Last night (Wed), I was a bit out of sorts and didn’t go for dinner, I just lay in bed and groaned. Then next morning I was still feeling non 0lussed but did manage some breakfast.
The first part of the day was a 15kms ride to Agia Marina. As always we left in plenty of time but had to press to make sure we caught the ferry.
60 minutes on the ferry nice and relaxed. I know the route ahead, having ridden it many times. Straight out the port of Styra, there is a climb with such devastating gradients 15 -20%. No warm-up, it’s just up. And in my state of tenderness Brett sped off like a whippet chasing a hare. At the top, I was gasping but bravely pushed on. Now with the wind behind and 30kms to the next turn, we sped on. For a cyclist the speed/distance calculations, 65kms in 3 hours to catch the ferry, don’t sound too tough, but I was suffering big time and a few hills and the luggage were not helping.
After the first 30kms we turn right and pushed towards Kymi and our boat. They are repairing the coast road so 20kms out of Kymi the route turns off the glorious flat wind assisted road and into the mountains, sharp punchy climbs, Brett once again whizzing off the front (I’m sure I heard I heard him laugh as I grunted to keep going) he did intermittently come back not sure if it was to check how I was or just to mock me.
Eventually the road turns right and follows a river down to the sea and another left, the Achilles ship bobbing in the distance. We had made the time easily, Brett and I rode to the ticket kiosk on the pier. I smiled and asked for 2 tickets to Skyros. Sorry sir the boat is cancelled 😲. When’s the next one, possibly at 7pm tomorrow 😲. Our heads sank we had pushed together the 5pm ferry and now had to find an hotel, in Kymi. We were both gutted.
Luckily I knew of a hotel, of course its up a very steep climb, we plodded to the reception. The hotel was only sort of open and they had to make up a room, he also allowed us to put the bikes into the next room. Serious top marks to the Corali Hotel in Kymi.
A Couple of Days Ride Outta....... 