Crete to Athens

The final leg of the our Crete bike tour took us to Elafonisi. We prepped for a large uphill climb and  smooth descent to the beach. It was both of those things. The road was challenging but much more manageable than other roads we had this far done in Crete. 

Next up, the journey to Chania. We opted for a bus due to being limited to a major road that was known to be busy. Great choice! 

Once in Chania, we discovered a charming and lovely port town. We met up with Dean and headed out of town to do Olive Oil tour. It was a huge highlight! A great afternoon spent learning about the process from the owner of the company. 

An overnight ferry took us to Athens where we hur the highlights, strolled the city streets and caught up with Dean. 

Crete by Bike - Part 2

Sitting in a cafe in Paleohora reflecting on Crete so far. We have spent a lot of time diving into the ocean and checking out seaside villages while spending more time off the bikes than we thought. The heat is extreme and the many beaches made the decision to stop easy. 

Yesterday, we hiked the Samaria Gorge and I must say, I loved being back on a hiking trail. The gorge far exceeded our expectations. It was massive and seemingly endless. Access from Sougia and ferry rides connecting the journey had us checking out the island from a seaside perspective. We even left our bikes at the port in Sougia for the day while we hiked the gorge. Hard to believe it felt okay to leave all our belongings out in the open for almost 12 hours but there really is no worry of theft here, a comfortable way to travel for sure. 

Tomorrow we will set out for Elafonisi beach, the last leg of the bike tour prior to making out way to Hania. 

Crete by Bike - More Pictures - Part 1

 

Crete by Bike

Landing in Haraklion and setting out on our bikes we had a rapid reality check, Crete is hard to cycle. We headed south and over the next few days have found ourselves somewhere in the middle of where we wanted to be a few days ago. Along the way, we have hauled our bikes through impassable tracks but also discovered the most incredible coastal road we have cycled yet. This evening we are checked in a mini apartment style accomodation to reconsider maps and take a break from the unexpectedly record high temperatures. Another adventure that has challenged us physically and mentally but we have communicated and adjusted, with more to come for sure!