March Greece and Italy.

Transcription

1 Watch route on the Google Maps and the photos on Picasa Web or leave me a comment March 2016 Greece and Italy. This was the time to finally leave Crete after four month. I went to Bari with the ferry. The first thing that struck me in Italy was the amazing cities. February 29 th and March 1 st Days 209 and 210. Someone added an extra day to February. That wasn t kind as I d finished the February diary. While reading the Italy guide books I plotted some marks on the map to help me plan the tour through Italy. Actually planning the next tour through Italy too. (Sicily Sardinia Corsica Piemonte). This is my plan for March 15 th to April 15 th +/-.;

2 March 2 nd and 3 rd Nerd- that s me. Days 211 and 212. Route:. I m spending a lot of time in front of my smartphone computer. Trying to get my ranking on Google up, learning some Greek, reading guides and following other people on their bike tours. And I m trying to find a solution to log my routes without consuming too much of the battery power and without giving me too much work. I ve think I ve found it. March 4 th to 7 th Nothing new. Days 213 to 216. it s springtime here. March 8 th to 10 th Earth quakes. Days 217 to 219. I m ready to leave. Got my bicycle ready, done all of the laundry... but it will be raining and windy the next days making me tske the decision to wait to Tuesday to leave. The only thing of special interest recently is that there s been some earth quakes. Although they are not considered big. It s still a little scaring. All most making me seasick and the trees are shaking.

3 One last look at Grammeno peninsula. March 11 th to 14 th Nothing special has happened. Only continuing small earthquakes. March 15 th Leaving Crete. Day km Total Tour 2 : km. Route:.kml.gpx I crossed the mountains to get north to Chania It s a relatively easy crossing. But one of my bags kept falling off. And at one time it went into my wheel and broke two spokes. It didn't have any spare left but I got some in Chania after visiting for bikeshops that didn t have spokes. But I had no time top change them as I had to reach the ferry. I was on board the ferry an hour before departure but there wasn't any chairs left Even the best places on the floor was occupied. I didn t have my mattress with me so I just had to sleep directly on the floor. But I actually got a little sleep. March 16 th Traffic he ll in Athens. Day km Total Tour 2 : km. Route:.kml.gpx I guess it s too long since I ve been on heavy traffic. I was pretty stressed the 25 kilometres before I got out of Athens. Then it got better. Some places even great. I'm heading for Peloponnese where I'll be following the north coast. It was really cold and grey today.

4 I passed an open camping near Corinth and went in there. Had to fix my bicycle and wanted to get early to sleep. But the spokes were too long!! And I spent a lot of time being creative and finally got the long spokes on by using two nipples on each. I didn't get the hot shower I certainly could have used because I didn't have any 20 cents coin. Sh... And I didn't get that early to bed as I wanted to use the free WiFi as my mobile Internet is working were badly. The beach at this campsite. March 17 th Along the north coast of Peloponnese. Day km Total Tour 2 : km. Route:.kml.gpx I slept for a long time today. I really needed it. I haven't met other touring bicyclists for four month but today I met some three times. All long distance cyclists. Even though they were going in the opposite direction we stopped and had a long talk. Inspiring. I passed the Canal of Corinth and the city too. Before I went on small roads along the coast. The area is quite urbanised. Making it hard to find a place to sleep. But I found an OK spot between some trees just before it got dark and started to rain.

5 From the city of Corinth. March 18 th Rain. Day km Total Tour 2 : km. Route:.kml.gpx It was raining this morning. It didn't look like it was about to stop. I had to get my wet tent packed and move on. And it rained all day. There was a lot of traffic work on the road and a lot of big trucks saving the money for the toll road. Mud everywhere. It wasn't a cycling day worth to remember. Suddenly I was at the bridge to mainland Greece knowing Patra was near. It was raining heavier now and I got the idea that I might catch a very to Italy. It was a chance to take as it was late. I went the extra 10 km to the ferry harbour. It would be so nice to get inside as I was soaking wet. At first I wad told I was too late. But the ferry was still there. They sold me a ticket which I could get refused if I didn't make it. Everyone was helpful. Opening doors and I didn't have to show my passport. I made it in the last second. It s like being on a five stars hotel. I'm wet and was running out of power for my electronics. Now I can sleep on the ferry get my things charged and get dry. - And wake up in Bari tomorrow two days before expected if I had taken a ferry from Igoumenitsa as planned.

