12 June 2022
It was supposed to be a relaxed 79km day…but turned into a marathon, especially after yesterday! Really as a result of detouring to avoid the busy roads….but also….we passed through Marathon!! Site of the famous battle…and starting point of the original Olympic Marathon!
First though…we had to fold ourselves into the lift once again (& finally I got a photo…but this is nowhere near the smallest we have had to squeeze into!)…
…before heading off to the “old” Chalkida bridge…just 40 metres separating the European mainland and Greece’s second island?
…and passing the “new” bridge..
Then followed over 40km of fairly ho-hum riding: the road was fine and quiet…but it ran not just parallel with but immediately alongside the main Athens Motorway!! So not very peaceful!! And we knew we were closing in on Athens…for the driving has got substantially madder today!
But we then found a detour…which took us off road on an exciting and quite challenging track…
…..around the Marathon reservoir (which supplies most of Athens’ water)…and we of course all know how close it is to Athens!!
We were looking forward to the big Marathon road sign…but there was none! Just a small museum about the history of the race.
And of course the slightly now-shabby marathon start point of the 2004 games.
We followed the course for around 13km….
……before meandering through the port town of Rafina…to our overnight accommodation at Artemis. Never heard of it….but we now learn this is the epi-centre of all things wind- and kite-surfing for the folk of Athens. (The apartment is called Savva’s Surf House…and Iain had been understandably quizzical given the lack of any real surf in the Mediterranean!)
It was mayhem….
….and I have no idea how there are not multiple collisions!!
A great place for a few beers though…before the short last leg to Athens tomorrow…as we watch cricket….and follow Liz’ progress around the world!!
