| 8.20 –
Left Platsa. Steadily uphill on excellent road to Kivelia.
Nice views of Ag Nik & Stoupa |
|
| 8.55 –
Arrived at Kivelia which is well worth visiting. It is
a small, quiet, very Greek village untouched by tourism
but has no taverna |
|
| 9.15 –
Left Kivelia. Downhill on good road to Melia. Nice view of
Kato Chora –
& the Panagia Yiatrissa Monastery on the ridge high above
Melia |
|
| 9.30 –
Arrived at Melia. A large village, worth exploring, which
has a tree shaded taverna in a square one level above the
main road |
|
|
| 9.45 –
Left Melia. Long climb uphill towards an industrial eyesore
on the ridge above. (At home at least the planners would
have had it painted green.) Then a long downhill to Kariovouni
with stunning views all the way |
|
| 10.15 –
Arrived at Kariovouni. Tree shaded taverna and fountain on
the left, below road level, at the sharp bend
|
|
| 10.30 –
Left Kariovouni. Long, long uphill involving some pushing,
until a rock cutting at the summit reveals the “Thank God”
chapel. Then a great downhill run through
Driopi to a T junction. Beware – the road as far as Driopi
is in bad repair with potholes and loose surface but it improves
after Dhriopi.
|
| 11.00 –
Arrived at the T junction. If you turn left its downhill
all the way to Stoupa. Turn right and its uphill all the
way to Saidona and beyond. Stupidly I turned right.
|
11.05 –
Left T junction for long climb to Kastania which involved
much pushing.
I
acquired a friend on route – who I left behind
when I was peddling but who caught me up again whenever
I pushed.
|
 |
| 11.30 –
Arrived at Kastania. Well worth a look round. It has a tree-shaded
taverna, a tower house and an impressive church |
 |
| 12,20 –
Left Kastania for long climb to Saidhona. Nice views down
to the coast |
  |
| 1
3, 00 –
Arrived at Saidona and had my lunch. I can’t tell you what Saidhona
is like because getting to it meant walking uphill and I was
too exhausted! |
|
| 13.20 –
Left Saidona. Long uphill section on excellent new road
|
|
| 14.00 –
Arrived at the junction where the road up into the Vasiliki
Forest commences. (The last time I was up here it was rough
dirt track) This is the highest point on the ride and from
here it’s PLEASURE all the way down! However TAKE CARE
because the road to Exochori in some places is potholed
and has a loose surface and rocks can have fallen onto
the road anywhere,
|
|
Just
before you reach Exochori it is well worth taking the road
to the right to Kolibetseika
to visit the Panorama
taverna. The view from its terrace overlooking the Viros Gorge
is spectacular. You can now return to the main road by walking
through the delightful hamlet of Chora. |
|
| 15.30 –
Left Panorama taverna, down through Proastio to the coast
road. Nice views of Kardamyli on the way down - and the coast
to the South |
 |
| 16.08 –
Arrived at the coast road.
|
|
| 16.30 –
Arrived at Stoupa – exhausted. |
|
