South Somerset Screamer Sportive - 10th November '13

As we placed the waymarkers, the rain tumbled from the heavens, and the last dirty vestiges of daylight dwindled. Spray splashed from the roads, and placing the markers near the drainage ditches in the gathering darkness of the levels became a hazardous occupation. We wondered quite what tomorrow would bring. As the riders assembled at 07:30 though, the stage was already set, and the anticipation was building. A 180 degree blue sky smiled down upon us, and a buzz passed through the start line with a minute to go until 08:20, 84 miles across some of the UK's finest countryside... and a perfect day on 2 wheels lies ahead.

This, the inaugural Adventure Café South Somerset Screamer had a sign up of some 60 riders - a very respectable turnout for a first event, but a manageable number for a mass rollout down West Street and into South Petherton. The peleton stretched out as we rode across the levels to Muchelney Abbey, and by the time we had made the short but stiff climb up to the historic Hanging Chapel at Langport, and then on to High Ham, everyone had worked the early excitement and over exuberance out of their systems. Over to our right Glastonbury Tor gave us a cheeky wink from across the levels in the distance - near enough to touch, but a long and challenging ride lay ahead before we would reach the Tor.

Blitzing through the chicane of High Ham, the riders pick up speed down the fantastic downhill to the moors, and then across the first long flat classic Levels straight. With Heron and Egret beside us, and withies rising from the drainage channels, set against a crystal azure sky, riding quite simply doesn't get much better. But just as one settles into a rhythm, the Polden ridge looms into view, and gives riders a kick in the quads. After this brief undulation, we scream down through Shapwick and Westhay, bound for our first feed station over one more blip, in the quaint Somerset village of Wedmore - also known as the Queen of the Moors. 'Mmmm, Doughnuts.... mmm Pastries' the late breakfast was appreciated by the assembled group, but not for too long, the warm sunshine made it too easy to linger, but ahead, the famous Cheddar Gorge was calling.

From Wedmore, an easy 4 miles brings us into Cheddar Village, where riders carefully negotiate aimless, wandering tourists, before passing a handful of cheese emporia, and entering the towering, gaping Gorge. The hill itself is not as fearful as one might imagine, with only a couple of truly steep sections, but it winds on, and on, climbing some 193m over 5.1km. With some 3500 Strava Riders visiting this climb, it rates as one of the UK's true biggies - behind only the legendary (ahem!) Box Hill and a few others. But without a doubt, this is a very special piece of tarmac, winding through millions of years of Geology, smattered with walkers, riders, climbers and cavers, this is, to coin a phrase... Epic!

When we emerge from the bowels of the earth, we are once again bathed in sunshine, stop the Mendips, and we ride through the perfect village of Priddy, before we all too quickly leave the Mendips behind, descending carefully on leafy roads into Wells. The smallest city in Britain is left behind in a flash, and we climb up and away. Anyone with any energy left at this point might have caught a glimpse of the cathedral back and behind us, it too enjoying the midday sunshine, as the riders ploughed on. Our road continues to climb, and then, the standout view for me of the ride follows, as we reach the crest and descend once more towards Glastonbury, now finally the Tor comes back within range. The Tor stands alone, surrounded by lush green farmland, gently pulling us in, one of Somerset's finest sights.

By way of a nasty shock, one of the toughest short climbs awaits beside the Tor, climbs up the anonymous side street of Bove Town, and  is a tricky little customer, especially when everyone is expecting an easy passage on easier ground across the levels once again. The descent is no easier, and is a twisty, slimy affair that doesn't allow you to regain any momentum. But after completing almost a full circuit, we ride beneath the Tor for a fleeting moment, and then away South once more, homeward bound.

The final section of the ride treats riders to some tricky undertyre conditions, with some finest rustic terrain, as we head down through the villages of Butleigh, and Compton Dundon, before a brief joining with a faster B Road to reach the historic capital of Wessex - Somerton. Tired, hungry, riders stave off low blood sugar at the final feed station, now with the final 20 miles or so in their sights.

