Journeying through the rugged mountain roads and trails of Albania, including stretches of the TET, we’ll uncover hidden, traditional villages and communities tucked away from the modern world. By riding with camping gear, we’ll have the freedom to choose where we stay each night, embracing both the adventure and the challenge of off-road riding. Wild-camping is allowed within Albania, as long as you are respectful of the land and private property. We will be on CRF 250s (or similar), so we will be light and nimble - able to tackle some challenging and exciting terrain. On the other side of that, we will be limited in carrying capacity. You are expected to have a Mosko 40 (augmented setup, see below) or similar capacity luggage. Plan to pack light camping gear. We will have a support truck within the days ride that will have a mechanic and the ability to carry some gear for us when needed to lighten up for the day. Along the way, we'll forge genuine connections with locals, immersing ourselves in the untamed beauty of the mountain countryside. We’ll plan to camp about half the time, with some lodging or homestays scattered within there.
Our mission is to immerse ourselves in Albania's remote mountainscape and in the tradition of besa—the deeply rooted practice of offering honor and protection to guests. We’ll venture into some of the most secluded corners of the mountains and countryside, taking on challenging rocky mountain roads and single track trails (including TET and Rally Albania tracks), where we’ll witness and participate in daily traditions and customs of rural communities, experiencing their rich cultural heritage firsthand. Along the way, we will have meaningful opportunities to give back to the communities we visit, potentially with local family farms, orphanages, or schools.
Eddie is an Expedition Leader with FLMC, as well as one of the Freshline Ambassadors for the Southeast US region, being based in Charlotte, NC. He has been a member of Freshline since 2022, participating in Bootcamp 2 in February 2023. Eddie co-lead Mongolia 2024.
Trained as an Architect, Eddie is detail-oriented, organized, and observant. He enjoys the process of designing and constructing projects - any size from his own man-cave, to a cast-earth clinic in Ghana, to multi-million dollar projects for private and corporate clients. His 8 years of practice has taught him how to think critically in any scenario, be solution-oriented and collaborative.
Eddie brings this experience to FLMC trip leadership by doing just enough planning to have a solid framework for his trips, while allowing a healthy amount of space for flexibility and discovery along the way. Eddie loves to observe and experience other cultures anytime possible, especially the food. Loves a good campfire, bad jokes (his or yours), and good company.
Eddie started out riding street on a Harley Sportster with his parents (badass mom, right?). He has since added a Suzuki DR650 to the mix and now splits his time between both. Other than riding, Eddie enjoys any reason for being outside and active - backpacking, hiking, rock climbing, whitewater sports (a former whitewater raft guide), mountain biking, camping...pretty much any excuse to be outside with friends.
Eddie lives in Charlotte, NC with his equally adventurous (just not on two wheels) wife Sam and their little chi-weenie pup named Frito (who is definitely not adventurous). Together they enjoy working in the garden and on any on-going home-improvement projects they start and just can't quite finish.
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Eddie is an Expedition Leader with FLMC, as well as one of the Freshline Ambassadors for the Southeast US region, being based in Charlotte, NC. He has been a member of Freshline since 2022, participating in Bootcamp 2 in February 2023. Eddie co-lead Mongolia 2024.
Trained as an Architect, Eddie is detail-oriented, organized, and observant. He enjoys the process of designing and constructing projects - any size from his own man-cave, to a cast-earth clinic in Ghana, to multi-million dollar projects for private and corporate clients. His 8 years of practice has taught him how to think critically in any scenario, be solution-oriented and collaborative.
Eddie brings this experience to FLMC trip leadership by doing just enough planning to have a solid framework for his trips, while allowing a healthy amount of space for flexibility and discovery along the way. Eddie loves to observe and experience other cultures anytime possible, especially the food. Loves a good campfire, bad jokes (his or yours), and good company.
Eddie started out riding street on a Harley Sportster with his parents (badass mom, right?). He has since added a Suzuki DR650 to the mix and now splits his time between both. Other than riding, Eddie enjoys any reason for being outside and active - backpacking, hiking, rock climbing, whitewater sports (a former whitewater raft guide), mountain biking, camping...pretty much any excuse to be outside with friends.
Eddie lives in Charlotte, NC with his equally adventurous (just not on two wheels) wife Sam and their little chi-weenie pup named Frito (who is definitely not adventurous). Together they enjoy working in the garden and on any on-going home-improvement projects they start and just can't quite finish.
Bootcamp 2023 - Nominated for leadership by peers
Mongolia 2024 - Expedition Team Member
Albania 2025 - Expedition Team Leader
Joel is a new Freshline Assistant Leader, a graduate of BC08, and member of the Madagascar 2024 Expedition. He is a retired Lieutenant-Colonel from the Royal Canadian Air Force since October 2020; with 24 years of service as a Construction (Civil) Engineer and Fire Protection Specialist. He currently enjoys his retirement travelling the world along with his wife, who is a Foreign Area Officer in the United States Air Force. He resides in Stuttgart, Germany.
He started riding motorcycles both on & off-road during COVID lockdowns in Summer 2021. What Joel lacks in skill & experience, he makes up for with grit, tenacity and his playful nature. He grew up in Northern Ontario (Canada) and has lived abroad since 2017, in Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Georgia (the country), Armenia, and Azerbaijan; not counting travels to many other countries throughout Europe, Central America, the Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia. He speaks fluently in French & English, rudimentary Russian, and dabbles in a dozen or so other languages.
Joel is a caring, dynamic and detail-oriented leader, with leadership experience in combat operations, as a commanding officer, and as a father of two teenage daughters. He takes responsibility for his actions, both good and bad, and strives to enable those around him to be involved, and to grow, while considering their input, but ultimately making the final decision for the group. He tends to plan for the worst, hope for the best, and doesn’t get rattled when decisions need to be made on the fly. Joel’s military career may have created some mental scars, and he may seem a softy at times, but he can always be counted on to go the extra mile for expedition safety and success.
Known for his humorous and relaxed nature, Joel is easy to talk to, even if he is a little too direct sometimes. He is proficient in a multitude of sports, such as ice hockey, backcountry skiing, swimming, squash, and cycling, among many others. He is an avid reader and enjoys fitness-related activities.
Bootcamp 8, 2024 - Nominated for leadership by peers
Madagascar 2024 - Expedition Team Member
India 2024 - Expedition Operations Leader
Albania 2025 - Expedition Operations Leader
