Our Toughest Week So Far – Cycling the World EP3

This week tested everything.

We left Serbia behind and pushed through North Macedonia and into Greece — crossing three countries in seven days, with endless rain, long climbs, and our first big argument of the trip. Bikepacking isn’t always beautiful, and this was one of those weeks where things got real.

Through the struggle, we kept pedaling — and somehow, we made it to the Turkish border.

This is our rawest episode yet. No filters, no fake smiles — just the reality of cycling around the world as a father and son.

Instagram
Me: https://www.instagram.com/joshpkohler/
Dad: https://www.instagram.com/georgemkohler/

Patreon: https://patreon.com/joshkohler?utm_me…
(Early access to videos, Unseen footage and BTS moments, Q&A sessions with me and much more…)

Just Giving: https://www.justgiving.com/page/georg…

Check out Artlist! Best music for creators!
Get 2 Months Extra For Free Using This Link:
https://artlist.io/artlist-70446/?art…

Saily Esim: Use code joshpkohler for 15% off any plan

My email: contact@joshkohler.com

hey grab me After leaving our home 3 weeks ago and cycling 2,000 km through Europe the end of the first leg of our around the world trip was in sight The next 10 days was spent pedaling through beautiful scenery This is fun Getting caught in rainstorms I think we’re about to get wet and having the odd argument Joshua’s nowhere to be seen again I can’t stop shaking But we made up and thoroughly enjoyed our time as we cycled the 600 km to Greece and then the few days along the coast to reach the Turkish border [Applause] [Music] Little bit more industrial around here now Bit like the roads Finally we left the urban areas and started climbing up into the Serbian hills A big uphill in the heat today It’s pretty exhausting work but we’re almost to the top After a week of predominantly flat riding it felt great to get the legs really working again and we were met with amazing views across the valley We found this little restaurant tucked away and local restaurant and they asked what we want for food and dad just said anything local So let’s see what they bring [Music] us Some domestic Serbian food which looks absolutely amazing Stuffed vine leaves which looks lovely Smells amazing [Music] Yummy Mhm More meal keeps coming More specialities in this Okay Yeah Amazing Well that was an incredible lunch I don’t know how we’re going to be able to get back on the bikes now cuz our bellies are very full We’ve only got 20ks left to do today Some pretty ominous looking clouds building up in front of us and I hopefully they won’t blow over us before we get to our accommodation It’s nice at the moment in the sun I don’t really fancy getting wet [Music] today I think we’re about to get wet This sky is not looking very promising We’ve made it into the town of Lecovak and the rain hasn’t started just yet We just got to cycle to our warm showers host now Hopefully we can make it there before the heavens open So fingers crossed we won’t get wet today Hey we’re here and before the rain has come down but I don’t think we Yeah just about It’s proper grail behind Let’s get inside quickly Ah we made it just in time It is now raining Ivan our name showers host is taking us into the city center to get a traditional Serbian burger and it’s a specialtity of this town So we’re going to go try that out Excited for it Just finished our burger and we made it back to our warm showers house Time to get some sleep Ready for day 26 [Music] tomorrow Our final day in Serbia today We just left our warm showers host and actually had a bit of a route change He advised us on which way to go Uh the way that Kimoot was taking us was up and over the mountains on basically a dirt track and it rained all of yesterday So I’m sure that’s not going to be any fun Uh so we’re sticking to this road beside the highway through the mountains Should be a lot easier and flatter And this is one of the main reasons we love warm showers is you get local knowledge We hadn’t stayed with him We would have never known that I would have probably suffered today because of [Applause] it 300 m long tunneloo saves us doing all the climbing up and over though We’ve just entered the town of Coke [Applause] With it being a beautiful sunny day I thought I’d take the opportunity to take my gloves off and try and get rid of these disgusting tan lines We’ve been on this pretty busy major road for the last while and there’s not been anywhere to stop to get something to eat but we found this petrol station So we’re going to take our sandwiches in there and get a drink cool off for a bit cuz it’s hot Feel quite out of place there Everyone sort of looking at us and guess wondering why we’re in here Yummy [Music] Lunch eaten Water bottles filled up Now time to get back on the busy road and keep pushing south and [Music] snacks That’s one big storm Another day where we’ve just missed the storm I think it’s blown just to the side of us and we’re still dry which is a miracle But yeah that looks pretty ferocious There’s been lightning striking massive thunder booms Yeah it’s been pretty wild Now we’ve got just 10ks downhill into the Macedonia border We don’t actually know how we’re crossing the border Basically the way that the cycle map takes you our warm showers host yesterday said isn’t actually open It’s only open at certain points of the year And it doesn’t think we’re we’re too early in the year for it to be open So we’ve got to somehow get onto the highway which is a toll road and cross the border