{"id":1457,"date":"2023-05-14T06:54:00","date_gmt":"2023-05-14T06:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/madbikerides.com\/?p=1457"},"modified":"2023-05-14T06:54:04","modified_gmt":"2023-05-14T06:54:04","slug":"19-kurdzhali-to-makri-greece","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/madbikerides.com\/?p=1457","title":{"rendered":"19. Kurdzhali to Makri (Greece)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Another freezing start. And we were quite glad to have a long slow gradient to keep the blood flowing!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As we approached the Greek border\u2026the road steepened – of course! – to another hilltop crossing. But first\u2026.a heart-sinking moment, as a big sign advised that the border was closed! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2026.read on\u2026\u201dfor trucks over 3.5 tonne\u201d. Phew! It would have been a long detour!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

So\u2026only four nights in Bulgaria\u2026somewhat shorter than planned as we diverted south for warmth!! Thoughts? Altogether a bit disappointing. Yes\u2026lovely scenery\u2026but really no more special than elsewhere in the Balkans\u2026and the towns were greyer\u2026the people too perhaps. None of the delight of the Albanians\u2026none of the great vibe of North Macedonia. And then there was Plovdiv\u2026the highlight\u2026which had become such a miserable\u2026.squelchy\u2026.. lowlight. We hadn\u2019t Plovdiv!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

And then we were in Greece! It felt warmer already!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And what a road!! A classic show-off road! Greek roads are no better than Bulgarian roads really\u2026but this section running down from the border – albeit with precious little traffic (& no trucks!)\u2026 was simply spectacular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Great surface, wonderful gradient, brightly lit wide tunnels\u2026and probably the longest 50kmh run ever! Iain broke his own speed record\u2026! 74kmh!! In next to no time we were 25kms down the mountain and enjoying our first Frappe (iced coffee!)\u2026in relative warmth!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We opted to head straight for the coast. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But\u2026it was closed. The coast was closed. Everything was closed\u2026but for one small taverna, for beers and a recharge! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

So we researched Google\u2026and found a place 30kms further East, which Mr Google advised was all open! We had already cycled over 100km but thought the extra would be worthwhile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And a great track it was too. The road was under construction\u2026and closed! But it was magnificent!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Until we arrived at out lively destination\u2026..for it too\u2026was closed! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Closed beach-side places have a slightly eerie feel about them\u2026.and this place was no different. We had booked our hotel to give us something to aim for\u2026.but we were probably their first guests since October, and we felt more of an irritation than a welcome end to the winter drought. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Awful place. And very probably just as awful when its busy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So\u2026despite our longest run of the trip\u2026we then had to get back on our bikes and ride back up the hill to find signs of real habitation\u2026beer\u2026and food! We were knackered!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Another freezing start. And we were quite glad to have a long slow gradient to keep the blood flowing!! As we approached the Greek border\u2026the road steepened – of course!…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1457","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-collioure-to-istanbul-back-2023"],"yoast_head":"\n19. 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