Wednesday, October 11, 2023 | Jan Van der Jagt / Thomas Fellechner | Europe
A country with a very interesting history, geat food, lovely drinks and off course: great riding conditions! We will take you to famous places like Delphi and Olympia. We will also visit monasteries, several seas and mountain areas.
This first day already had a lot in store for us. An ancient monastery and the even much older site off Delphi. 3000 years ago the Greek came here to ask the oracle for advice. Now it's our turn...
Ride day number 2 is coming up, after we got to know our bikes a little better yesterday and inhaled a lot of Grieschiche history and culture. Stands today completely in the sign of riding. Almost 300km are to be mastered today, and almost always on winding and narrow mountain roads. Here, however, the rain of recent weeks has left its mark. While some sections of the route are wonderfully speedy to ride, it is in many other places "caution". For all those who love technical riding a dream. The almost empty roads wind through forests, small villages and impressive mountain landscapes. At the end of the day, a fabulously beautiful hotel at Lake Plastira awaits us. What a day.
Again we have a nice relaxed riding day. Leaving the mountains off Kalyvia, entering the valley towards Metsova. Visiting the famous monasteries, taking a lot off pictures and finishing the ride thru the mountains off Metsovo.
Today is our rest day, which of course does not necessarily mean that we want to lie on the lazy skin all day. In Mesovo there are many small stores and cafes so that one is certainly not bored. And of course there is also the possibility to ride a small round motorcycle. Besides ancient bridges, there is also one of the deepest gorges in the world to admire.
Another day in paradise today. That a little adventure also awaits us makes this day even better in the end. Directly in the morning we go without delays into the mountains. The Mparos Pass, after all 1950m high wants to be conquered. The roads are empty and full of curves. Even in this area, the weather of the last few months has not passed without a trace. And so we have to do it again and again with small surprises. For example, with stones on the road, which Jim should finally give a flat tire. The damage was unfortunately too big to fix it on the spot, but that's no problem. Without further ado, the tour guide shuttles us to the next coffee shop while Jan arrives with the van for the recovery. After this short adventure we can continue the day. Our next stop is supposed to be the Kipinas Monastery. A piece of Greek cultural history carved into the rock 800 years ago. Countless curves later, in the middle of nowhere we have another traditional lunch. The roads widen again and we finally reach the island of Lefkada. With a last coffee we decide to explore the hinterland of the island before arriving at the hotel. Another unforgettable day comes to an end.
Levkada is a peninsula where many people spend their holidays enjoying the nice beaches and calm sea. Our route today brings us over the Famous Río Antirrio Bridge to the pennepoleses. Again many nice curvy roads and some impressive highlights
Rest day number 2 is coming and with it again the agony of choice what we will do. The world famous excavations of Olympia are only 1.5 hours away from our hotel. And definitely worth a visit. Allso up on the bike and nothing like there. The roads here are in almost perfect condition. And so the ride is once again a pure pleasure. After we have marveled at the millennia-old ruins of Olympia, we meet Jan, who is waiting for us with a picnic at a small chapel. After a fantastic lunch we separate. Some go back to the hotel while others with our guide Thomas plunge into the maze of curves. Of course, some culture should not be missing. Another perfect day draws to a close.
New day new luck... or sometimes some bad luck. Our day begins again on small back roads. Here there is also the one or other pothole. As we quickly learn it is better to avoid them. Because a bent rim forces us to an involuntary break in the middle of nowhere. But no problem within half an hour Jan is there with the van. We exchange the bikes and then it goes on. Back in the plain we make a few kilometers on the highway. To leave this finally in Sparta. Sparta? yes correctly read, unfortunately the Spartans have left here no traces. But their descendants are still very good at erecting statues. After a short stop we drive up to the Langada Pass, the road itself is as spectacular as the view. A dream for all bikers. After another traditional lunch, it goes down to the coast. Past Kalamata the city of olives. We follow the spectacular coastline to Areopoli, our destination for today. What a day.
It took millions of years for the caves off Diros to be greater. And we are fortunate enough to visit them! The rest off the day we'll be riding along the sea, dive into the rugged countryside and will have lunch at the beach next to the dimitros schip wreck
Rest day number 3 is approaching. And what can we say the options are many. We can simply enjoy the peace and beauty of our hotel, explore the area by motorcycle or stroll through Montemvasia. You know what, we do everything. After a short ride in the morning we will take a cab into Monemvasia. We will explore the city and have our dinner there. Live is good
After our very relaxed rest day yesterday, we have a long day of driving on the agenda today. Almost 300km of curves are waiting for us. Mountains and coasts. There is almost no traffic when we start in the morning. And so we make good distance. Unforgettable will be the moment when we drive down this narrow road coming from the mountains and the view of the sea opens up to us. Simply magical. Our first coffee stop directly at the sea seduces some of us directly to a jump into the refreshing water. After that, we follow the spectacular coastal road for a while, only to turn off into the mountains once again. Up here there is still a lot to see. The roads are mostly in good condition and a feast for every motorcyclist. After the ups and downs of the mountains it goes back down to the coast where countless more curves are waiting for us. After a final coffee stop 2 steps from the sea, our destination for today awaits and Nafplio
Our last riding day. In a way a bit sad, bit dont worry: a worthy finish to a great tour! In the morning a visit to castle Palamidi, experiencing the acoustics at the empheatheatre of Epideurus and enjoying the canal off Corinth. And some lovely riding!