Lenny's long trek south

[Judge Mental]

We have been in the mountains weather has been mostly crap for a week now on the west coast 21° an some sun. Greece's worst weather for a hindered years had one day at 12°. First time had a decent internet connection for a week, will try & do an update on our travels
, still recovering from walking up Mount Olympus, made it to second high test peak 9,550 ft, took two days second day on the mountain for over 12 hours.

Thought you were on holiday... Sounds more like SAS training

 

[Lenny HB]

Just got moved on from the beach, had to go to a site - yuck.
Wouldn't mind so much but they haven't even got a washing machine & a bit scruffy.
Again same price with or without ACSI, it's also same if you don't want EHU.
ACSI appears to be a waste of time these days.

 

[Lenny HB]

First decent internet connection for over a week.

Thur (24nd) Went for a drive around the Pelion Peninsular, the main road was pretty hairy with the side washed away in a few places by the storms so we didn’t venture down the small roads to the beaches and villages, then we set off north, stopped the night on the beach at Paralia Kato Sotiritsa.

Fri., carried on north. Trying to find food shops in Greece is a bit of a nightmare, did a couple small shops then discovered a Lidl, but trying to get to it was another story, forced onto the motorway by roadworks as the junction we wanted was closed off, had to pay €5 toll then drive for 5 km, then come all the way back on normal roads.
Visited some more old rocks at Dion, not that well restored, but impressive by the sheer area they covered, a complete Greek/Roman town (started as Greek, rebuilt by the Romans), takes 2-3 hours to walk round. For the night found a large car park by the beach at the end of Olympic Beach, nice seaside town with long sandy beaches.

Paralia Kato Sotiritsa.

A few km north of Paralia Kato Sotiritsa.

Reliving old times.

Old rocks at Dion.

Locals at Dion

Olympic Beach.

Olympic Beach 2

 

[Lenny HB]

Next day headed towards the Mount Olympus range, tried one of the roads to the smaller peaks, gave up after the 3rd hairpin 1 in 3 slopes with front wheels scrabbling for grip on damp surface, went back to original plan and headed for the Prionia car park for the start of our walk. The road was quite good except for the last half Km which was very scary, drove most of the road in low cloud & rain. When we arrived raining very heavy so sat it out for the night.

Started our walk when the weather cleared about 11 am Sunday morning, took us 4 hours to the refuge, low cloud all the way. Spent the night at the refuge, up early next morning and started our walk to the peaks just after 8 am, a nice clear day. Made it to the top of Mount Scala 9,403 ft by 12:30, a long hard slog up very steep slopes, looked across to Mytikas (tallest peak) and said No Way, too technical for us, really need climbing experience. Carried on to the top of Mount Skolio, the 2nd tallest peak 9,550 ft. Had a rest & lunch then started the long trek down at 2pm. Arrived back at the refuge at 4:45 a short break and onward down, had to do the last hour in pitch black with torches oh boy at times like this you are glad you have a Satmap with 1:25000 scale maps, expensive bit of kit but worth every penny at times like this.

Finally made it back to the van at 8:45 pm, beer, cake & banana then bed at 9:30, too knackered to bother with dinner.
When I took my boots off my sore big toe from the decent was a bit worse for wear, swollen, bleeding around and under nail, nail had pushed back into cuticle, if it doesn’t improve may need the hot needle treatment.

Think we had pushed ourselves to our absolute limit, nice to do occasionally, not too often though.
Arose late next morning, both of us could hardly move our legs due to muscle pains.

Scary road


This shows how steep the climb was, note trees are vertical.

 

[Gorse Hill]

Next day headed towards the Mount Olympus range, tried one of the roads to the smaller peaks, gave up after the 3rd hairpin 1 in 3 slopes with front wheels scrabbling for grip on damp surface, went back to original plan and headed for the Prionia car park for the start of our walk. The road was quite good except for the last half Km which was very scary, drove most of the road in low cloud & rain. When we arrived raining very heavy so sat it out for the night.

