The pair stayed with generous locals in the city of Prizren until June, when they restarted their adventure, keeping an eye on local restrictions as they went.
They took separate routes – Rosie running and Mike cycling – into Albania, then Macedonia and Bulgaria, before arriving in Varna on the Black Sea coast.
Rosie had run over 400km of the Kom Emine mountain trail, and Mike had cycled through the Rhodope mountains in the south of Bulgaria.
But the couple hit a roadblock at the Georgian border, which has not reopened since the start of the pandemic.
Now, after spending months in some of the most beautiful regions of Europe, Mike and Rosie are back in the UK and self-isolating. But the pair are already eager to get back on their journey as soon as possible.
Mike said: “We're likely to be in the UK at least until Spring next year as the borders are closed to Georgia and Azerbaijan which were our next planned stops.”
9. Sunset in northern Macedonia
Mike called this route "one of the best" on the trip, "if completely inappropriate for cycling! The pinky sunset was a bonus for sure." Photo: Mike Elm
10. Wild Camping
While wild camping in Albania on the way to North Macedonia, Mike said he spotted wolf and bear tracks on the river banks earlier in the day. Photo: Mike Elm
11. On the Right Path?
Not all of the ride was on marked tracks through the Rhodope mountains that form the border between Bulgaria and Greece. Mike said: "I've never seen so many birds of prey, and the howl of wolves was clear one night." Photo: Mike Elm
12. South-central Albania
Dusty and dirty in the Tomorri Mountain National Park in south-central Albania. Photo: Mike Elm