Next time I’ll set my alarm right.

I set my alarm as usual for 5, unfortunately I forgot about the extra hour change from Italy to Greece. So an hour down the road I thought I had taken 2.5 hours to breakfast and pack then I worked out my mistake.

A Couple of hours in I stopped for my first coffee and a borgatsa (cream pie) they really are my favourite sprinkled with icing sugar and cinnamon.

I looked at the timetable for the Skyros ferry and discovered that there is one at 22.00. In that instant I hatched a plan. If I could get to the Scala Oropoy to Eretria ferry and land before 19.00 so 18.00 ferry I could get to Kimi Port and catch the Skyros ferry. Any later and I just would not have the time.

So I started cycling at a good pace. Then I met Will, he was cycling about the same pace as me and in the same direction. 2 cycling is always better and faster than 1. Of course we stopped for coffee and a lunch break. Over the Corinth canal. Then I dropped him off at his campsite. We got on famously and had many if the same opinions on many subjects. My ride with him was the first with anyone else on this trip and I enjoyed his company.

I then had 100km to the ferry. Now my road was flat and a following wind but as after Corinth there are more hills and the wind me got turbulent. Riding alone was hard and no respite. Then hills started to appear? I was wilting under the pressure. My average speed dropped to 18kph from 25kph and the hills even less. 18.00 came and went then 19.00 gone and I was rushing up the hills to make the 20.00 ferry. I arrived at the Ferry port at 19.52. At least I could get to the campsite by 20.45 in Eretria.