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The Grand Adventure

A bike trip with no end Read more

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The Grand Adventure Helene Rimberg
Hitting the pause again
October 22 in the United States ☁️ 18 °C
A fairly restless sleep on very hard chairs. Rouse ourselves as the airport got busy early. Pass through security and escape to the quiet of a lounge. Bounce around for the next 9 hours and finally board for our 10 hour fights. A few naps and movies later - and we are in Portland. We will spend the next few months hanging out, caring for pets and deciding upon our next destination. Stay tuned …Read more
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Never say never
October 21 in England 🌧 10 °C
After proclaiming that I was not going to schlep my bike across the pond again, here we are heading to Portland with our bikes. We considered so many options and we decided to a) return home earlier than anticipated and b) bring our bikes as it would afford us the most flexibility. Thus we head to the airport in a very fancy Mercedes Sprinter (cheapest option we could find) with all our gear. Have a relatively easy check-in and didn’t really have to explain how Doug had been able to stay in Schengen longer than 90 days ( because he’s married to me an EU citizen). Board and have a relatively short flight to London where we have a 20 hour layover. Settle in for a long night.Read more
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Exploring the city further
October 20 in Greece ☀️ 22 °C
After a morning spent organizing, check out the touristy market. Not quite the type of market that I recall in other Greek cities. Find a few things and then off on a walk along the walls (which surround a large section of the city). Walk along the coastline until we get back to a beach. This time we make it in the water. Definitely much cooler. Wait forever for a bus. Barely back before dark.Read more
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A bike ride amongst the hills
October 19 in Greece ☀️ 20 °C
For a nice change, go off into the hills with unweighted bikes. Zip (sort of) up the hills full of vineyards and olive trees. Walk around Arhanes, though can’t seem to find the archeological site. A final few hills before a very nice descent. Back in the city, it is not quite so nice riding. Out for a nice lamb dinner.Read more
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Heraklion
October 18 in Greece ☀️ 20 °C
Nice sunny day! Go for a beach walk before checking out. Return to the beach for awhile but a bit too cool to go in the water. Head into the busy city to our AirBnb. Find an open store (another Sunday) and get dinner food.Read more
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A chilly day across the mountains
October 17 in Greece 🌬 17 °C
As predicted, the rain returns in the morning. Manage to pack up without getting too much wet. Long and hilly day in front of us to get close to Heraklion. After a bit of busy roads, head inland (ie UP) and ride through small villages and around mountains. One of those inclines where you lose elevation with each hill. Up 100 feet, down 50. Finally make it to the top and zoom down for a very chilly descent. Find a nice hotel to warm up in Gazi.Read more
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A gorge hike
October 16 in Greece ☀️ 18 °C
Much nicer weather today. Opt for a hike into nearby Mili Gorge. Seems to be quite popular. Perhaps all the people who wanted to do big gorge hikes but couldn’t because of closures? Explore ruins and a small village. Back for a bit of beach time. Out for dinner. Nice music at restaurant. Fall asleep to more music and dancing st the campground taverna.Read more
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A better day
October 15 in Greece 🌬 19 °C
Skies are still gray and the winds are very blustery but not so much rain. Pack up and move over to a campsite. Walk into town and check out the outdoor market and archeological museum. Wander a bit more before heading back.Read more
Traveler She doesn't look too happy being in the photo🤣
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A shelter in the storm
October 14 in Greece 🌧 18 °C
Stormy night gives way to soggy and windy morning. Large amounts of rain are predicted so no plans besides stay dry in our bungalow. Manage a little beach walk when the sun pops out.
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Exploring Rethymno
October 13 in Greece 🌬 24 °C
Walk the long beach into town. Sun emerges but it is relatively cool out. Walk through the surprising crowded streets of old town and explore around the fortress. Do a bit of window shopping before walking back. Clouds are building! Make it back just as rain starts. As predicted.Read more
Traveler Wow
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Across the island to Rethymno
October 12 in Greece ⛅ 24 °C
With another big storm approaching, opt to head to the northern side of the island. Short detour to see Prevelli
bridge and then up through the Kourtaliotiko gorge. Quite scenic but windy road with quite a lot of cars. Reach the summit of our climb and cruise down into Rethymno, 3rd largest city on Crete. Walk around a bit before riding to campground and our little bungalow. Walk on the beach, get groceries, and make nice salmon dinner.Read more
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A scenic ferry ride along the coast
October 11 in Greece ☀️ 24 °C
As there are no roads along this section of the coast, catch the morning ferry heading east. Here the mountains drop right into the sea! Make a few stops and disembark briefly at Agias Romeli which is where Samaria Gorge ends. Hiking it had been on our to-do list but it’s been closed since last storm. Arrive in Hora Sfakion. Have quite a few climbs along the coastal road before ending in Plakias. Out for lamb dinner.Read more
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A coastal hike to Lissos
October 10 in Greece ☁️ 23 °C
Staying an extra day to do some hiking. Grab our gear and head east along the long distance E4 trail which covers almost all of Crete. Beautiful beaches and rocky coves! Big up and then down into the ruins of Lissos. Skies cloud up and it starts to rain as we head back over the big hill. Finally stops and we get a bit of beach time in.Read more