But its not an easy final leg, still some surprises lay in wait. The road rises and falls gently once again right down to almost sea level, through Long Sutton to Long Load, before the final series of small climbs begin. From the scenic crossing of the Yeo at Long Load, we push ourselves on through the villages of Ash, Tintinhull, and the incredibly pretty Montacute complete with its Stately Home, Country Park, St Michael's Tower Folly, and the by now extremely tempting Phellips Arms, it is surely worth a return visit on a more relaxed day? But in a matter of seconds we have blurred through, and out into woodland again - now heading to our final obstacle. A sharp left turn confronts us in the centre of Stoke Sub Hamdon, and the road rears up - a mini wall of tarmac - Ham Hill surges ahead. With heavy legs, I slip backwards, and my riding partner pulls agonisingly ahead of me - drawing out a lead of some 30 seconds, as we crest the Iron Age Hill Fort. I glance to my right, at the stunning view across to Norton, and the Blackdown Hills in the distance - but there's no time for that. I need to catch the man ahead. I push the pedals harder, and try to accelerate down the hill, ploughing through the final 'special stage' passing the muddy roads of Over Stratton, and across the roundabout at Lopenhead... but its too late, a glorious day of riding, and 84 miles has reached its crescendo. The Adventure Café tent welcomes us in, and checks our times. Tea and cakes await in the offices. Just remains for me to remind my riding partner that although he arrived 20 seconds before me, I actually set off 5 minutes after him.... competitive... moi?

 

The Transfagarasan Highway

As we rode up from Bucharest my heart akipped and my mind raced, full of memories of previous encounters and battles with mountain passes. From riding the Grossglockner Strasse in Austria, through to my first Himalayan High Road - riding from Siliguri up to Darjeeling, and then on to more and more high passes around the world, I think there is little to rival the excitement that builds in the ride to the foot of a world classic climb.
These roads are world renowned.  These roads are beautiful beyond compare. These roads have been crafted by skilled engineers and by suffering and hardy workers. But for us, the best of these roads offer names to conjure with, and the promise of more endorphines than an Ironman could want for.

The road from Bucharest is pan flat, not too busy, and we work together. As is common when riding beneath a range of mountains, there is a prevailing wind that repels us ...  but luckily our team of 8 are a good bunch... and we rotate the lead, each taking our turn.. The sun shines and a huge blue sky arches overhead, as we whizz by village folk watching our dayglo colours streak past. The children wave, the adults slightly aloof, but still interested. As the road climbs and we leave the city of Pitesti behind, there is an air of reaching tourist country, as the houses smarten up, and people around about seem in jovial mood.
We ride up to the small village of Capateni slightly unsure of how high we have to climb, but we roll into Pension Dracula in goos time, ready for a good hearty Transylvanian meal...

Snow in April?

So, I think it's fair to say it has been a strange start to the year. Not great for runners, or riders. It has either been wet, or if it has been dry, it has been freezing beyond being fun... but we felt sure that come the beginning of April, our first London to Paris would be fine! Warmth would surely break through those winter clouds, and we would have a sunny and pleasant pedal to Paris... How wrong could we be?

Standing shivering in Dover Harbour, awaiting boarding the ferry, I wondered how we had got so unlucky with the weather. I also wondered whether I would ever be warm again. But on the plus side, at least the roads were dry. Small compensation for numb fingers and ice filled bones :-)

The French side faired little better riding along the Cote Opale. I could barely raise much enthusiasm for the beautiful rolling ride across Cap Griz Nez and Cap Blanc Nez, in fact it really took until the final morning pushing off from Beauvais, until we all felt some warmth return. Approaching the River Seine just after Pontoise, the mercury just nudged ten degrees.... for a matter of minutes. But that combined with a few rays of sunshine was enough to lift the spirits.

Thankfully, like all successful challengers, the team from Jubilee Halls, were troopers. Despite the temperature, they never once let their spirits drop. Smiles and determination won the day, and as you can see, on arrival at the Eiffel Tower, the team let out one almighty cheer (well several actually).

And of course... once the bikes were safely stowed at the hotel. The team celebrated with celery juice and oatcakes (ahem!) ... in time honoured fashion, the afterglow of a fantastic 280 miles of riding gave the team all the energy they needed to get fully stuck in to Paris' best hospitality... culminating with some fairly surreal dancing antics in a Student Venue beside the canal... look out Strictly!

Next trip departs in May, then further trips in July, August, and September. Both 4 day routes, 3 day routes, and even the extreme 24 hour version are all available. For more details click here:

http://www.adventure-cafe.com/Content/ForeignAdventure/ForeignAdDetail.asp?aid=1184844557
 

Ride to the end of Europe!

Thessaloniki to Istanbul ... A few words from the road...

So, the end of the road was reached. After 6 years of epic riding, 6 years of incredible exploration of some of Europe’s further flug reaches, we arrived at the Turkish border, as a more worldly wise crew of riders, than we had set out. Some had transformed their cycling, some had transformed their bikes,

Some had even learned how to mend a puncture on this ride across a continent.