Started our walk when the weather cleared about 11 am Sunday morning, took us 4 hours to the refuge, low cloud all the way. Spent the night at the refuge, up early next morning and started our walk to the peaks just after 8 am, a nice clear day. Made it to the top of Mount Scala 9,403 ft by 12:30, a long hard slog up very steep slopes, looked across to Mytikas (tallest peak) and said No Way, too technical for us, really need climbing experience. Carried on to the top of Mount Skolio, the 2nd tallest peak 9,550 ft. Had a rest & lunch then started the long trek down at 2pm. Arrived back at the refuge at 4:45 a short break and onward down, had to do the last hour in pitch black with torches oh boy at times like this you are glad you have a Satmap with 1:25000 scale maps, expensive bit of kit but worth every penny at times like this.

Finally made it back to the van at 8:45 pm, beer, cake & banana then bed at 9:30, too knackered to bother with dinner.
When I took my boots off my sore big toe from the decent was a bit worse for wear, swollen, bleeding around and under nail, nail had pushed back into cuticle, if it doesn’t improve may need the hot needle treatment.

Think we had pushed ourselves to our absolute limit, nice to do occasionally, not too often though.
Arose late next morning, both of us could hardly move our legs due to muscle pains.

Scary road

Well done, looks a lovely walk and well worth it when you top out
Another good mountain bagged and looking at the pics well worth the hard graft

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[Lenny HB]

Tues 27th, after hobbling about trying to get our legs working it’s time to leave Mount Olympus and Macedonia. Since leaving the Pelion Peninsular we have only seen two other Motorhomes; a French one in Lidl car park, turned out to be an English couple in it & a German one here on Mount Olympus. Most of the holiday makers in Macedonia are Serbian or Romanian.

We headed off west towards The Meteora in a basking 12 degrees, lovely drive on good roads across the mountains with some more spectacular scenery. Arrived at Kalambáka late afternoon and now 15 deg. Headed for Taverna Arsenis on the road to the monasteries. When we arrived t was low cloud and raining. The chap there said you can stay for free, would you like a home cooked meal by my mama, only €10 each. Seemed fair enough.

Next morning did not set off until after midday waiting for bad weather and our aches & pains to clear up neither of which happened. Visited the Great Metereon Monastery in the rain, after a late lunch had a drive round the area then decided to go back to the Taverena for the night. He was quite happy for us to park without having a meal but to be polite I bought a bottle of wine & beer. Forecast said weather would be better tomorrow, they were lying although it was a bit warmer (18). Visited one of the smaller monasteries in the rain.

We now headed off west taking the motorway to avoid a long detour around the mountains. Mid afternoon arrived at the ancient theatre of Dodoni. Now we were partly out of the mountains temperature improved to 22 and we had a pleasant stroll round.
Late afternoon now back on the motorway heading for the coast, an hour later arrived at Igoumenítsa. Found a lovely sandy beach a few miles up the road with a few campers parked up (listed in CCI). Unfortunately were moved on while in the middle of cooking dinner. I was impressed by the polite and friendly manner of the police. Our own fault really, hadn’t noticed there was a campsite about half a mile away, so we moved to the scruffy campsite.

We came to Greece for a warm autumn break, the first few days were a pleasant 34 – 35 deg., since then Greece has thrown at us it’s worst storms for a 100 years and we have experienced our worst holiday weather for over 20 years.
Now moving down to the Peloponnese, the forecast looking a bit better, temperatures supposed to increase to 25/26 over the next few days, should be able to take our jumpers off, was hoping for some warmer weather.

 

[Judge Mental]

Yes I think that quite enough old rocks for one trip... Get down to Stoupa area weather looks far better!

Eddie

 

[Lenny HB]

Yes I think that quite enough old rocks for one trip... Get down to Stoupa area weather looks far better!

Eddie

Peloponnese has even more old rocks.

