Pedalling Pelion Peninsula Part 1🚴🏻‍♀️⛰🏖

Day 99. 49km (55096kms)
The lookout was busy throughout the night so I was glad not to have slept at the top. Excited for my climb into the Pelion I discovered it would begin with a 300m climb averaging 10%
but it was by no means an even gradient. Perhaps mercifully because although some stretched were so steep I could hardly turn the bike as I slowly snaked up, at least the lesser gradients gave me a chance to catch my breath. The views were wonderful throughout giving me lots of opportunities to ahem stop for ‘ photos’ and an empty church in an empty village gave me chance to try out my bellringing skills. By the end of the climb I had to push (still snaking) up a couple of very short, very sharp stretches. But the reward was the very cute and cobbled village of Makrinitsa. I parked up in the car park to explore on foot the little lanes of this village on a cliff side.

After the morning’s strenuous climb, the remaining 650m was easy (I even managed to get out of first!) and with views down to Volos almost all the way to the top I was distracted by my stunning surroundings anyway.

There was no view from the top, being amongst the trees, nor most of the way down the 20km descent to Zagora. By now I was too tired to properly enjoy this pretty little village so after a brief pause continued down to the coast.

I selected a road to take me to the northernmost beach for a secluded camp but this minor road turned out to be somewhat of a poor choice. Initially I missed the turn (though this time I only had to backtrack 1000m distance not altitude!) Incredibly steep, it appeared to have been surfaced by tipping a concrete stone mix down the hill, so it was hardly surprising I missed it. The descent was nearly as much a challenge as the climb, but I did encounter a very beautiful snake the front one third of which was blue fading to a brown tail.

Relieved at last to be back down at the beach I wasted no time in hopping in the sea. Here, the Aegean is incredible clear yet blue, and very very refreshing! Too early to pitch the tent, I ate my picnic dinner on the sand satisfied and exhausted by a stunning day on the bike.

#cycling #greece #pelionpeninsula

[mattnsim]

Good job! I still remember the decent from Kosciusko to Jindabyne being lovely and long too. Love a long decent

[shelleyshell]

The cobbled village built into cliffs is pretty amazing… but looks like walking it is just as strenuous as cycling 🙃. Pretty snake? I’ll have to take your word on that one, lol 😆