As the huge white crescents fluttered on their red backgrounds overhead, we entered Turkiye, and pedalled towards our first set of towering minarets. Paul and Jason avoided a full body examination at the border, and trundled through to join us at the roadside, where we had been greeted by the Turkish Police. Immediately bristling with some misplaced sense of guilt, another sense of guilt overtook us all as we realised that the only reason the police had stopped was to wish us ‘Hozgeldniz’ – or welcome to Turkey. The chief of police for the local area, who was driven by his junior around the border complex, offered us an escort to Edirne, our first overnight. ‘Is there anything else I Can help you with?’, what a fantastic first impression of this bustling country!

From the border, the town of Edirne is just a short ride. Comfortably within an hour we had crested the final hill, and the enormous main Mosque marked our evening’s destination. The sense approaching a new continent here in Turkey is palpable, people’s faces are different, the air is laden with the smell of different spices, and the spires of churches have now been replaced with slender space rocket minarets. But the biggest thing that hits home as we ride through to Edirne, and then Corlu and on to Istanbul, is that this country is firing on all cylinders.

Somehow under the radar, Turkey has been marching forwards on its own economic wonder journey. But it was something that few of us in our cycling group were aware of. We fumbled for Wikipedia over the next three evenings here in Turkey as we rode closer to Istanbul, to find out more about what is happening. Firstly, the small road that I had taken from the border to take the quiet road to Istanbul some 13 yrs previous, has now been replaced by a smooth tarmac dual carriageway, which runs perfectly parallel to a big motorway just a few kilometres away. And as we pulled in to Corlu the next evening, we already had a sense of coming into range of Istanbul, at a distance of well over 100km from the city centre.

After Corlu, on the final day’s ride to our destination, we had a few short kilometres of countryside, before soaring towerblocks, gleaming hi tech factories, and ostentatious retail and hotel developments engulfed our progress. We had tried hard to plot a way through the madness on quieter routes, but the bottom line is, that Istanbul is the 8^th largest city in the world, and is a city well and truly on the move, so cyclists had better be intrepid to cope with what it is going to offer! We crossed two causeways, where we were obliged to follow the D100, our guide towards Istanbul for the last 2 and a half days, the latter one  being gridlocked by traffic, before we gasped for breath and took a sharp exit down towards the coast once again.

We reached lunch on our final day easily, and were treated, as we were throughout Turkey, to some most fantastic fare. Turkish cuisine, for the uninitiated, is with out doubt one of my personal favourites, laced as it is with good hearty flavours, complimented by simple but exotic spices. We were able to take our time over lunch, and enjoy a full range of freshly prepared kebabs, fluffy middle eastern rice, lahmacun Turkish flat bread topped with tomatoes and herbs, and delicious pastry stuffed with Turkish cheese and potato. For a simple roadside spot fronting on to the roaring D100, it was somewhat surprising to be fed such a gourmet feast. By the time we remounted our two wheeled transport, we were well and truly stuffed. And of course, as everyone quite accurately predicted, directly after lunch, as is traditional, we were greeted with the steepest hill of the whole trip.

The good news, however, was that this was the final hill for us, and from here we soon found ourselves riding a pleasant coastal cycle route, enjoying the fresh air wafting in from the Sea of Marmara. This route in for the final 20km, is a beautiful ride, and after looking straight out at the enormous numbers of cargo ships anchored just offshore, our eyes, on rounding the final headland are drawn to Turkey’s Mediterannean Jewel. Finally, we see the distinctive domes and spires of Sultanahmet. We gather by the water’s edge for a team photo, and pedal the final couple of kilometres into town. Up one last steep cobbled street, and we emerge miraculously beside the Blue Mosque. In fact, we actually emerge inside the blue mosque complex, and the celebrations begin. Big hugs, stiff handshakes, and slaps on the back. The team are to be congratulated… no crashes… no incidents, just great riding, and good times…

Just one question remains. Where are we going next year? You tell us... info@adventure-cafe.com !!

Still The Adventure Capital for Me!