6 This is where I slept this night. Italy March 19 th Buongiorno. Today day km. Total Tour 2: km. After 18 hours on the ferry I finally came to Italy. I spent the time on board charging my electronics, eating and sleeping. And I even found a hot shower in one of the toilets. I had to use a t-shirt as towel but a hot shower is one of the best things when you are on the road. In Bari I had a small walk in the old city. Nice but it would have been greater if it had been without my bicycle and all the stuff. There was a lot of people in the city this Saturday morning and I didn't really feel for that. And they're was heavy traffic out of the city. I went south to go around Italy s heal. I passed some amazing cities. Impossible to find a peaceful spot for wild camping here so I got into a campsite. Camping is expensive here in Italy. It got really cold as the sun got down and my tent was still soaking wet. It gets darker sooner here as I had to adjust the time to central European time zone.

7 Bari Polignamo.a Mare. March 20 th Alberobello and Martina Franca. Day km Total Tour 2 : km. Route:.kml.gpx I decided to stay another day at the campsite so I would be able to go for a ride inland to visit two cities. The first was Alberobello with the special trulli houses. The house are to find all around in this area but here you'll find a whole city with these. It was amazing. I could have walked around there for a longer time, but i

8 wanted to visit Martina Franca too. Also a nice city with the narrow roads. Seems there will be a lot of cities to visit in Italy. Hard to choose which photo to show here but you can see the rest of them on the photo page. Alberobello. Martina Franca

9 March 21 st A hard day. Day km Total Tour 2 : km. Route:.kml.gpx I got up early for once. The sun was shining at the start of the day. Which meant that i could spent some time waiting for the tent to dry while charging the electronics in the sun as they're was no electric plug at the campsite I went south along the coast. I didn't see anything spectacular and didn't get my camera out of the bag. But it was nice that there was a cycle route to follow that i didn't expect. It got windy and cloudy and i felt a little tired and had a lot of breaks. No campsite was open even if there were a lot of them. I knew i had to find a place to sleep before Brindisi or it would be dark.then came a military area and at last I just had to take what I could get. It seems there are people everywhere. There are two men fishing here - I hope they don't mind I'm tenting. March 22 nd Another grey day. Day km Total Tour 2 : km. Route:.kml.gpx First I went into the city of Brindisi. I walked a little around but it was nothing special. I'm following a route I downloaded. It took me on small clay roads. It was fine at the start but I got enough of the bumping and the mud so I went on the main roads for a while. I went through a lot of small tourist areas. They were totally deserted. Like ghost towns. Later the route got nicer. But a pity it was bad weather. It looked like the rain might start any minute but it didn't. The wind was annoying and I had to fight a lot against it. I've seen a lot of campsites but only the one I stayed at has been open. There are camping forbidding signs everywhere. And a lot of fences. There's a police car every five minutes. I dint feel very comfortable at wild camping. But so it had to be. I got into a forest where cars weren't allowed and got my tent up near the beach. I have to get up early tomorrow before (hopefully) people starts to arrive. March 23 rd Around the tip of Puglia. Today day km. Total this tour: km. I started by getting to Otranto. There was a small but fine old city behind the walls. Then I went south along the coast. Still windy and grey. I was looking forward to reach the tip of the peninsula and then turn and no longer having the wind against me. But for a while i had to struggle. It got more mountainous as i got south too. I'm heading north west now. It was raining a little today and for a short time heavy but then i was at a cafe to use the WiFi. It was much easier when my mobile Internet was still working. Now I m in my tent on a beach and it's raining. Fine that makes the chance of somebody discovering me less.

10 Otranto. The tip of Puglia. March 24 th Gallipoli. Today: Day km. Tour 2: km.today's Route Rain this morning but I had to get off. After only three kilometres I went into a cafe. I thought they had WiFi. No. But I had my cappuccino and the rain stooped. It was cold today.

11 I got to the nice city of Gallipoli and had the usual walk in the narrow roads with all my stuff. I didn't expect that one of the campsites north of the city was open. It would have been great to get rid of the things and study the city in a more relaxing manner. But there was an open campsite. Great it feels like a luxury. I even have my own bathroom There are several people here and there was a dinner arrangement with free wine too. Only 10 euros. I had some company but the meal couldn't fill the stomach of a cyclist but it was fine. Since i don't know when to find a campsite again I'll just stay here another day and do some minor repairs on my bicycle and bags. Gallipoli. March 25 th and 26 th Today: Day km. Tour 2: km.today's Route (.kmz) After a day of resting on the campsite i moved further north. I'm going to visit Taranto so i search the Internet for open campsites. There should be one open 5km south of Taranto. My plan is to spend a day in the city. The first part of the route today was with some fine villages at the sea. Next came a part with dunes. The sand was almost covering the road. It was quite nice.- Maybe because the sun was shining and there was almost no wind. Later it got cloudy again. When i came to the campsite the gate was locked. Luckily a man arrived. He knew the guys from the campsite and called them. The campsite was actually open i just needed to get the key. Now I'm in the tent and it's raining and a little cold but it doesn't bother me. Just a pity i forgot to get a coin for the hot shower. There s a cold one too bit I'm not that desperate.

