Travellers we've met
Chris & Nadine, (Swiss) the Underwegs world tour www.underwegs.ch
David (Swiss) Switzerland to India www.velotrip.ch
Marco (Swiss) world tour www.acrosscontinents.ch
James (US) Georgia to Israel www.tbilisi-telaviv.blogspot.com
Graydon (Canada) Silk Road www.silkroadride.blogspot.com
Urdin & Izaro (Basque) Basque country to India www.1000milla.com
Other travellers' blogs
Chris & Larissa (Dutch) heading to Australia www.fietsenvoorsac.nl
Andrew & Friedel Grant's fantastic website - more inspiration www.travellingtwo.com
Cyclist travelogues - inspiring stuff and good gear lists www.crazyguyonabike.com
Accommodation
Croatia
Otocacs - lots of homestays on the main road through town. €30-40/night
Greece
Pelopponese - Akrata Camping, Egio/Agira. (There are no signs due to local politics but here are directions. Motorists: Patras to Corinth motorway. Exit at Akrata onto Old Nat. Road, then turn left and the camp site is located 2 km further on just after the 'river' (not more than a trickle in summer). Cyclists: Old National Road from Patra then 25km after Egio look for the bridge over the 'river' (traina nd motorway bridges on RHS also) and turn before the bridge. If you end up in Agira you're 3km too far) (email to go here soon)
Turkey
Goreme - Panoramic Camping, on the uphill road out of Goreme leading to Uchizar. Run by friendly Ahmet. Campers and Campervan tourers welcome!
Bingol - Cintar Hotel, on a lane parallel to main street
Georgia
Akhalkalaki - it has a couple of hotels. We stayed in a trucker's dormitory underneath a market shop on the main street. If coming from Akhalksikhe, it's at the far end of the main street, after the last bank on the LHS before the road veers right. If coming from Akhalksikhe, it's 300m uphill on the road opposite the second petrol station you pass at the top of the hill. 5 lari per person/night.
Tbilsi - Irina's hostel, Marjianishvili Street, (near Orthodox Church). Also Dodo's homestay nearby.
Fantastic wild camping spots all throughout Georgia.
Armenia
Haghpat - Flora's B&B, opposite Haghpat monastery- scalding showers make it worth it.
Yerevan - the very helpful Tourist Information behind Republic Square has a long list of homestays and other accommodation.
Border crossings, visas and visa extensions
Georgia
We crossed at the Posof/Turkgozu - Vale crossing between Turkey and Georgia. As of May 2009 Australians didn't require visas to enter Georgia.
Armenia
Visa extensions can be made at OVIR office. Located behind the theatre on Magrashots St, go down the lane beside theatre, near corner of Magrashots and Tumanyan Streets. Cost in 2009 was 500 dram per day.
The Iranian Consulate, Komitas Street, Yerevan - helpful for getting visas. After completing application form, we had to go to Melat Iranian Bank on Republic Square to pay the fee and get a receipt. Returned receipt, application form and two passport photos. Had to wait 2-3 days for visa after that.
Websites we've found useful
Thanks to all the guys at Bigfoot Bikes. Undoubtedly the world's best bike shop www.bigfootbikes.com
Brooks have been very helpful with replacing saddle parts www.brooksengland.co.uk
Magic Carpet Travel - worked wonders for getting our iranian visa www.magic-carpet-travel.com
'On Your Bike' section of Lonely Planet's travel forum http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forum.jspa?forumID=32
The happy little Wanderlust community at www.gowander.com