Up and out around 10 today. I was aiming for another campsite further on, but a puncture put paid to that. I noticed it early on, but on changing the tire around 2pm I made it worse. I’m writing out of order!
I took a main road out of Delphi, my bag soaked with condensation as usual. The route was easy and beautiful for about 20km as I wound through the valley, even passing through a crowded ski town on the way. Then my beeline took me on to a gravel track which quickly devolved into a rock and grass path, then into nothing. I do not trust it at all anymore!
I self-navigated back to the main road and continued down for a while, then up and up and up into the hills. In another flat area I changed my tire and continued uphill. It was very hard to cycle uphill with a flat. I looked up a bike shop near a nearer campsite and decided to aim for that. I even got some water from a village fountain. The first time since Italy!
The hill climbed towards a church. There I recuperated for a mo, before speeding downhill, towards the coast again. I zoomed through towns and olive groves to the bike shop. It was closed. Shit…
Instead I cycled to the campsite. On the way several dogs began to chase me. There must have been 5 or 6. I slowed but it was no use. One even bit into the pannier. It was scary but a nearby man called them off. A little way down the road I saw more making for me, and slowed. They lost interest.
I arrived at the campsite at 6:30. I set up my broken tent and got to fixing my bike. I have 3 inner tubes, all with punctures. One I chucked, and one I (hopefully) fixed. I also adjusted my brake pads. Hopefully the bike works well tomorrow. During a dinner of pork souvlaki and tzatziki, I tried to plan my route for tomorrow. I could cycle 165km and save 20 euros, but there’s big hills in the way. I’m still considering as I write this.
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