think it's forward here. And to... Yes. I think we'll get out on... It's a little detour. Could it be? Yes, because we are out on this road. Where the hell did we come from on this road? Yes, my bike was there. Man. Dusty Springfield, that's me. So, the daily procedure. Ride the bikes when it's now 5 o'clock in the afternoon. Go out on booking.com and find somewhere to stay for the night. Hotel Makola. Hello, boys. She's watching YouTube on office hours. What are you watching? Normal Sweden. Yes. Alright. Day something. The plan was to do some TET today, but we expect 75 millimeters of rain today coming at lunchtime. We're doing a small excursion, but no TET, and then we're going to move to a less rainy region. It's towards the coast. Will still rain, I guess, but rain gear on and sightseeing. Seljava Air Base. Here we have the famous old airplane. It's getting ready for a nomad climb. Yes. Let's climb a little bit A handsome climber here. A group called Undermotorized Idiots. Another. You can stay here. Yes, no one's been here. It's cool with some people in the picture too. He wanted to have you there. We could have gone straight ahead along the narrow road. We would have missed the roundabout. Yes, you're right. And here are some checkpoints and stuff. Are you aware that this is not the little Kuland we're going to live in? I don't know. It's pretty cool. Bellevue. Top of the world. It's like the Slovenian Eagle's Nest almost here. Really nice view. Accommodation, beers and tomorrow find some nice pass over the Alps. We dine in Austria then Czech Republic, Poland and home. Good morning! Did you sleep well? In Austria you're not allowed to go off-road but before leaving the country there's one more thing we need to do to eat a lebica semi. So now we were just doing the last stretch of the return trip home and our minds were not in adventure mode anymore but then adventure comes in many forms and we still had one left. We are at the Honda dealer in Prague because the bearing one bearing on Tony's bike is kaput so we need to change a bearing before we can continue. We found a bag of beers. Bearings. Maybe it will help. Ok, so the current situation is that Tony's bearing on the right side of the wheel is kaput so we went to the Honda dealer and they didn't have anything they didn't even speak English but we're going to try to fix that in the morning. We have a guy on Instagram actually who lives here. He's now going to get a new bearing for Tony's bike and he's going to deliver it to us. What a great community. He also directed us to this cool motorcycle workshop called Throttle Punks. So we can show you the room. So great that we could film it. Oh wonderful, look at that. I guess that's the morale here. First, if everything is good, that's super. And if something breaks down, that can be really super too, like today. Visiting this place and the people has been a memorable part of this trip. This was a bit fun. Yes. Almost like a trip. Thank you very much. No problem. Leaving again. Last stop on the trip in Poland. Then on the ferry and home. This is the ferry. Very calm. Over the river. To be continued...