that way Let’s go and do it [Music] The what You can’t get through this way to Macedonia Okay So uh links links Perfect Onto the autobond Yeah Yeah Autobond just here Autobond Okay Yeah We had some locals just stop us They basically said that the road we’re going on towards the border won’t get us to the border We need to come back a little way and join the main motorway and then go through the checkpoint that way So we’ve just headed back about to hop on the big highway We’re on the motorway and it’s actually quite pleasant It’s crazy how quiet this highway is We’re absolutely zooming along We’ve got a lovely tailwind lovely big hard shoulder and we’re flying towards the Macedonia border through the border control and into country number nine And we’re heading towards a nice big raincloud We’ve come off the highway and we are now cycling into the city of Kumanovo which is where we’re staying tonight We’ve made it in to our Airbnb This place cost us £25 for the night Uh into the accommodation in Macedonia Now off for the shopping errand while Joshua sorts himself out Going to get food tonight Let’s see what the place has in store Just making our way outside the accommodation Trying to find myself a supermarket Ah super 10x See what we got here Sadly no um no fresh milk here but they got plenty of cotton milk Make do with that What they do have though which is part of Joshua’s stable diet Consumes kilos of stuff these massive milk bars Look at these babies Yep And one part of his one a day shopping now done I think we’ve got what we need Uh Josh has got his chocolate That’s the main thing Uh now just taking taking five to take in the scenery around the the town [Music] square Ooh yummy And now we’re enjoying the pasta Yummy Look at this Delicious Thanks Dad That’s all right son Pretty miserable start to the day Not the sun from the last few days but guess we just got to get pedaling and we’re going to get a bit soggy today Neither of us had any expectations for North Macedonia as it’s a country you very rarely hear about And despite the miserable weather we were pleasantly surprised by the beautiful landscapes we were pedaling through Cycling along this road and found a little friend on the floor But it’s not a very good place for him to sit because he’s in the middle of the road Hey little dude Come on little dude Let’s move you into the bush There we go Off the road Hopefully he’s safe there now I’m not going to get run over by a car [Music] We pushed into the afternoon when dad and I had our first big argument of the trip Uh seems to be the never- ending hill We been going for about an hour now Still going up Uh and Joshua’s nowhere to be seen again I’ve had to cycle on my own for a bit cuz I’m getting so frustrated with dad at the moment He just doesn’t seem to listen and take on advice or just things that are really winding me up I say them to him and he doesn’t do it So I say it to him again Do this Do this differently Do this He doesn’t do it I say it again doesn’t do it And it gets to the point where I’m getting annoyed at him for not doing it Oh heck It’s about to get stormy But it gets to the point where I get annoyed at him for not doing the things that I keep repeating But he takes that as criticism and gets annoyed back at me for always having a go at him The only reason I’m having a go at him is because I keep saying the same things Problem with Macedonia is neither of us have SIM cards Dad doesn’t know where he’s going Right in the middle of the storm now Thunder all around Uh definitely getting wet today Just trying to decide what to do I just found a cafe Got some Wi-Fi Just ordered a cappuccino out the rain I don’t know where dad is but we got no way to communicate with each other We know the final town that we’re heading for so I guess we just wait till we’re there but yeah I’m not I’m in a really [ __ ] position right now I’m just I don’t know what to to do or what to [Music] think This isn’t fun absolutely chucking it down and the road has just turned onto a really bumpy cobble street I can’t stop shaking My mom’s fly out tomorrow So we’ll be able to have a conversation the three of us about what seriously is going to work and if we can if we can genuinely make these changes so that we can make this work Cuz I want you want anything to make this work But [Music] Dud and I had a little chat last night Uh we sort of come to a solution of how we can get along better and figure this out But we knew you know we knew this was going to be a challenge for our relationship that we we are going to find things difficult We haven’t lived with each other for 2 years and spending that much time with just one other person is always going to be hard Especially when it’s your dad or your son you’re going to argue So we knew it was going to happen It’s just how we tackle it how we overcome it how we figure out ways to get along better Um and then yeah just smash this challenge and make sure we finish it happy and smiling I’ll take you there [Music] You tell me Just got to the top of another hill and wait for dad to catch up So I thought I’d find a spot in the shade and tuck into a sandwich cuz I’m starving after all our climbing this morning And it’s getting so hot already It was like 10 10:30 and it is boiling [Music] Grab me What are you doing today Oh I’m having a sandwich Just through the Macedonian border and heading into country number 10 Greece It’s also kind of home cuz dad’s half Greek I’m caught Greek Here they go [Music] Hey Hey A waterworks He didn’t like that Go Plenty