February 24th, 2007 | categorizilation: all categories,Greece
Today’s distance / 今日の走行距離: 125.86km
Average speed / 平均速度: 16.8km/h
Time on bike / 走行時間: 7h 27m
Total distance to date / 今日までの積算距離: 4157.2km (plus 4200km)
Ascent / 上り: +995m
Descent / 下り: -780m
It was a cold start this morning. My thermometer registered 0 degrees celcius, and a frigid gusty wind was blowing from the northeast. Lucky for me however, Thessaloníki is in the southwest. Joy.
I really should have just milked the tailwind all day, and not take any detours. But I couldn’t help it. The brown tourist sign said ‘Thermal Roman Baths 2km’. It was a tailwind in that direction anyway.
I cycled for 5km, and still no sign of any baths. After 10km, another sign said ‘Ancient Abdera 10km’. This was also in the tailwind direction, but certainly not in the direct direction of Thessaloníki. My map is a massive Europe-wide map that only shows the main roads. I figured that there must be a connecting road from Abdera to where I needed to go. To Abdera it is.
The remains were not spectacular, but moving all the same, considering they are 2,500 years old. Incredible.
After having a wander around the remains, I knocked on the door of the Coastguard HQ at the Abdera port to ask directions to the main road. The news was not good. They showed me a detailed map, showing that I had to go back about 20km to the main road. A large river separated me and where I wanted to go, and the only bridge was upstream at the main road.
For 20kms I battled the gusty sidewind up to the main road. Once on the main road however I flew along the flat smooth road to Kavala, often in my lowest gear.
I do not travel with a guide book. To have one would be handy, but they are expensive and heavy. Plus, the element of surprise is something I enjoy. Kavala certainly took me by surprise.
This massive aqueduct just appeared out of nowhere, separating one half of the town from the other. I felt very small cycling through the arches.
The coast here in Kavala is very Greek. The sea is like translucent liquid peppermint candy. Houses clinging for dear life to the sides of the hills, all clambering for a better view of the sea.
A beautiful white church took my breath away, contrasting against the blue sky, nestled between breezy olive groves.
The day ended with a 300m climb up a pass. I am currently set up in a pagoda in a picnic area amongst pine trees. Still very cold, 8pm and 0 degrees celcius.
Pity there were no remains of the thermal water as well as the bricks – you could have warmed up before cycling on. Hope the site was worth the 20km battle back to the main road.
Faaar out, your words are as good as your shots. Love the peppermint sea and the clinging, clambering houses…
Pity Malcolm doesn't remember the blu tac incident; I'm sure he'd enjoy it. The mighty Windsor was possibly around for that one too… Wonder what he's up to these days. Anyway, will keep updating myself.
(including Kathryn's marriedness… dropping like flies, I tell you.)
Mum, I was hoping for some warm water alright. Gutted that there ended up only being stones.
Lee, the last I heard from Matt (about a week ago), he was back in Fox working on the glacier again. Prior to that he was galavanting around South America in a $500 van. Apparently he's planning on going back there in the near future. Sounds like good times.
Marija, I will be heading towards Albania and the Adriatic coast in the next few weeks. Unfortunately I will only be cutting across the south west corner of Macedonia on my way to Albania. I hope I will have time to savour some local delights!