Somehow 8 years have elapsed since I was last lucky enough to find myself here in Nepal. Life rolls along, and we have been riding through most of Europe, trekking in the Atlas Mountains, and blasting out the UK mountain challenges.We have even in the intervening years developed and grown fond of our close to home multi activity events, where challengers can blend everything from Open Canoeing to Caving , Orienteering to Rock Climbing, and even Abseiling and Mountain Biking. Our events have taken us from the wildest peaks of North West Scotland, to the backroads of Albania, and from the caves of the Mendips to the Sea Cliffs of Cornwall. Indeed, we are fortunate and blessed to have all of these amazing places to count as our playgrounds. But although time may have dulled some of the memories, the Himalayas still offer the real deal, and they remain, in my mind, the true Adventure Capital of the World.

This last 2 weeks has seen a lucky group take up on what has to certainly count as one of my all time favourite adventures. We have spent 2 weeks, exploring the religious and cultural sites of the Kathmandu Valley, then putting our best foot forward on the Annapurna Sanctuary Trek, and reaching the crystal clear air of the Base Camp at a lofty 4130m. From the moment we arrived, I wondered whether the team would share my complete and utter (some might even say obsessive) fascination with this country! I watched as we bumped our way throught the dusty unsurfaced roads of Kathmandu. I wondered as people were served with Dhal Bhat, and Noodle Soup for meal after meal. I feared the worst as the temperatures plummeted high into the sanctuary, and our breath steamed forth from our mouths in the lodges each night. But last night, as we ate our last celebratory meal together, and the team relived their experiences, it was obvious, that even for this well travelled team, the tried and tested recipe that Nepal offers, still has the old magic.

The best big Adventures always start with a bang. Coming to Kathmandu even the flight in is very special, with the snowcapped Himalayas glistening behind Nepal's capital city. And once the group had assembled, we were straight off, directly into the melee of the city centre - the team immediately struck by the energy, colour, and frenzied chaos of Kathmandu rush hour!

Within 24 hours of touching down, the team had flown to Pokhara, transferred to Naya Pul, and were well on their way up towards our first overnight in Ghandrung. And then within a couple more days, we had trekked through beautiful forests, amongst lush green rice paddies, and up to the entrance to the narrowing valley that leads to the Annapurna Sanctuary itself. Life has changed a fair amount here in the last 17 years since I started coming to Nepal, and the lodges have become in the lower parts of the valley like hotels in the mountains. Each major stopping point on the trek now has hydro electricity, and the trails are beautifully maintained. As it turns out, the inhabitants of Kathmandu with its dusty unsurfaced and dirty roads are probably somewhat jealous of the Gurung folk from the Ghandrung Valley!

As we reached night 3 of our compact trek, some of our team were starting to feel the pace. Having by now climbed to 2950m, we were perfectly positioned to head up into the higher part of the trek. Himalaya Hotel for us marked the start of the more challenging part of our trek, as the temperatures were by now dropping steadily, and the air had started to thin. And added to this, the lodges by now have become simpler. The virgin trekkers in the group were starting to find out what Himalayan trekking is all about! Simple living, plenty of Lentils, and incredible scenery... but dwindling creature comforts!

As we continued higher the night at Himalaya really paid off, as we were comfortably able to ascend to 3700m at Macchapuchre Base Camp, with all team members reporting no headaches ! Hurrah! But most team members feeling very chilly... as the temperature dropped to a bracing minus 7 degrees (est.)...

At four forty five on morning 5, we all leapt out of bed, ready in our trekking gear, gloves, hats and headtorches poised, and strode forth into the chill night. Beneath a blanket of stars we climbed slowly towards our final destination, excited chatter filling the night air. Around five thirty, we were able to descern the beautiful turning of the sky's edges to a lighter shade, and the first brightening of Hiunchuli up ahead. Just a few minutes more, and the torches were off, and fiery sunshine hit the snowcapped peaks of Annapurna South. We took our final steps into a bustling Base Camp, and enjoyed hot porridge and lashings of lemon tea. Photographs will never do this place justice, memories will burn brightly forever... I can't wait to be back again...

This trip was 13 days from London to London - please call www.adventure-cafe.com for more details on 01460 249191 - and we shall be very happy to arrange your very own amazing adventure to the Annapurnas!

Happy trekking

Richard.

Going Live Tomorrow.... Thessaloniki to Istanbul Ride...

So although the Great British Summer may have come to a close (back in May)... the sun is still shining on the Adventurous! Tomorrow marks the beginning of the latest installment in the Bike East Odyssey. A group of intrepid riders have built upon their London to Paris adventure of some 5 years ago, and subsequently have taken in France, Germany, Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia, Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia and Greece. The next 6 days of riding will see them reach the end of Europe, having finished off Greece, made a brief foray into Bulgaria and entered Turkey and ending in Istanbul, where East meets West.

