Country number twelve of The Bike Ramble was Greece. Yet another place I visited for the first time. I crossed in from Macedonia without having checked the maps all that much, so I didn’t really know what I would come to.
Not all that much, it turned out. Or the opposite, depending on how you look at it. My first day in Greece I passed a couple of tiny villages, but apart from them I was really out in the Greek nothingness. This was an absolutely amazing day as I for one of the first times really got the feeling of being in a truly remote place.
Think this sign was a pretty good indicator that one of the villages I passed through wasn’t all that up to date
With a few shepheards as my only company, I cycled my way up and down rolling hills surrounded by the most stunning views. Every pedal stroke with the greatest sense of freedom and the feeling that ‘This is it. This is exactly why I’m doing this’.
Having to filter my water from streams instead of just stopping at the next gas station, and having unlimited options of dreamlike campspots gave me the best start possible in Greece.
I spent a total of about one week in the country, and I enjoyed myself immensely. The country is absolutely beautiful, and people were way too nice to me. Seems like anywhere I went, people welcomed me with open arms and… food!
Several times when I stopped somewhere – asking to use the toilet or fill my water bottles – I ended up having lunch with the gas station owner or spend the entire afternoon with a Greek family who were out to eat. It’s mindblowing and so heartwarming to see all these people reach out with the only intention of being nice to this unknown foreign girl riding her bicycle.
It’s still a fact that I’m travelling solo. But I’m surely not alone.
I don’t think a salad could possibly get anymore Greek than this one
Slowly I cycled my way East. With great days in the saddle and more amazing camping I felt like I was smiling my way though every single day. Even the couple of rainy ones I had.
Something that came to my mind a bunch of times every single day through Greece was this thing with ‘not appreciating what you have until it’s gone’. We all know it’s true, right?
Apparently it’s also applicable to alphabets. Man, I really haven’t been giving road signs with Latin letters enough credit!
Big stretches of road I had pretty much to myself. Many people think that solo cyclists spend all this time on their own, buried in deep thoughts about life or how to create world peace when they get back. And sure. It’s definitely true that I spend way more time in reflection than I ever do at home. But don’t make the mistake of thinking that this is anywhere near the whole truth.
When I’m alone, I’m letting out my inner dork. And trust me, my inner dork is pretty damn dorky – but she does make me smile. I’m singing (screaming) on the top of my lungs in the downhills when I’m happy. I’m dancing like a fool by the side of the road when I need to cheer myself up. And I’m taking selfies with turtles when the opportunity presents itself.
My guess is that not only touring cyclists, but most people goof around like this when noone is looking. And if not, at least I think everyone should. Having fun is fun! And if you’re having fun by yourself, at least you know that the whole crowd (you) will laugh at any joke you make. Foolproof!
The gallery on my phone is filled with tracks from moments like this.
1. Wait, what’s that? Inner dork waking up.
2. OK. Only one resonable thing to do here.
3. Pull out the camera and hope that I’m as alone as I think.
4. And then of course. Snap a photo pretending to be the most badass cycling spy Greece has ever seen.
My week in Greece ended just as great as it had begun. Though in a very different manner compared to the start. Already a couple of months back I had been invited to Alexandroupolis by blog reader Philippos. With his friends Vladimir and Alex I was treated to a couple of relaxing days of the bike.
My tent was replaced by a comfy bed. The pasta from my stove by ouzo and fresh fish. And the filtered stream water turned into liters of frappe cappuchino. I couldn’t have asked for a better way to end my time in Greece. The day I left, Philippos and Vladimir even joined me to pedal the last stretch before the Turkish border.
I think you can tell this by now. But I really, really love this weird new life I live on the road.
Take care!
Fredrika