Bikepacking Adventure from Greece to Germany via the Trans Dinarica Cycling Route : Anne Kress

When her van broke down in Crete, Anne Kress decided not to book a  flight to get back home to Germany. Instead, she grabbed her 20-year-old mountain bike and camping gear, then pedalled 3,300km home through 11 countries.

Listen if: You love spontaneous adventures, dream about bikepacking the Balkans, or want proof that bike adventures can start with small, imperfect gear.

The story in a nutshell:
Anne was midway through a climbing trip in Crete when her camper van broke down in the middle of nowhere. With Easter shutdown looming, not wanting to take a flight home, and stranded in the what felt like the 'middle of nowhere', she decided to ride it her old mountain bike all the way back to Germany. Not via the “boring” coastal route, but off-road through the newly created Trans Dinarica route through the Balkans. All up she cycled over 3,300 km, with a hefty 63,000 meters of climbing as well. 

Key takeaways:

• Listen to your inner voice: The wild idea in your head might be the one that changes everything.
• Start with what you’ve got: You don’t need a shiny gravel bike to take on an adventure. Anne rode her third-hand, 20 year old mountain bike
• Open yourself to people: Human connections are the true highlights for Anne from this adventure. 

Golden quote: “I listened to my intuition… and suddenly I had the idea: I could ride home.”

 Read more about the Trans Dinarica Cycle Route

Follow Anne on Instagram - @anneadventure.de

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Chapters

• 4:20 Early Adventures and the Outdoors
• 11:32 The Decision to Bike Home
• 15:31 Preparing for the Journey
• 26:28 Navigating Greece and the First Week
• 30:55 The Trans Dinarica Trail
• 35:32 Solo Travel Experiences
• 40:16 Encounters With Dogs
• 44:18 Traffic and Safety Concerns
• 56:12 Wild Camping Ethos
• 1:00:47 Weather Challenges
• 1:05:58 Reflecting on Solitude
• 1:07:52 Future Adventures and Climbing
• 1:15:01 Technical Trails and Personal Growth
• 1:18:18 Dealing with Equipment Challenges
• 1:25:56 Returning Home and Personal Reflections