 

[Lenny HB]

Just 70 km down the coast at Palaires, having a relaxing couple of days, met up with a friend who works for one of the sailing companies here, going for a curry with him tonight.
A bit warmer now 26 today and no rain for 2 days.

Morning view.

 

[Lenny HB]

Bl**dy rubbish Banner batteries, reported on "what did you fix today" a few days ago that one of the Banner AGM batteries was going down under load and pulling the other one down with, had taken it out of circuit.Last night after midnight when Mi turned on a tap, we get a low volt warning and EB cuts out. Looks like both batteries, have had it, connected other battery back in circuit & got some volts now.

I have 3 options.
1) visit Hymer dealer in Athens, but not on our route.
2) buy new batteries locally and hope Hymer pay up.
3) hope we can get by and call in at Bad Walsee on the way home.
No.3 is the prefered option, I will email Hymer and see what their reaction is.

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[Lenny HB]

Not moved on yet been having a few lazy days.

Not in the good books tonight, I went for some bread for tea met my friend in the Tavena & went for a mini pub crawl arrived back 2 hours later. On the bright side I did remember the bread.

 

[Forestboy]

Bl**dy rubbish Banner batteries, reported on "what did you fix today" a few days ago that one of the Banner AGM batteries was going down under load and pulling the other one down with, had taken it out of circuit.Last night after midnight when Mi turned on a tap, we get a low volt warning and EB cuts out. Looks like both batteries, have had it, connected other battery back in circuit & got some volts now.

I have 3 options.
1) visit Hymer dealer in Athens, but not on our route.
2) buy new batteries locally and hope Hymer pay up.
3) hope we can get by and call in at Bad Walsee on the way home.
No.3 is the prefered option, I will email Hymer and see what their reaction is.

Looks a great trip we're considering Greece next year but looking at some of the roads may need a smaller van.

Banner batteries are shite I had exactly the same thing happen in the Pyrenees with a pair just over a year old. Will never buy a so called leisure battery again traction batteries for us.

Enjoy the rest of your trip.

 

[Judge Mental]

Not moved on yet been having a few lazy days.

Not in the good books tonight, I went for some bread for tea met my friend in the Tavena & went for a mini pub crawl arrived back 2 hours later. On the bright side I did remember the bread.

Lack of training....you came home? She should be grateful......end of

 

[scousebird]

Lack of training....you came home? She should be grateful......end of

Do you get into trouble often?

 

[Judge Mental]

Do you get into trouble often?

Am i hen pecked? ....Nooooooo

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[Lenny HB]

Looks a great trip we're considering Greece next year but looking at some of the roads may need a smaller van.

Generally roads are very good, surprised us, a bit tight in some villages and Greeks don't park they just stop.
The IGO Prima Satnav on our Clarion stereo has been very good, so far has had all the Greek roads including dirt tracks & only done a couple of wobbles. Tried to take us down a dirt track to avoid some road works & another time took us through a village, now that was very tight & onto a dirt track. We stared reversing into a farm entrance, farmer came out and guided us back and said Meteora? & told us the way, obviously he was used to all the satnav's sending people that way.
The boss always runs Autoroute on a nettbook with a GPS receiver along side the satnav, saves a lot of problems.

Greek National sport appears to be to break every speed limit they come across & cross as many double white lines as possible in a day.
They appear to be at the top of the table for confusing road junction & all the road makings have faded, just have to toss a coin and go for it.

 

[busby]

Hope you have umbrellas..just watched Euro weather report and Greece looks very stormy. East side looks like it has half a chance...

We were on east coast opposite Corfu and probably 100 km south from 13th sept until 4th oct. Lovely weather,,just two days of rain...Toured in hire car not van. Will be back but in motorhome next time. BUSBY.

 

[busby]

We were on east coast opposite Corfu and probably 100 km south from 13th sept until 4th oct. Lovely weather,,just two days of rain...Toured in hire car not van. Will be back but in motorhome next time. BUSBY.

