Six months. One 8-meter motorhome. One very brave dog. And 33 straight days of rain.

When we sold our house and loaded up “Holly” for a life on the road, we knew there would be adventures. We just didn’t realize those adventures would include navigating missing sewer grates in Vlorë, getting “bounced” by late-night donut-drivers, and being gifted free wine in the ruins of Apollonia.

As we wait for our ferry back to Italy, we’re looking back at the highs, the lows, and the lessons learned from our first half-year of full-time travel.

The “Rainabania” Challenge

People ask us why we spent nearly three months in Albania. The answer is simple: The Schengen Shuffle. To keep our visa days in check, we had to step outside the EU, and Albania welcomed us with open arms—and a lot of water.

We survived 33 days of rain. Not “showers,” but the kind of rain that makes you reconsider every life choice while you’re trying to hang laundry in a 5-minute sun-break. But even in the mud, we found gems like Gjirokastër (yes, it’s spelled with a G!) and the surprisingly modern grocery stores of Fier.

Vlorë: The Good, The Bad, and The Noisy

Our final days in Albania were spent in Vlorë, preparing for the ferry. If you’re traveling in a large rig like our 8-meter Hymer, a word of advice: Watch the grates. We encountered a parking lot where half the sewer covers were missing. One wrong turn and Holly would have been in a very deep hole!

We also learned that “quiet” parking spots can turn into late-night drift tracks. After a few hours of locals doing donuts around the camper, we realized that sometimes, the “Happy Detour” is just finding a new place to sleep at 1:00 AM.

6 Months In: Was It Worth It?

Looking back, the highlights haven’t always been the “bucket list” items. While the Swiss Alps were breathtaking (and terrifying at 2,200 meters in the snow!), it’s the smaller moments that stick with us:

• The superhero help we got in the Netherlands.
• The accidental discovery of Gargano National Park.
• Meeting online friends like Andre and Lisa in real life.

What’s Next for Empty Nest Adventures?

The “Toe of the Boot” is calling. We are heading back to Italy, with a plan to hit Sicily, explore the ruins of Pompeii, and eventually ferry over to Barcelona. We’re officially avoiding Rome for Easter (we aren’t “crowd people,” after all), but the journey to Gibraltar is just getting started.

Are you a fellow “Shuffler” or an aspiring empty-nester? We want to hear from you! What’s your “mood” after 33 days of rain? Drop a comment below!

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Blog Sidebar / Fact Box: The 6-Month Stats

• Countries Visited: Netherlands, Germany, France, Austria, Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Italy, San Marino, Montenegro, Albania.
• Longest Rain Streak: 33 Days.
• Favorite “Sleeper” Surprise: Montenegro-Valdanos and the Cats of Petrovak
• Holly’s Major Repair: New kitchen faucet (finally!), new skylight and fresh oil .