Stay tuned for daily updates from this page... Adventure On!

So long Summer and thanks for the memories

October 2011 - last of the cycling challenges completed, feet back under the desk, now a chance to reflect… what a year!!!

It all started back on a clear cool late February morning and the first bike challenge of the year. Yes! the outdoor cycling adventure season had started, Spring was in the air and we were taking our first Adventure Cafe clients of 2011 out on a single day 100 mile ride around the Cotswolds… good riddance winter! - life is good!

From that first February event I’ve been fortunate to have been released from my (office) shackles to assist and support on cycling events from the outer reaches of Scotland to the high Cols of the Alps.

After February came a bit of a break for me before I was out again but it was worth the wait. A charity challenge for Nestlé fundraising for Alzheimers Society and Scotland would be by next port of call – Girvan to be precise. Not the prettiest town but we were here for the riding and the stunning Galloway scenery did not disappoint. From here our path was Carlisle, Newcastle, Darlington, York then Halifax before continuing onto London - but I was on this to Halifax. Five days of excellent riding through the Border country and the North of England made all the better by humour only the Scots, Geordies and Yorkshire folk know how to deliver – thankyou.

Soon after, an event that I had my eye on all through the winter as it was the first overseas and The Alps! Beginning in Geneva our destination was the lakeside town, Como, 30 miles north of Milan - 310 miles and 5 monster cols to conquer. The Alps were truly stunning at this time of year (late Spring) and after ascending/descending name places normally allied to the Tour de France – Col de la Colombiere, Col de Aravis, Cormet de Roselend, Col du Petit Saint-Bernard, it was all over too quickly before making passage to Como and return home.

Then came my first appearance on one of our many London To Paris challenges this year. This event cannot not be bigged up enough! Starting from Royal Greenwich Observatory – probably the most iconic start point for any adventure in the world down to the historic Dover port - this event just gets better and better with every mile - riding the coastline from Calais to Abbeville before entering the wheat and sunflower fields of Picardie and before you know it you’re riding along the Seine, around the Arc de Triomphe and down the Champs Elysees – FANTASTIC! This has to be by far the best event for anyone from the UK considering their first EU cycle tour.

Another great EU cycle tour beginning from London is the London To Brussels and I was lucky to support this event this year and discover another great city on-route – Bruges. Also known as the 3 Cities Ride it’s fairly easy riding over the northern reaches of Belgium and the Flanders region but none-the-less spectacular in it’s own right. Bruges has to be right up there as one of the coolest cities in Europe with a an old town that’s not too big and full of life. Entering Brussels was an unexpected adventure in itself by discovering the route took us through the Moroccan quarter of the city and witnessing a little crazyness more familiar to a street scene in Marakesh.

Finally, by a course of serendipitous events I found myself on the hugely anticipated cycle event of the year of 2011 – The Dubrovnik To Thessaloniki (Bike East) Challenge. Departing from where we left off 12 months earlier in Dubrovnik our challenge was to navigate a path out of Croatia through Montenegro, Albania, Macedonia to our final destination in Greece. The weather was perfect, the scenery stunning and for a while the roads were smooth and fast. Day 1 saw us leaving Croatia before swinging inland and circumnavigating the stunning inshore waters of Montenegro’s indented coastline. After a brief ice-cream stop at the ancient walled city of Kotor we move on and arrive back at the Med for a night over in the coast town of Budva complete with jet-set Marina and walled old town – stunning. Moving on from Budva around the Azure coast, day 2, we catch a glimpse of the Queen of Montenegro Hotel immortalized by 007’s Casino Royale before moving towards the border and the much anticipated 2 days riding through Albania, but first one last dip in the sea at Bar before waving goodbye to the Mediterranean until we re-join at Thessaloniki. 20 miles onward and border control, you could sense the anticipation in the air… nobody was sure quite what to expect from this mysterious country tucked away and often forgotten about, and now we were here! A few miles in and everything seems fairly normal, infact we’re greeted with inquisitive smiles and waving hands – I guess it’s not everyday a group of strange looking MAMIL’s come to town. Our first night in Albania was at the town of Shkoder 10 miles across the border and had very much the feel of an untamed frontier town – a bit shabby, a bit wild and a little sense of chaos in the air… Mos Eisley eat your heart out. That night the braver members of our group seeking a night out were disappointed only to find the bar of a 5 star hotel the only discernible watering hole within safe walking distance from our hotel… no Mos Eisley Cantina and the Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes to be found here sadly. Our destination for day 3 was the Capital of Albania, Tirana, and the relative flatlands to the capital offering high speed riding. Well, nearly, all was good for the first 30 miles before we come to our first complication – a motorway. Indeed, closer inspection of the map did show the road becoming major but according to the locals (and the boy on the bicycle in front of us who rode onward) it was quite normal to ride your bike down the motorway – even our Croation guide, Zeljko, suggested we were better off staying on the motorway than riding other roads!? We peeled off the motorway and I soon began to understand the advice being given to us - donkeys, stray dogs, sheep on the road but worst was the manholes with no covers – all this combined with the constant threat of a moments random driving by local road users (which covered a wide range of jalopy’s) – things were becoming interesting. We were now forced to use minor back roads for the next 30 miles… luckily we already had lunch stowed on board the support van. Just to spice things up, the (only) road we had available to us was undergoing major resurfacing works, which left us in places with no option than to walk stretches of asphalt free road – I mean crushed boulders in places - even the MTB guys had to get off at one point! The funniest thing is though the locals were still driving along like there was nothing wrong and that actually we were just being a bit precious.

