Panorama Studios and Apartments Chrani

... I had been worried about changing everything mid-trip like this.

The front cogs are much bigger than my last, so that means that it’s harder to pedal. Worst day possible for this change as this was the day we tackled the start of the big mountains. I felt like I was back in Ireland at the start of the trip - before my muscles had developed. I haven’t pushed my bike since the first day in ...

... still have problems it’s not my fault.

Of course, he wanted to change my whole gear assembly. By the time he turned around to tell someone, my bike was gone! Already in the back and having the grip shift worked on. I loved how these guys were right to the point and eager to work. It took some convincing, but Brian finally talked them into changing all the cogs and cranks on my bike as well (secretly I ...

... than that, the only thing I needed to concentrate on was drying my hair.

Shimmering seas and sunsets filled the view today. On one walk back from the store Brian caught a glimpse of a top-most peak of a mountain beyond the range in front of us. It must be from the next penninsula across the ...

Weather report said ‘fair’. that’s exactly what we had all morning while lounging around in the nice warm hotel room with occasional peeks outside. Sun was what we saw while eating the breakfast we didn’t have to cook and enjoying that 2nd cup of coffee. A bit of cloud while we leisurely packed up the bikes. But, I kid you not, not 2 minutes on the bike and the rain started! Not a ...

... put a pot of coffee on and convinced us to stay for awhile longer.

We enjoyed some more coffee and conversation together while he shared some pomegranates ripe from his own trees. I had a little lesson on how olives are processed. (Brian thought they were eaten right off the tree, but found out after a little taste-test that that was not true!). Then he opened up a jar of his own olives that he’d made ...

... the sun and the water was as calm as a mill pond.

The next morning... was to be devoted to Methoni and by 9.30 we were inside the castle. Really, this is more of a fortified city, and the fortifications embrace a massive area from the bastions at the side facing the town to the domed citadel of the Bourtzi sticking out into the sea. The kastro is an intriguing mix of medieval Venetian and early modern Turkish and Venetian, and we spent a good couple ...

... of Navarino and the island of Sfakteria (downfall of the mighty Ottomans and Spartans respectively) and the town of Pylos looked really grand - definitely one to come back to. Finally - after quite an epic journey from the heart of the Arkadian mountains - we drove down into Methoni and located the municipal campsite, right on the beach and just a few hundred metres from the town with its huge castle, stretching into the bay.

So....Greece! What a country, well, what amazing coastline! We were too hot the entire time to venture too far inland. Once it got to 10 or 11 that was it, too hot to do anything even vaguely physical outside of the shade until about 8 o'clock. That made life very tricky, we either had to be parked in shade, driving or somewhere we could plunge into the sea to cool down. Such a hard life ;) We were seriously worried about the heat at times though, with scruff's heavy breathing ...

After two days in Iraklion we're ready to leave - it's been raining for the most part and aside from seeing dogs mating with great frequency (must be something in the water?!) and a great impromptu photo session with the girls this place sucks donkey doo. We're heading to Chania also spelT Xania and Hanya - (try to find the right bus under those conditions!). 3 to 3.5 hour bus ride due east along the ...

... mountain but it was a good defense position and they certainly needed that with all the wars. It was certainly a highlight and the view was terrific. The cliff side where they used to throw babies off was a bit gruesome though! That night we stayed at Pylos in a lovely bay on the gulf and went swimming. Then having a room with a balcony which faced the sea, we decided to drink some wine and draw the scenery. My room mate is also an artist.