Sunday 15 October. Ride to the Limeburners, Billingshurst

No one was at the at the Cross I met up with Steve, Nicola & Ernie at Petworth at 11.00's  and Christine Howard & Chris Dart at lunchtime. All rode back to Pulborough and other points south. Cracking weather. Sunny all day and up to 18C. Colin

Sunday 8 October. Selborne Ride.

Today there was a choice of a long ride from Chichester to Selborne or a short car/train assisted ride to Selborne from Petersfield.

Weather was generally good with long sunny spells and temperatures up to 17C.

4 of us met at the Cross, myself (Edwin) Richard Boulton and Phil and Mary. By coincidence all of us had just returned from Greece. Honed by 2 weeks of Greek hills we made good progress and I had to add on some extra loops on byroads to avoid reaching Petersfield too early.

At Petersfield Tesco we met Gill, Adrian, Colin and Christine. We headed out of Petersfield to the North and then a convoluted route on twisting narrow and quiet byroads via Hawkley up to the Queens Head, Selborne for lunch.

In the afternoon it was more backroads via Blackmoor and Greatham and then up to Rake to the Garden Centre for tea.

Adrian, Gill and Christine headed back via Petersfield while the rest of us headed back to Chichester via Rogate. I added a sting in the tail to the ride with a steep climb up Telegraph Hill to the Downs above Harting and then back via Chilgrove.

60 miles from and back to Chichester, about 25 miles from and back to Petersfield and 71 miles for me from Pagham.

Edwin

Sunday 8 October. The Group at a junction near Rake

Thursday 5 October. Mykonos, boat trip to Delos.

Today was our day of Classical Culture with a trip by boat to the nearby small Island of Delos with many ruins from ancient Greek times.

Weather was bright blue skies with light winds and temperatures up to 26C.

We had an early breakfast and caught the 9.00 am ferry from the Harbour which arrived already laden with American Tourists from a cruise Ship moored nearby.

The crossing was 30 minutes. We followed advice from a guide book and took a hilly circuit first which meant of course a climb to the highest point on the Island which few of the tourist attempt to about 300ft up to the ruins of the temple of Zeus. We stopped there for elevenses with great views.

Then on to explore more of the ruins with good reconstructions of Temple Columns and a visit to the Museum. We found some shade for a picnic lunch and explored more ruins before catching the last ferry back at 3.00 p.m..

We relaxed with a tea and Ice Cream stop back at the Harbour.

Tomorrow we fly Back so a few statistics. 202 miles for the 14 day trip but all very high quality with 17096ft of climbing (over half the height of Everest) I took about 1300 digital photos during the trip.

Edwin

Delos, Exploring the edge of the ancient theatre

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

Wednesday 4 October. Richard overtakes a Donkey on a steep climb to Ano Mera, Mykonos

Wednesday 4 October. Phil and Mary and Richard above Filias Beach, Mykonos

Tuesday 3 October. Andros Island to Mykonos Island

Today was mainly another Island hopping Ferry ride from Andros back to Mykonos Island

Weather was great with clear blue skies all day and temperatures up to 25C.

We had an early breakfast and then up a short hill from Batsi Harbour and a short ride to Gavion Town Port. We were there with an hour to spare so we stopped at a quayside Taverna for coffee.

The ferry ride was 2 hours 15 minutes with a stop en route at Tinos. We spent the time on the top deck looking at the routes we had cycled as the ship cruised south alongside Andros and Tinos Islands.

We arrived at Mykonos during the midday rush hour for ferries with 3 great ferries jostling for position.

After lunch at the town bay we went on to the Hotel and an afternoons sunbathing by the pool. Hard life!!

4.8 miles for the day and 250ft of climbing.

Edwin

Tuesday 3 October. On deck stopping at Tinos

Monday 2 October. Andros Town to Batsi.

Today was a moving on day taking us back to the Resort of Batsi on the West Coast. Ernie, Nicola and Peter took the easier route of up the valley to a 1000ft highpoint and then down to Batsi on the Coast Road. Phil, Mary, Richard and I took the hard route over the 3 ridges climbed a few days ago and then Inland to Batsi.

Weather was great with clear blue skies all day and temperatures up to 25C.

On the hard route we climbed up the first Ridge and then up to the head of the valley and the village of Apikia for a picnic elevenses in the square. We also filled our water bottles from the mineral water Spring. Then up to the end of the ridge and a long climb to the head of the next valley and a picnic lunch in the village of Vourkoti.

Then a short climb to the top of the 3rd ridge and onto untried roads. With clear skies we had great views across Mountains and coast as the road contoured along at 2300ft. Then a long fast and dramatic descent down the ridge before a series of twisty hairpins took us down into the remote green valley of Revmata. We had a short climb out of the valley before another descent to Katakilos and another short climb to a ridge and then a fast swooping descent to the scenic bay at Batsi.

Before checking into the Hotel we stopped for cooling smoothies at a Caf¿ on the front. We were soon joined by Ernie, Nicola and Peter who had arrived 30 minutes earlier.

21 miles for the day and 3067ft of climbing.

Edwin

Monday 2nd October. Phil and Mary descending to Revmata Valley .

Sunday 1 October. Ormos Bay Circuit.

Today was another rest day or non moving on day staying at Andros town. Ernie and Nicola had an easy day riding close to town. Peter rode with us to elevenses and then went back. Phil and Mary, Richard and I rode a very mountainous circuit via Ormos Bay on the east coast.

Weather was warm and sunny all day with temperatures up to 24C but with a gale force NE wind.

We rode west out of town up the valley to the west coast. When we stopped for a short break we met what I thought was a local at first but turned out to be a chap from Somerset who had moved here 10 years ago.

We continued to the junction 900ft above the west coast of the Island and took refuge from the wind in a slate built bus shelter for a picnic elevenses. Then onward and upward to a high point of 1250ft with the road following the mountainside with great views down to the coast.

The road then turned inland and twisted and turned among remote mountain villages for a 6 mile descent to Ormos Bay on the East Coast. We stopped for a picnic lunch, swim and sunbathe.

Then a great long climb to the north with gradients reaching 13%. As we climbed with multiple switchbacks Ormos Bay became smaller and smaller below us. The top was reached at 1536ft.

The climb was followed by a great 7 mile descent. We swooped down the ravine of the Vouni valley with every turn opening up more amazing views of mountains and seascapes and some great views of Andros Town.

32 miles for the day with 3340ft of climbing.

Edwin

Sunday 1 October. Phil and Mary and Richard riding high above the west coast

Sunday 1 October. View of Andros Town.