more of them to come Yeah First thing happens in Greece Let’s go get some Greek salad and some Greek food Kebab Slacky Flaky We have stopped at the first Greek diver we could find because one of the best things about Greece is the food So we’re going to have a bit of a late lunch tuck into some delicious Greek food Also mom landed about an hour ago and she’s driving up to see us and spend the next week with us as we cycle through Northern Greece We’re both very much looking forward to seeing [Music] her Well getting into later in the afternoon our first day in Greece Lovely lunch lovely weather lovely roads amazing scenery already Mountains either side Yep A great start to our last country in Europe Mom’s here Hello Hello Seeing you here Hello son You’re all wet and adorable Oh lovely Hello Hello [Music] First time using the cycling sandals So nice not having sweaty feet Got the fresh air running through them It was great cycling through a part of Greece neither of us had visited before And we were surprised by how agricultural it is As we approached the coast the hills started to grow but the thought of being by the sea motivated us on Well we were just having coffee and the heavens have opened I don’t think we’re going to be leaving anytime soon cuz this is torrential rain It’s come the last climb for today There she is The sea Something we haven’t seen for a month [Music] We’ve made it to the Aian Sea Feels good to be here Got three days off the bikes now to rest and recharge ahead of the Asia section of the journey Yeah looking forward to a swim some Greek food and some time to spend with mom before we crack on with the next part [Music] We took a few days off the bike in Kavala to rest and explore the town with mom and then it was time to get back on the saddle for our final couple of days cycling in Europe We thought the ride along the coast was going to be relatively easy but the winds had other ideas [Music] This wind is brutal It’s literally slowed us down to 12k an hour Not fun You know what’s better than a stiff head A really stiff head really A really stiff headwind up a hill Bring it [Music] on Taking shelter from the wind in the little bus stop Mom’s bought some snacks for lunch [Music] What Why do you slow down so much when there’s a head lift Cuz you’ve got 30 years on me Stronger legs and youth No but I pedal the same amount of like wattage whatever it’s called Cadence M If it’s on the flat if it’s uphill or if it’s into a headwind I’m putting the same power down in my legs Yeah but I’m not Why Cuz I lose power when I get uphill No I’m not going the same speed I’m going slower Yeah but you’re still going quicker than me Yeah well yeah I know that I’m going to wait for you cuz my muscles are older than yours But are you actually trying or you just going leisurely No I’m just banging along with my thumb Well I don’t know [Music] Well 102ks in close to our accommodation and we appear to have hit a bit of a water obstacle Choice one 20k detour Choice two get wet Looks like we might be getting wet It’s not too deep but it’s very fast flowing so don’t fall over [Music] This is fun [Music] We’re pedaling along this beautiful off-road track alongside the sea We’re about 15ks along here and it’s stunning Right on through the [Applause] door to all that feeds your soul Well at least it’s sunny and the views are good [Music] So come with me I’ll take you there I’ll take you there That is very cold One way to freshen up Oh that was just what I needed after a long morning on the bike Making the most of being by the sea as this will probably be the last sort of day along the sea until we get to Vietnam in like 6 months time So yeah it’s not the warmest but it’s refreshing and it’s definitely well needed here with all my friends [Music] After a 50 km pretty short day but it took its time cuz we’re off road for most of it But we’ve arrived at the campsite All three of us in the tent tonight so it’s going to be quite cozy And it’s our last full day in Europe today Tomorrow we head into Turkey and the start of the Asia section of the trip Tent is up Time for another swim in the sea And I think dad might actually come with me this time Unless he’s been too much of a wuss because Oh it’s cold What are you making Dad Greek salad [Music] Well we tried to get lots of sleep last night but with dad snoring it’s nearly impossible It’s not fun Both mom and I didn’t sleep much at all The thing just But we have a solution that we’re going to try Mom bought out some things that might help So we’re going to give them to dad and see what we can do We felt a mix of emotions on our last day in Greece Excitement about the prospect of cycling into unknown territory where we knew the adventure was really going to ramp up but also sadness for saying goodbye to mom and leaving Europe behind Theo pork suaki in pa anna patatis parakalo uh with tatiki tomatis 10 minutes in daxi indi our last meal in grease and our last meal with mom but we don’t know how long just what we need Stop him snoring Here we go There you go Let’s hope they work I can use that tennis bra against Joshua Really Oh yeah Yeah cuz you keep us awake You got to learn I don’t sleep Is that got instructions on it Just passed the signs for the border into Turkey 2KS to go We’re at the edge of Europe [Music] Look after him No I’ve got to look after you [Music] Always sad game saying goodbye especially when we don’t know when we’re next going to see mom But we got to keep pedaling and we can still FaceTime her every day But it’s hard [Music]