It was a bit random to say the least with no sign of any workmen or traffic control – how long could this go on for? 16 miles later we made it back to our old friend asphalt and huge sighs of relief and after counting our spokes we set off for the last leg to Tirana city and our accommodation, the Prince Hotel, lets hope it lives up to it’s stately name. Phew, The Prince Hotel was perfect and after a hearty meal and a good nights sleep, day 4 saw us set off for the high country and the first day of hill riding – big hill riding. First there was the small task of navigating Tirana city centre – our hotel was on the exact opposite side to our road out – everybody made it safely. It was clear Albania is undergoing some form of redevelopment and an effort is being made to encourage more visitors & investment from abroad, however, it’s still a little bit crazy and there is a little part of me that kind of enjoyed the edgy excitement while being there and I hope that actually it stays that way. 10 miles out of Tirana we meet the first of the days 2 climbs. 5 miles and nearly 700m of climbing later we’re rewarded with fantastic views looking down on either side of the ridge to the valley floors on either side of us- awesome! Feeling a little cooler up here and distinctly greener the scenery is spectacular. As we progress it’s not long before we are presented with one of the more unexpected scenes of the tour… from high on the hill we are able to look down on to our path and before us the industrial scene of gigantic steel works, Kombinati Metalurgjik, appearing to be mostly deserted and resembling a scene of some post-apocalyptic event this was a blot on the landscape of gargantuan magnitude. Fortunately our road avoids getting too close the works before entering the industrial town of Elbasan. One imagines in it’s hey-day, the town of Elbasan once serviced the mighty steel works and that this was a town thriving on hard cash earned by hard men. We pass through Elbasan quietly and continue on the road for the border and Macedonia. Before crossing into Macedonia we pass through one last Mos Eisley-esque town, Përrenjas and just as we arrived, we are given a similar send-off of waves and smiles and it was goodbye Albania.

We cross the border at close to 1000m above sea level before swooping down to our overnight town, Struga (690m asl), on the north shores of the huge Ohrid lake. Another excellent night at a fine hotel in Struga and we’re feeling good for the ride to Greece but first the small matter of a 600m climb to the towns of Resen, Capari then Bitola. For approximately 30 miles we’re riding at an average altitude of 1000m and up here the scenery is distinctly greener – a refreshing change from the ubiquitous Mediterranean scrub. From Bitola we begin our gradual descent to the coast but not before crossing the border into Greece and stopping at our overnight stay in the town of Amyntaio. Another great hotel and restaurant ensures we are nicely set up for the final days riding to our final destination, Thessaloniki. The roads are longer and straighter and after a mornings ride we’ve made good progress and we’re at the historic town of Edessa. Perched dramatically on the edge of the high ground we find ourselves plunging dramatically down to 100m above sea level and then it’s a race across the fertile plains apparent in this corner of Greece through the arable farmland and cotton fields before finally reaching Greece’s northern most metropolis, Thessaloniki and a welcome return to the Mediterranean. After photographs at the White Tower right on the sea front, the last remains of the old city fortifications, we head for our final resting place and a well earnt night out. Take a look at a few photographs of the challenge at our Adventure Café Facebook Group now for some great images of this amazing event.

Roll on 2012 and stage six of the Bike East Adventure – Thessaloniki To Istanbul. You can join us on this exciting journey by calling 01460 249191 or email info@adventure-cafe.com … see you there!Adventure Cafe