Friday 22 September
7 of us flew into the Greek Island of Mykonos on Friday 22 September. Myself (Edwin) Phil and Mary, Ernie and Nicola and Peter Wilson and Richard Boulton from Arun Adur Section.
The flight went well leaving behind a rainy Gatwick for the blue skies of Greece. A lot of the group had bikes in boxes to be stored at the first nights hotel so we decided to all get taxis. After some shaking of heads by some local taxi drivers the bikes were accommodated sticking out of the open boots with many of their long bungie cords.
Our hotel was in the central part of town within a large area of narrow alleys with no cars allowed. We had a small pool to relax by in the warm sunshine after building up the bikes.
nil miles for the day by bike.
Saturday 23 September
Overnight heavy thunderous rain moved through. The hotel staff were very thoughtful moving the bikes to cover or putting covers over them. The rain cleared soon after breakfast to warm sunny skies the rest of the day.
We decided on a short shakedown ride to the edge of down before catching the 13.15 car ferry to Tinos. One bit shookdown more than anticipated as my brand new chain broke. Sorting it out could meant missing the ferry so I walked scooted or freewheeled the one and a half miles back to the ferry.
We arrived in good time and were directed to the right ferry as 3 big car ferries arrived at near enough the same time and manoeuvred for position to berth on the short jetty. Obviously rush hour time for ferries at Mykonos.
The crossing was 35 minutes with the towering hills of Tinos Island visible from Mykonos. After disembarking I used a chain tool to shorten the chain by 2 links and rejoined it. Then a Tour round town to find a hotel but little room at the inns due to it being Saturday and many Athenians being over here for the weekend. We were eventually sorted with 4 in one hotel and 3 in a nearby hotel.
Tinos is known as Greece's Holy Island and is home to an Icon housed in a church up a hill on the edge of town. Many Greeks make a pilgrimage there and some of the ladies crawl up the hill on hands and knees. Some were doing this as we walked to visit the Church in the evening. Carpet is laid at the side of the road to help them.
4.2 miles for the day.
Posted by Ride Leader
at 6:45 PM BST