Should have said WEST coast,,,,going senile...BUSBY.

 

[Lenny HB]

Yesterday (Tuesday) took the scenic route down the west coast and crossed to the Peloponnese on the ferry, more fun than the bridge and saves a couple of Euro.

Found a nice spot for the night on the beach near Paralia Kalogria in the Kalogris Wetlands, there were no camping & no Motorhome signs, I had a word with a local working on the closed beach bar, he said "Out of season everything is possible".

Evening view.

Now at Olympia, more old rocks to see tomorrow, very nice town car park fields & trees around it, no camping signs, but here with 3 French vans, 1 Dutch & 1 German.
Last few days, sunshine & 27 deg, now we are into October looks like the hot weather is over I can live with 27 just about warm enough to feel like a holiday.

Another big storm tonight, internet for the whole town went down, back up now, picking up on local cafe's wifi. (think it's the one I had a coffee in).

 

[Lenny HB]

Well I had to suffer the old rocks at Olympia, so you lot can suffer some pics.

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[Lenny HB]

Now about 50 k down the coast from Olympia nice wild spot on the beach at Paralia Kalo Nero.

G & T before dinner.

 

[andrewjw]

Nice pics of the Rio bridge etc...

If you are still up for more rocks (and have enough Italian vino left ) I'd suggest heading for either Ancient Messene or Mystras ( or both)...either will make Olympia seem a bit tired...even if you didn't do a few laps while you were there..

 

[Lenny HB]

Nestors palace not far from where we are so heading there, then looking at doing some walking in one of the gorges. The ones you mention are on my list, hope we get time to have a look.
So far been a bit dissapointed with all the old rocks we have seen, compared to ones in France, but they are a lot older here.

 

[Judge Mental]

Well I had to suffer the old rocks at Olympia, so you lot can suffer some pics.

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Looks like site has had a visit from Isis!


Got a taste for ouzo yet?

 

[Lenny HB]

Spent Saturday holed up in the van riding out another storm, still gale force winds and the odd shower this morning. Cleared up after lunch sunshine & 28 deg.
Spent over 1½ hours getting to Nestor's Palace only to find it was still closed for renovation work, was supposed to have opened end of 2014, so we went own to the Gialova Lagoon, saw some white herons & a kingfisher.

Now parked up for the night on the harbor front at Pylos.

Yes there is a kingfisher in there.

Pylos

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[Lenny HB]

Sunday night uneventful apart from being moved on at 11pm, wasn’t police or because we were camping, they were clearing the area for an event starting Monday, only had to move a few hundred yards to the other side of the harbour.

Monday went to look at some more old rocks at Ancient Messine quite a bit more interesting than other sites more intact and better restored. Afterwards went down to the beach at Paralia Bouka for the night (and a morning dip).

Found their secret, so that's how the Greek's got those columns up.

Paralia Bouka

 

[Judge Mental]

Yet again! Looks like Isis got there before you..

 

[Lenny HB]

Tuesday guess what, more old rocks, these ones a bit newer from the Byzantine period at Mystras, involved a nice bit of downhill and uphill walking, spent the night there with a couple of other vans ignoring the no camping signs, they don’t appear to mind out of season.

 

[Lenny HB]

Wednesday, you have guessed more old rocks this time Ancient Corinth, then went to have a look at the canal and one of the submersible bridges, interesting piece of engineering and we were lucky to see it in action. Found a spot for the night on the beach at Paralia Stomio.

 

[Lenny HB]

Thursday our last full day in Greece, took the Rack Railway from Diakopto to Kalávrita through the Vouraikos gorge, lunch in a café then a couple of hours walking up the steep hillside. Unfortunately did not discover the museum in time to visit, it is dedicated to those killed in the Nazi massacre of December 1943, they set fire to the village and massacred all its male inhabitants over 15 (498 people).
Spending tonight outside the station in the middle of town.

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