Mick_the_Greek
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Mick the Greek back from Greece, report day 2.Woken up at 6.15 am by hotels automated wakey-wakey call which I somehow had managed to arrange the night before. Feel pleasantly surprised to be suffering from no hangover, get my gear together and meet Alaric & Emily outside the hotel where they await with a mug of hot coffee and a chocolate croissont, bikes all ready loaded. The drive to the royal forest at Tatoi for todays riding takes about 40 mins, driving up and over the Pendeli Pass that we had cycled up the previous day, weather warnings are out again for the continuing heatwave, but for the moment things are fine, but one is aware there is just no breeze.
Arrive at Tatoi, peacefull and very green, lush even, still early by my standards, even the crickets havn't started. Those of you who know Alaric would not be surprised that while I'm admiring the scenary and trying to sort out my gear he's managed to assemble all three bikes and prepare them for the days riding. Our companions arrive to join the ride, everbody drives 4 x 4 's, so ther's a brief moment checking each other motors before we set off biking along a single track. The mornings ride is mainly single track, climbing to begin with nothing to steep, then short sections of steeper fire roads, bit ala Swinly Forest, but pretier. Weather getting warmer up to 40.C by 11.30 am cycle up to a Church which was for the use of the deposed royal family, surrounded by tombs, after a brief stop to refresh the 2 guest Greek riders have had enough and bail out,well at least they can ride anytime up here. Cycle across to the old palace building which is fenced off and guarded by two rather large dogs, but in the heat they seem quite content to just observe us from under the shade till Emily gets out the energy bars and they came to life. At various points along this route there are natural springs/wells, so there is no problem in keeping topped up with water and at the palace a hose pipe gave us the opportunity to really cool down ,completly dousing oneself in cool spring water.
The ride back to the car was awesome finnishing off with a fast 2 mile stretcht off narrow single track, most no more than about 2' wide, series of bends as if designed linked together all on a downhill gradient , trying to keep up with Alaric, pushed my luck to far, rather than scrub of some of the speed in one of the many bends ended up in the scrub, at least it held me upright and after a few proffanities and scatches was still able
to cotinue hurtling to the end.
We all ended up in Variobopi town square for a cold drink and snack before the drive back to the Hotel and Pool. Eavening all meet up for meal in restaurant called stenaki, which means little lane. Decide next days riding will be to the beach at Sesi,along with Greek girlfriend.
More in report from day 3.
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