Raining dogs and lightning rods

Once again we were riding along and Shannon was out front somehow riding passed apathetic looking dogs. They looked cozy under a rock overhang, staying out of the rain. I saw two. Both looked like they had the Albanian ennui really hard. That is until I rode up. Suddenly they were barking. Suddenly there weren't two but a pack had appeared and they had purpose. Me. Me and my hateful trailer were upsetting to them all. I looked back to see them closing in on me, but still far enough for me to take a defensive stance. I put my bike down in the mud and picked up some big rocks and began hurling them with all of my force. The dogs immediately rethought their position and passion for biting me or my trailer. They retreated. Yay! monkey wins! This time. We rode in to Vlore on one of the worst roads I have ever seen. Giant potholes and open sewer drains, in a down pour. Giant deep puddles hiding even bigger potholes as the Vlorian drivers ignored it all and drove anywhere they saw an opening, or not, somehow smoking and on a cell phone all at once. Pretty much all nerve wracking and white knuckle inducing. There isn't anything but rain forecast in every direction in the beautiful Mediterranean. Cool temperatures prevail. Our clothing is becoming more roomy, on the plus side of things, so it isn't all bleak and negative. I have a super sweet awkward bicycle tan, despite all the days of cloud cover. Things could certainly be worse.