46. Ioannina

We had arrived into Ioannina a day earlier than originally planned…to allow Iain to leave on the Friday….and get to his cricket game on the Saturday!

….which meant that he missed out on catching up with Andrew….!

But it turned out….he was getting on the same plane Andrew was arriving on! So we could cycle out to the airport….and do the classic change-over at the airport itself…without either of them seeing each other!!

So…it was farewell to Iain…..

…..and welcome to Andrew!!

It has been such a great three+ weeks with Bean! I have had a ball….and I know he enjoyed it too!! And yesterday was such an epic day….it will remain with us for a long time!!

Overall however, was a bit of a bitsy three weeks in terms of biking….with a lot of island hopping….including our adventure to the big chair on the weird island of Gavdos!…..and of course a full week in Skopelos!

So it is perhaps surprising that he actually completed 1,067km on the bike! With a massive 17,336m of ascent….over really only 9 full days of riding!

He will rejoin the ride in Bodo, in the far North of Norway….in almost exactly twelve months’ time…if we ever get that far!! The high temperature today….is a balmy 12 degrees! Yikes…..and there was he worrying about the temperatures in Greece! Hahaha!

Andrew (…Diack…Blenheim neighbour for those unfamiliar)…has just spent a few days in Athens before flying up to Ioannina…..staying in a hostel dormitory!! Numpty!!

I might assume that bankers and ex-bankers are fairly careful with their money……but to stay in a dormitory for three nights after a 40+ hour journey from NZ….and share it with 20 young partygoers….is really a step too far in the frugality stakes in my view!! Haha…particularly when you can rent a studio apartment for 35 euros in central Athens!

So…yes….he was in desperate need of some sleep!!!!

So it was a quiet day…blogging….washing…..etc etc….before going out for a few welcome beers….!!

…another of those signs: