A Couple of Days Ride Outta…….

So spectacular. My second visit and so pleased I did.

I walked slowly to the bank at 8.30 there was still a small queue. All I wanted to do was change some notes. But the sneer the woman gave me when I asked. Anyway that’s sorted.

Riding into Trikala I spied a bike shop, Vaskos Bikes, and took the opportunity to pump my tyres.

Kalambaka was only 50kms away and a slow ride therefor sightseeing and what may be 2 days rest due to thunderstorms.

I had no Garmin freezing problems today. Although when I was trying to route to the campsite the Garmin persisted on trying to take me on a 5km loop for a 1km journey, I ignored it.

My Garmin froze 😲. I rashly bought the new 2040 solar, how perfect for my trip in the sun. After the first day I put it in the sun to recharge the only slightly depleted battery, to my dismay 30mins later I checked, Solar charging has been temporarily suspended. Above 50⁰ it blows up the battery it seems. Then Thursday morning was I was zooming in and out the whole thing froze, I did the classic turn off then on 3 times still frozen. I fired upmy phone onto komoot and used that to get me to a cafe, not the easiest of tasks holding the phone in one hand and riding. Luckily by this time the Garmin had unfrozen and it guided me but did freeze 3 X more over the rest of the day.

I needed to change some large cash notes so sailed into a bank to be informed they didn’t change notes. I asked why. Maybe Greek English understanding was lost here.

Coming out of the mountains onto the plain was spectacular, although the road was a bit suspect.

I rode to Achilleas Spring, just by the aide of the road, i was quite excited. Its just a spring, not too interesting. It was only as I was walking back to my bike that I notices how many tissues and wet wipes then mounds of defecation. I’m sure this site could be better looked after.

Eventually I stopped in a small hotel in Karditsa. There are lots of bikes there and as always a rather stodgy pizza 🍕. But thats how birthdays go, you can’t always have the best pizza.

The alarm rang at 5am (I left it on for a little longer than necessary the surrounding campers had made noise till late)

I made coffee, it was very dissatisfactory, I’m going to have to practice. Then 2 kiwi fruit for breakfast, pack and put the gate at 6.05.

The sun is just up snd the temperature could not be more conducive to cycling. 3 flashing lights at the back snd 1 at the front. I hope I’m seen.

As I cruised into Chalkida having already stopped for a mpougatsa. I suddenly realised all my plans of getting a small bit of bike innertube from the shops wasn’t going to happen everything is still closed at 7am I rode on.

My big find near a garbage bin was an old umbrella that I cut a section from. I’ll stick that to the bottom of my bag that’s waterproof.

I have ridden this route before and despite my previous knowledge I didn’t fill up with enough water or eat anything else. So when the route turned left and took me up the rough off road track I crossed my fingers in hoping there would be food and water somewhere.

Up and over (no pictures, look at the spring blog). As you go down the other side the views are spectacular but the road takes me through the weirdest of towns usually there is no one there. But a more thorough search threw up a cafe. The woman easily persuaded me to have 2 toasties.

At this point, 10.30ish, I assessed my situation 59kms in and I was thinking another 50 more. I

I met 2 cyclists who had cycled from Poland and were heading for Athens then turning back.

I pushed on to a campsite I had selected. I thought early but I had ridden 118kms so that is OK.

I put some Sugru inside and outside of my front bag, hopefully later I will stick the umbrella material over the top. I also put some Sugru over my mug handles so I can pick it up off the cooker.

A stella prebirthday, chicken, cake, candles, singing, meal at O Stefanos on the beach. As always Polivious and all the guys did us proud.

I had packed my bike with only a couple of last minute items to put it. My bikes setup has been pretty much the same for 3 or 4 years and it suits me fine.

I left home at just after 6am great that Simon, Sheryl, Becca and ‘1 Scoop’ Robbie were left at the house to finish their holiday, making my leaving easier.

But just a few seconds after leaving as the bike is bouncing over a few ruts I hear a harsh scraping sound my front bag is bouncing on my front wheel.

