Wednesday 4 October. Ftelias Beach Ride.

Today was a nominal rest day or non moving on day. I looked at the map, saw a road up the highest road on the Island and suggested we rode up it followed by a trip to the beach. I was quite surprised that everyone went along with this idea.

Weather was again great with clear blue skies all day, light winds and hot with temperatures up to 28C.

After some difficulty finding the route out of town we got on to quiet byroads past the Airport with a road running alongside the runway and a jet landing 100 yards away from us.

Then on a steep quiet byroad overtaking a local on a Donkey and on to the town of Ano Mera in the centre of the Island for elevenses at a Taverna in the square.

Then on to the 1000ft climb up the road to Prof Ilias mountain. We got to halfway up and came to a junction where our route was barred by a sign "Prohibited Area, Military Guard Dogs on Patrol" We turned back some with more reluctance than others.

Then a convoluted route on byroads with some steep climbs and then a dramatic descent at 25% gradient to the empty northern beach of Ftelias for a picnic lunch, swimming and sunbathing.

We returned to town on the main road with a stop at a pastry shop for tea.

21 miles for the day with 1988ft of climbing. With tomorrow a walking trip on Delos the 7 of us completed 14 days of cycling with nobody getting a puncture.

Edwin