12 March 27 th One of the villages at the coast.

13 Summer time started today meaning I had to set the clock 1 hour ahead. I'll get an hour shorter evenings. That's great. But I had to force myself to get up at the usual half past six. I started the day by doing some maintaining on the bicycle. Then it was time to get into the city. It was sunshine and I was thinking shouldn't I just stay on the campsite?. Bit I went off. After 3 km my chain broke and I had to walk back to the campsite to fix it. And then i stayed there. I baked some bread as i didn't get to the bakery and then relaxed at the campsite in the sun. Too cold still on the beach. Lined up for a relaxing day in front of the tent. March 28 th Taranto to Matera. Today: Day km. Tour 2: km.today's Route (.kmz) I started by getting into Taranto. The old city is on an island in the middle of the big city. It's a more authentic old city. There's not much done to make it beautiful to the tourist. Drunkards we're sleeping on the roads. But all that just made it more interesting. I had some trouble finding out of the city. But luckily it was Eastern Monday and there wasn t much traffic. I went on a little boring route to get to Matera. But the weather was great most of the time and there was a lot beautiful flowers. Matera is one of the places I am looking mostly forward to see and I was really hoping that I could stay on the only campsite that was on my map. As usual when I'm getting a little desperate about where to sleep it started raining. The campsite showed up to be a primitive campsite in a protected nature and archaeological area and I could stay there. It's cheap and the only thing I'm missing is the WiFi. I'm really looking forward for tomorrow. There's only a 2 km walk to the city on a nice trail which means I can leave my bike at the campsite.

14 Taranto. March 29 th Matera Day 237. I went off without my bicycle. I had to cross a beautiful gorge before getting to Matera. There was a nice view of the city. Matera ( inhabitants) is supposed to be one of the oldest cities in the world. The old houses are dug into the cliffs. It is s fascinating city. I was walking around most of the day. Feeling like a tourist where I'm elsewise more considering myself as vagabonding. You can't see all of the city in one day but i tried. It was such a great day. The weather was nice too. I came back to the tent in time to cook my dinner in the last sun. I shot a lot of photos. A few of those i uploaded while having a capucino at a cafe. The rest will follow when i get WiFi. I takes a lot of time to upload them.

15 March 30 th Crossing Italy part 1. Today: Day km. Elevation 1164 m. Max altitude 752 m. Total tour 2: km.today's Route (.kmz)

16 The first part of the route today I did on the main road to get a bit faster west. I'll admit there was room enough for two trucks and my bike and maybe even two millimetres more. It was stressing and I decided to go for the smaller roads. There was a nice peaceful part along a reservoir before the mountains started. Today's route didn't have any bookmarks on my map and no campsites too. I just had to see what might show up. First surprise was to see snow covered mountains in the distant. I didn't get near them though. I was feeling the route was taken me to the top of all the hills. That's were the cities are. I had to struggle and didn't get far today. It might take me another day to get to Salerno. As it was time to find a place to tent I saw a sign for an auto camper place. I would give it a try. There was nobody there and I asked in a restaurant. With the usual help of Google translate they told that they thought it might be OK to stay there. And so I did. It's in the middle of the city Tricarico and it feels a little strange with all the city noise around. The thing that is worrying me is that I might get something stolen or that the police will knock on my door. Tricarico March 31 st Mountains. Today: Day km. Elevation: 1996 m. Max altitude: 1432 m. Total tour 2: km Today's Route (.kmz) It was cold when I woke up. 2 C. The tent was wet both inside and outside from the dew fall. But I had to go on. I was more prepared for the mountains today. That's mainly psychological. To go down in speed and keep cycling as slow as you can. Remember to enjoy the views, the flowers, the birds singing... And it was nice the first part. No traffic and everything was green. When I came to Potenza the big city in the area I thought I might just get up there to have a look. The city is on top of a mountain like most of the city's here. But what a waste of energy. The traffic was terrible and I didn't find anything to see. Didn't even get to a cafe to get WiFi. I just had to get out.

17 I continued on small roads a little to the south. I didn't expect the mountains in this area was that high. It took me some time to get to the top in 1432 meters height. I got a little down on the other side to find a place in forest to camp. Camping in the middle of the city No clouds to see on the sky but looking down there they were.

18 A typical city on top of the mountain. Go to the home page for older entries