I tried to hold the bag up throughout the 30 minute ride but the damage already done a hole in the bottom of this once was 100% waterproof bag that I store my most important documents, electronics, must never get wet stuff. I know a piece of innertube and some superglue will fix it but….. grrrrrrrrrrr.

I have had to do a make shift system to hold the bag up. I will ride a shorter route today and make use of the early stop to endeavour to fix this situation.

I am on my way north. Through Greece to Albania, Montenegro, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia then into Italy. If time allows I will take an excursion up Monte Zoncolon I hear it’s a breeze. Then on to Tuscany to ride the spectacular Tuscany Trail.

Garmin just so you know………

Garmin took me on a merry roundabout of mountains and many turnbacks, a bit of hike a bike, it was exhausting. But eventually I made my way to Milos camping in Eretria. I have rewritten the route hoping it is better from tomorrow.

Readjusted my bar bag and put a sort of failsafe system for the valuables bag to stop it hitting the tyre. Tomorrow and subsequent days will tell me how good my system is.

I have decided to change my plan and get back to Greece. The rellies are turning up at the end of next month snd I have work to do on the house and rooms.

The tour de France is fantastic. So organising myself to get a watch the Giro d’Italia was great and I could hardly contain my excitement.

I loitering and did a bit of sightseeing in the town I was staying in just so beautiful.

Then at what I thought was an appropriate time to set to my selected spot, half way up the Montagna Grande di Viggiano about 20kms away.

The ride flat until Viggiano then it rose steeply this is when I met some difficulties, the road was closed and although the let me through official cars and police were starting to hammer up the road so I too the wimps way out and stopped. I was the only person there for a long time but a few more turned up.

The expenitence of watching a grand tour is so spectacular. The cars, the motorbikes, the vans, the support crews and of course the lead riders passing faster than the blink of an eye. Then the peloton legs pumping like pistons in a steam train, even the tailenders, so powerful.  Oh oh oh such a magnificent sight.

Bugger video won’t upload.

Spinoso is a small town. It’s in the middle of no where. The town square has a small bar modern looking in comparison to the old surrounding buildings. Swallows rotate around the square, it’s a bit like heaven.

The bar serves coffee, no-one would be seen dead with an americano I have migrated to the espresso.

The room last night was great. It was a kids room converted into a hotel room. The bathroom was great and newly finished but the shower gel was the most delicious I have ever smelt. I would Ho back solely for that.

I am one hour out or sync so I was up early but got out at about 8 breakfast slowed me down.

Today was a fantastic ride scenery to die for undulating hilly not steep but taxing enough. I stopped regularly for coffee, pizza, sandwich. And so good to be able to buy fizzy water everywhere in litre bottles. Early on I passed a Greek ruin. I was happily taking some photos and 2 other, Italian, cyclists turned up, no pictures of them though.

Yes that’s a field of artichokes

I know, I know I said I was going back to Skyros but the Giro was beckoning, what can I do.

Onto the ferry at about 11pm I charges into the no cabin area and sorted out a space to lie in twice as big as the others. On a few people were there I thought I was in luck. But just before leaving the room had an influx of other passengers shouting and walking up an down the Isles. I find it incredibly that people do not understand that others don’t want to hear them grrrrrr.

But I slept quite well snd at 9am the next morning we arrived and I rode out into glorious sunshine in Brindisi. The customs stopped me but they seemed only interested in how old I am and if I was married.

I got lost getting out of Brindisi and wasted maybe half sn hour riding in circles, partly my fault and partly Garmins. But eventually I got riding. Three route was flat. I was on the service road next to the motorway most of the way. This is part of the Appia Way built by the Romans to shunt troops about, it stretches from Rome to Brindisi.

I stopped at a bike shop with an old guy polishing a steel bike and asked if I could borrow a pump. As usual nether of us could speak the others language but the friendly exchange we had brought joy to my heart. Welcome to Italy.

I had selected a route with a campsite. Unfortunately when I arrived I discovered it was closed. I phoned a selection of other campsites but all were closed. I broke like a twig and got a room. So lazy.

What can do I am helpless to resist. Practically guaranteed to have pizza again tonight.