Saturday 30 Septembe. Ridge Riding

Today was a nominal rest day with no moving on but everyone went along with the idea of climbing over ridges to the north of Andros Town involving 3000ft of climbing.

Weather was warm and sunny on the coast up to 25C but with clouds hanging over the high ridges clearing by afternoon.

From town the first ridge at about 500ft was visible with the 2nd ridge at 1700ft towering above it. The 3rd ridge at 2300ft was hidden behind the second.

We climbed the first ridge with scenic views behind of the town and bay.Then on to the head of the valley and the town of Apikia with little descending before starting the climb of the second ridge. We stopped in Apikia for a picnic elevenses in the absence of a Taverna.

Then a steep climb to the top of the 2nd Ridge with dramatic views towards the coast and inland a strong wind was blowing low cloud over the ridge.

Then a long climb to the head of the valley and a picnic lunch beside a closed Taverna in the village of Vourkoti. Then a short half mile climb to the 2300ft summit of the 3rd ridge

The clouds were clearing as we started our fast descent back down made easier by the almost total absence of traffic.

We stopped in Apikia to fill our water bottles from a natural Spring. The water is bottled in the village and sold as Mountain Spring water.

On the way back Phil, Mary, Richard and I diverted to the beach and Cove at Stenies for a swim and some sunbathing.

20 miles for the day but very high quality miles with 3015ft of climbing (nearly as much as the 60 mile circuit of the Isle of Wight)

Edwin

Saturday 30 September. Richard descending the 2nd Ridge.

Friday 29 September. Batsi to Andros Town

Today we moved on south along the coast and then along a valley to Andros town on the East Coast where we stay 3 nights.

Weather was generally warm and sunny up to 25C with some clouds hanging around the mountains in the centre of the Island.

We climbed up from Batsi Bay with views of the indented coastline and a Greek warship moored in the middle of the bay. The views opened up across a blue sea to distant Islands as the road climbed to 700ft.

We stopped in the small village of Paleopoli for elevenses and then continued climbing to the high point of 920 feet. Then a long descent to Andros Town and our hotel on the beach.

16 miles for the day and 1141ft of climbing .

Edwin

Friday 29 September. Ernie and Nicola on the Andros Coast Road

Thursday 28 September. Tinos to Andros.

Today we were moving on from Tinos Island to Andros the next Island north. Weather started wet but soon cleared with temperatures up to 24C.

We caught the 10.15 ferry for a 90 minute crossing sailing north along Tinos Island with views of roads we had cycled a few days before. The ferry was luxurious by Greek standards with an escalator up to the Decks.

We sailed into Gavio Port towards the north of Andros Island. We stopped for lunch at the port and then a short ride south to the resort of Batsi.

In the evening we enjoyed a meal with a great view of the sunset across the harbour.

5.5 miles for the day and 300ft of climbing.

Edwin

Thursday 28 September. Ferry to Andros

Thursday 28 September. Sunset at Batsi

Wednesday 27 September. Tinos, Ride to the North Coast.

Today was a nominal rest day without any moving on so I planned a ride over the 1000ft central Ridge, down the other side to a North Coast beach and then back over the Mountain to Tinos Town. Everybody, somewhat surprisingly went along with the idea except Ernie and Nicola who decided to have a rest and do some snorkelling.

Weather was very good with clear blue skies and temperatures up to 27C.

We rode up via many hairpin bends and past the great rocky crag of Exobourgo which we scaled earlier in the week. Then a fast steep downhill to the North Coast and the beautiful sandy bays at Kolymbithra. We stopped for elevenses at the beach Taverna and then down to the near empty sandy Cove for several swims and a picnic lunch.

We rode about 200 yards back to the Taverna for a Tea and Ice Cream stop (well up on Wednesday riders standards)

Then back up the hill to 1000ft and a fast downhill back to Tinos Town.

22 miles for the day and 2165ft of climbing .

Edwin

Wednesday 27 September.Tea stop at beach Taverna

Tuesday 26 September. Paranormos to Tinos Town.

Today we headed back to Tinos Town. Weather was mainly dry with a couple of short showers and feeling warm and humid with light winds.

We started with a climb back up to Pyrgos and looked round the narrow alleys of the town. Then onwards and upwards with many hairpins to the 1100ft pass.

We stopped at a Church with a view down to the sea from 1000ft for a picnic lunch. Then on and mainly down retracing our outward route to the seaside resort of Kiona for a Taverna Tea stop.

Then back to Tinos to a prebooked beachside Hotel and a late afternoon visit to the Hotels Pool.

17 miles for the day and 1587ft of climbing.

Edwin

Tuesday 26 September. On the road back to Tinos Town

Greece. Sun 24th Sept and Mon 25 Sept. Tinos Island.

Sunday 24 September

Today was an out and back ride to explore the mountain roads to the north of Tinos Town. Rain again came through conveniently overnight clearing by breakfast. The rest of the day was sunny and warm up to 24C.

We had a long winding climb from Tinos Town with the countryside getting more remote with terraced hillsides falling over a 1000ft to the great seascape below us dotted with Islands.

Our destination was the great rocky peak of Exobourgo topped with a Venetian Fortress. From the south side it looked unreachable with anything other than Crampons. We did a great circle round it with one steep climb reaching 23%. The last bit of road was up to a church from which it was a 10 minute walk to the top on a track.

The descent included great views across to Mykonos and Delos

20 miles for the day and 2227ft of climbing.

Monday 25 September Tinos to Paranormou.

Weather today was sunny with some cloud hanging over the mountains.

We moved on from Tinos Town to the far NW of the Island. We headed west along the coast to Kionia and then a long climb to a ridge and a break at a Church under the shadow of a wind turbine.

We continued on the road heading NW at about 900ft with great views down to the coast. After a few hairpins the high point of 1100ft was reached above Ysternia. Then downhill to the pretty village of Pyrgos where we stopped for lunch in a Taverna.

Then down to the bay of Panormos where we checked into Rooms for the night. Late afternoon was spent at the empty beach with a swim.

17.5 miles for the day and 1630ft of climbing .

Monday 25 September. Ernie, Nicola and Peter climbing up from the Coast en route to Panormos

Sunday 24 September. Richard, Peter and Phil and Mary descending from the Mountain

Greece.Mykonos and Tinos. Fri 22 to Sat 28 Sept.

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.