Hi

I have done several trips to Europe before with friends and this time have decided to head to a particular Greek Island in early July on my bike. They can't accompany me due to a range of commitments - we usually ride in September AND that includes our usual trip organiser (who I met many years ago on another European tour..)- damn!!

I have a total of 7.5 days to make the trip. 3.5 days to travel from SE UK to Opatija in Croatia (Via Kortrijk, Belgium (mates place), Luxembourg, Germany (Karlsruhe), Austria (Mittersill) then I have a 4 days slot to travel the 1000 miles from Opatija in Croatia to Piraeus and have a route broadly mapped as:

2/7. Opatija to Split
3/7. Split to Shkoder Albania (via either just Bosnia - short gap) or Bosnia / Montenegro (longer time on roads in these countries)
4/7. Shkoder to Trikala Greece
5/7. Trikala Greece to Piraeus (for an a ferry on day 5)

Given the no. of riders who are likely to have done this / plan to do it I am hoping that someone can help answer my questions to confirm:

?Optimal route to take then - coast or inland per leg. Average ride is c 250 miles a day - c 6 saddle hours?

?Bike friendly affordable accommodation around the above 4 destinations from 2/7?

? Anyone heading on this route / overlapping with it - even from Belgium?

? Local customs / practises - anything I should know about 'local' charges, driving, roads to avoid, police

? insurance recommends - Albania, Bosnia and Montenegro not being part of the EU..

Thanks for any responses and would be delighted to meet en route to those that do.