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A really hard day
October 9 in Greece ☀️ 23 °C
With only a short distance to go, head back to the beach. Amazingly empty as buses have yet to arrive. As we walk back to our bikes, the hordes of people stream by us. Another one of those up and over days. First 1000 feet of elevation are on pavement. Steep but ok. Then we hit the gravel and are in the middle of the mountains. Push for most of the next 4 miles and 1000 feet. Hardest challenge in quite awhile. Make it to the top and it changes to pavement. Cruise down to the Libyan Sea and find the campground outside of Paleochora. Nice shower, walk into town for big Gyros.Read more
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Pink sand beach of Elafonsi
October 8 in Greece ☀️ 22 °C
Manage to sleep in and feel mostly rested. Grab some breakfast on the way and head south and UP. Manage to avoid bigger road for quite awhile. When we finally do, bombarded with all the traffic and buses coming the other way. Big down to Elafonsi. Stop to chat with a woman who is from Olympia WA. Get some tips and end up camping in the parking lot right above the road. Thank you Zoe! Walk down to pink beach as everyone is leaving. Wade to the island. Quite beautiful albeit a bit windy. Back to our “site”, set up and then out to dinner.Read more
Hannah Boe Wow 😮
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Onward to Crete
October 7 in Greece ☁️ 22 °C
It takes awhile to pack up as we have been in our apartment for 3 days. Head back to the beach for some beach time before riding back to catch the ferry to Crete. Loaf up and sail away. A few delays meant we landed at midnight. Sketchy ride in the dark to campground. Set up and collapse at 2:00.Read more
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Anniversary Beach Day
October 6 in Greece ☀️ 25 °C
35 years! Get some chores done before heading to the ship wreck, just north of Gythio. Pass our apartment, heading south, and go to Mavrovoni Beach. Lounge in the loungers and try not to get blown away. Quiet, sandy beach. Back to apartment and then walk into Gythio for very tasty pizza dinner (and gelato).Read more
Hannah BoeHappy anniversary 🥰🥳🍾
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TravelerHappy Anniversary!
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Sparta and Mystras
October 5 in Greece ☀️ 24 °C
Catch a bus to Sparta and mosey around a bit ehi,e awaiting next bus to Mystras. Not much to Sparta apart from archeological site which we don’t visit. On to Mystras, a major Byzantine compound. Built into a hill for protection. Was a seat of power and grandeur for centuries. Incredibly well preserved and restored! Lots of walking, UP to fortress on the top. “Miss” the last bus back to Sparta so walk. Wait to catch bus back to Gytheio. Stop for dinner before riding back up to apartment.Read more
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Gythio
October 4 in Greece 🌬 23 °C
Opt to take a slightly longer route that took us through Areopoli; the capital of the Mani. Beautiful stone buildings with a lot of quiet spots to explore. Finish our climb and ride across (and down) through the peninsula. Meet up with our apartment host who led us UP to our apartment. Walk into Gythio for some food (another Sunday) and return to make dinnerRead more
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Another day another climb
October 3 in Greece ⛅ 21 °C
Finally leave our campsite and begin another big climb. Either I am tired or the wind is sucking my energy or both. Switchbacks do at times provide a tailwind. Pass many stone villages wedged into the hills. Cruise down and find free campsite that is part of a taverna. Walk into small town and then back for a swim. Nice seafood dinner at taverna.Read more
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A real rest day
October 2 in Greece ⛅ 20 °C
After yesterday’s adventures decide to stay put and let our bodies recover. Weather is a bit cloudy and windy; do very little. Manage to play cards at the beach bit going in the water is not an option (though quite a few people do) bRead more
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A tromp, a scramble and bushwhacking
October 1 in Greece ☁️ 21 °C
Leisurely morning and then head out on a walk into the hills. Do some climbing past tiny hamlets and many olive trees. Back to the beach and opt to walk off route, along the rocks. Volcanic, sharp rocks. Can’t find a way back to path so head inland into thorns. Walk in circles in a tiny area for way too long. End up going back where we had started. Our legs and arms bear the battle scars. Make it back to campsite. Get a bit of beach time and then out for a good dinner. And gelato.Read more
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Up and over to Stoupa
September 30 in Greece ⛅ 21 °C
As we have decided to take a later ferry, opt to break hilly ride into two days. Beautiful ride up into the mountains. Very little besides trees! Cruise down and stop in touristy Kardamyli for lunch. Continue on to campground. Clouds have rolled in quite a bit.Read more
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Kalamata
September 29 in Greece ☀️ 25 °C
Of course our day starts with a climb. But it’s a reasonable grade and though I miss a turn we manage to get to the top in good time. Opt for the “quieter” road which ends up being rough gravel. Nice views but a bit of pushing. Cruise down through small towns, many with beautiful little churches. Lunch by the windy beach before riding to Kalamata, a relatively large city. Bit busy but get to campground on far side. Out for dinner by the sea.Read more
Hannah Boe Wow 🤩🌅
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Methoni Castle and beyond
September 28 in Greece ☀️ 25 °C
A few hills between us and our destination but a relatively short day. Nice views along the coastline as we head south. Pass through pretty harbor of Pylos. Arrive in Methoni, the last point before turning east. Visit the Methoni castle. It was occupied by many during the course of history. Huge complex! Finish our ride at a campground on the beach. Make it into the water but it’s getting harder as it cools down.Read more
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