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.”
![Mike pictured on a training ride in Kosovo before the second leg of his journey.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmUyOGIyMzQwLWJjYTUtNDEyNC04YTgyLTcxZjZmNmFjZDExNTowYjY1YjA0NC1mZjk4LTQyM2QtYjhhMC03YjNlYjNhNDU1MmE=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
1. Training in Kosovo
Mike pictured on a training ride in Kosovo before the second leg of his journey. Photo: Mike Elm
![Mike (right) with two of the generous Bulgarians who welcomed him into their homes.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjVkZTRlNDEyLTExZmEtNGQ5Yi04ODQ1LTMwYzliOWQ1MjE0YToyNDQ3ODkzNy1lOTM3LTQwOWMtOTQ1NC0xNzkyN2I1Y2E0ZDM=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
2. Generous Locals
Mike (right) with two of the generous Bulgarians who welcomed him into their homes. Photo: Mike Elm
![Mike said: "Being hosted two nights in a yurt by Mitko who I found through WarmShowers in Bulgaria was good preparation for the yurts to come in Mongolia!"](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmRmOTEwNDY1LTE3NDktNDU1ZC1iODJkLTRiMDE3ZTdjNmM1Mzo5ZjRkOGY0OC00ZjUwLTQyMDMtOTBhMS00MmRhY2FjMzlkZjY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
3. Staying in a Yurt
Mike said: "Being hosted two nights in a yurt by Mitko who I found through WarmShowers in Bulgaria was good preparation for the yurts to come in Mongolia!" Photo: Mike Elm
![Mike's trusty bike, "Billie", drew the attention of local livestock.](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjJhOGJmOThhLTdlZTQtNDQ4NC1hY2RiLTBmZTAwOTZmNzBkNzo2MWMzMmI5YS1jZjVkLTRhMmMtOWI5Zi0yYzJkM2YzN2MwNmQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=640)
4. Suspicious Livestock
Mike's trusty bike, "Billie", drew the attention of local livestock. Photo: Mike Elm