Author: Steph

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Travelsonabike2 Greece Wednesday 16th-October-2013

Garry McGivern with his touring bike

Garry McGivern Travelsonabike2 is cycle touring in Greece on Wednesday, 16th-October-2013. Estefini to Athens. 28 miles. I was still on the road nice and early despite not having far to go. I know what it’s like when I go into big cities. I always get lost, and yes as per normal I did!

Once I sort of found the centre, I found a hotel booked in. I wanted to make sure I had a room. I also got a city map from them so I could go in search of the sights. Mainly the Acropolis. Whilst I was checking in it started to pour with rain really heavily. So I sheltered in the hotel lobby for an hour or so and picked the receptionist’s brains. I wanted to know where bike shops were and where I could get some packaging material from.

The rain just wasn’t letting up so I just went for it. I needed to get on.
I found the Acropolis, but unfortunately, it was up a big hill. And not accessible with my bike, so I never really got my picture taken with it. I also managed to sort packaging and bags for my stuff. The only thing I haven’t sorted is a box for my bike, hopefully, I’ll get one tomorrow!

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You can also follow my progress and see where I stop each night by visiting the Where’s Garry web page; there, you’ll find a map of the route I’ve taken so far.

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Travelsonabike2 Greece Tuesday 15th-October-2013

Touring bike by road

Garry McGivern Travelsonabike2 is cycle touring in Greece on Tuesday, 15th-October-2013. Kamena to Elefsina. 106 miles. Well, today didn’t go quite according to plan. But that was the gamble I took yesterday afternoon. The route I should have taken went up another mountain, and I couldn’t take another climb, not late in the day anyway! The route I took, I knew, turned into a motorway. I was just hoping to either ride on it ( there aren’t any signs saying you can’t. And a local did tell me that nobody would stop me because I’m a tourist) or maybe there was another road that wasn’t on my map.

It all started okay, and I was making good progress flying along on the motorway until I came to a toll booth. I knew I should have got off before it. But I was just hoping that it would have been like it was in China, where I just used to ride through! No, the police got me before I got there and made me cycle back to the last exit, the one I should have got off at! The police were ok, really. They seemed more interested in the big stick I was carrying in case of dogs. When I explained to them what it was for, they just smiled.
Long Day
I did manage to follow the motorway for a good few more miles on the service road that ran alongside. But even that ran out, and I found myself on a dirt track heading away from the motorway! I eventually found my way back and then, at the first opportunity, headed inland on a road that was on my map.
I think I might have pushed myself a little bit too much today. Not sure if it was the heat or lack of food. But I felt really faint this afternoon and just had to stop and have something to eat and drink. I could really feel myself going. I was going up another big climb at the time, and I’d already done ninety miles! Luckily, I still had plenty of water and some Gummy bears to get my sugar level back up. After about 10 minutes, I felt fine and continued up the climb.
I finished in the dark again tonight, but I’m more or less where I wanted to get to. I think I’ve got about a ten-mile ride into the centre of Athens tomorrow. Although I don’t know what or where I’m exactly heading for!

 

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You can also follow my progress and see where I stop each night by visiting the Where’s Garry web page; there, you’ll find a map of the route I’ve taken so far.

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Travelsonabike2 Greece Monday 14th-October-2013

Rocky landscape

Garry McGivern Travelsonabike2 is cycle touring in Greece on Monday, 14th-October-2013. Larissa to Kamena Vourla. 93 miles. I got told by some other cyclist yesterday that it was flat all the way to Athens! Now I don’t know what drugs or what he’s been smoking. But it certainly wasn’t flat. Not with a 1200m climb anyway! But I always take what other people say with a pinch of salt. I hope they’re right, but I’m not disappointed when they’re not!

My dog stick came in handy today I had to fend off some other dogs today. I’m really not enjoying the dog situation! I’ve been in the clouds for most of the day (some say I’m permanently in the clouds!) and have not been able to see anything at all. It was even raining for a while, but it’s so humid the sweat just pours off of me!

Nice hotel tonight, or rather the location is nice. It’s right on the seafront, I’m sitting on my balcony writing this with the sound of the sea lapping on the beach. Sometimes I wish I wasn’t alone! But only for a moment!

Subscribe to my blog and follow me as I travel around on my bike. Plus, as a subscriber, you’ll be among the first to receive news and updates on future tours. And, of course, you can always follow me on social media: Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest.

You can also follow my progress and see where I stop each night by visiting the Where’s Garry web page; there, you’ll find a map of the route I’ve taken so far.

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Travelsonabike2 Greece Sunday 13th-October-2013

House by road in mountains

Garry McGivern Travelsonabike2 is cycle touring in Greece on Sunday, 13th-October-2013. Kozani to Larisa. 81 miles. The day started off a bit misty and murky. I even put my lights on so other drivers would see me. But after an hour or two, as I started to climb up another mountain, it cleared, and it was lovely sun all day.

I was about three-quarters of the way up that 1000-metre climb when I was set upon by five dogs! Normally, I can outrun them. But not when I’m crawling up some mountain! One dog, a huge, great white brute of a dog, was particularly aggressive. He even bit my bike and caught one of my straps. Nearly caused me to fall off. Luckily, it didn’t. I just stopped. Not wanting to hang around with five snarling dogs around me, I soon started pedalling for all I was worth. But these bastards wouldn’t give up, particularly the big white one. I threw some bread at them that I was carrying. I hoped they’d stop for that. No chance they just wanted me! I was really starting to worry after a kilometre of this pack chasing me, not sure if I could keep what little speed I had going. Luckily, the road levelled out a bit, and I was able to get enough speed up so I could lose them!

I Survived

A pretty scary 20 minutes or so. I’ve had plenty of dogs chase me and go for me, but never actually had one that’s made contact before! I must admit it did shake me up a bit. But I’m alright, and so is the bike, so no harm done in the end!

I had another big climb this afternoon, only 500 metres this time. But when I came down the other side, all the mountains had disappeared, and it was nice and flat for the last 15 miles or so. The first time I’d not seen a mountain in my way in about four weeks.

Subscribe to my blog and follow me as I travel around on my bike. Plus, as a subscriber, you’ll be among the first to receive news and updates on future tours. And, of course, you can always follow me on social media: Facebook, X, Instagram, YouTube and Pinterest.

You can also follow my progress and see where I stop each night by visiting the Where’s Garry web page; there, you’ll find a map of the route I’ve taken so far.

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