I've made it!!

Friday 8th June
After Thunder Storm - Calm, perfect calm! and after packing wet tent and about 20 miles stopped for the second best coffee of the trip, this one without alcohol, at Margherta di Savoia and then continued on to Bari. Just before Bari stopped and chatted to fellow touring cyclist from Ukraine who was making his way back through Venice, Vienna and Bratislava. Found the ferry and booked overnight crossing to Patras.

Saturday 9th June
Arrived Patras about 1.00pm and booked into hotel and spent the rest of the day looking around Patras which has a big fort at the top of the town, but this was locked up, and it has a fantastic Amphitheater, obviously in use for musical and drama events, but also locked!

Sunday 10th June
Had a job getting up, probably due to time change! but eventually got going along the old road to Pireaus, which runs pretty well parallel with the new one, but has very little traffic on it and is actually very lovely, running mostly on the south side of the Gulf of Corinth. Made about 40 miles and saw campsite, but decided to continue on until the next one, but didn't see another campsite or hotel for another 35+miles. Eventually found very posh hotel, which I checked into.

Monday 11 June
After incredible buffet breakfast continued on to Pireaus. The early cycling still very good and passed over the Corinth Canal, which is a pretty impressive feat of engineering. After the Corinth Canal the traffic started to build up, and continued to do so until it reached epic proportions as I was nearing the Port. I was mighty relieved to finally pedal into the docks and book overnight ticket to Mytilene. Not quite sure how I managed it but booked the most sumptuous cabin, with large double bed, two sofas, TV and view overlooking the bows of the boat; all for 80 Euros.

Tuesday 12 June
Arrived Mytilene about 8 a.m and decided to press on across the island of Lesbos before it got too hot. It felt quite strange being on familiar territory for the first time for 5 or 6 weeks. Stoppped off at Piss Pot Corner for a P! The last hill out of Kaloni was a struggle but as I arrived in Lafionas, I felt great sense of euphoria for the second time on the trip; the first being when I reached Col de Larche in the Alps. Fantastic to be here and put my feet up, enjoy a few beers with Birdy, William, Claire and Liz and apologies to those people who have been waiting for this update and who have surported me over the past 6 weeks. I did try to update 3 days ago, but as I tried to load up the entry managed to delete the entry - fed up!
It's been a great trip and a fantastic experience, I've met some lovely people. It's lived up, if not exceeded my expectations, and I will definitely be doing the return journey, hopefully within the next 2 or 3 years.