After the Acropolis we made our way north where we
were due to meet Ethan. The first
campsite we arrived at was closed so we had to push on further to ‘Marathon’;
this is where the actual marathon run originated from. After a long drive and a
little bartering with the owner (who wanted €30 a night to begin with), we
booked in for a couple of days.
The spot we found was right next to a park which Tom
was pleased with, and we were really close to the beach; I’m loving falling
asleep to the sound of the waves.
He teases me a lot, but I'll follow him anywhere |
The next day me and Alf went for a walk along the
beach for a little exercise. Our walks along the beach normally turn into an
interior design session for his new bedroom when we get home, Alf is missing
home and is counting down the weeks before we return. We have designed his
bedroom about ten times now, but it does give him something positive to focus
on.
On the way back to the van we popped into what looked
like a beach bar for a drink. The bar turned out to be a female volley ball
outdoor centre with loud dance music
playing and about two hundred young people (25 & under) all lounging around
drinking soft drinks and generally having lots of fun. Alf loved it and wanted
to stay a little longer, so doing my fatherly duty I agreed to hang around and
force myself to watch the volleyball.
Much closer and we would be in the sea |
After Marathon we drove the next leg of the journey
and found a beautiful spot to wild camp near ‘Volos’. This time we were even
closer to the beach, only being separated from it by a small path. We parked right
next to a café which had chairs on the beach. It was such a good spot that we
stayed for a few days and took advantage of the café beach loungers on the sand,
plus there was a play park on the beach which once again, Tom was pleased with.
It’s amazing how much time he will play in a park on his own.
Tom loves play parks |
Alf secretly loves play parks |
As the holiday season is not here yet, we are usually getting the most stunning beaches all to our selves, which is not a bad thing as there are less people to frown at us for the lads behaviour.
All to our selves |
On our last day
here though, there must have been fifty teenagers turn up on the beach all
playing with ‘bat & balls’ or chasing each other or running around and
swimming in the sea. There were no adults with any of them yet they were all
really well behaved and having a great time. It was very interesting watching
Tom observe them all, he was obviously thinking hard about it and letting it
all sink in as he said “Dad, it looks great being a teenager”.
The next day we made our final push to Olympus. Once again the scenery was stunning with the sides of the roads covered in wild flowers of yellows, purples and oranges, all giving off the sweetest of scents. The other pleasant surprise has been the poppies, big blocks of deep red squares scattered in the fields as we’ve driven by them.
If only pictures could give off scents |
An hour or so later and there it was, a huge snow-capped mountain in the distance. Seeing this made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. In a few days time I was going to be on the top of that with Ethan! It was difficult to imagine it being cold enough for snow as down here it is so hot.
We found our camp site, Camping Poseidon, and settled
in. We weren’t as close to the beach this time, but it was still as close as
the end of the garden at home.
The site itself had a strange feel to it as there were
loads of full timers who had covered their plots with blue tarpaulin to keep
them in the shade. There was also a group of people erecting a steel frame
around one plot, so there was a ‘mig welder’ being used and regular angle
grinding happening!?
We got the table and chairs out, and of course the
Lego and made camp.
Late the following day we were at the airport to pick
up Ethan. I haven’t seen him since Christmas so it was lovely to see him again.
It was nice to catch up with the boys from home too who came across to climb
Olympus. Last year we climbed a mountain (Toubkal) in Morocco together and we
had all been looking forward to the new challenge.
After a day relaxing on the beach, and Ethan getting
burnt (the numpty) we met the others at the foot of the mountain to start our
hike.
The first leg was from Litochoro to Prionia, the below
is copied from the Olympus National Park website.
Ethan preparing for the big hike tomorrow |
LITOCHORO –
PRIONIA
|
No1
|
Duration:
5 hours
|
|
Altitudinal
difference: 740 m
|
|
Route of
medium difficulty
|
|
Length: 9
km
|
The international hiking path E4
starts in the area of Myloi (400 m) and is one of the entrances into the
National Park from the town of Litochoro. The path passes through the stunning
Enipea Canyon and is well preserved with clear markings and informative signs.
After many ascents and descents the path ends in Prionia at Enipea springs
(1100 m). The path starts along Enipea Canyon to the left of the river and half
way along the route it crosses the canyon seven times across beautiful wooden
bridges thus sometimes having the river on the right and others on the left. In
the second half of the route is Agio Spilaio
where Saint Dionysios lived as an ascetic and then after another 20 minutes or
so the path reaches Agios Dionysios Monastery
which is well worth a visit and is open from April to October. Leaving the
monastery behind and continuing along the path after approximately 10 minutes
the path begins to descend to the left and after a few minutes arrives at the
spectacular Enipea waterfalls. The route is
quite tiring due to the ascents and descents, but the varied geological
features, the small lakes with crystal waters and the sheer mountain slopes
provide a rare beauty and entirely reward the visitor. The route can also be done in the reverse direction
arriving at Prionia or Agios Dionysios Monastery by car and starting out from
there.
It felt so much longer than 9k on the day; I was amazed to read the above, the route can be quite tiring!? Although we did do it in 4 hours and not the 5 stated.
It felt so much longer than 9k on the day; I was amazed to read the above, the route can be quite tiring!? Although we did do it in 4 hours and not the 5 stated.
Then came the second leg of the journey
PRIONIA -
SPILIOS AGAPITOS REFUGE
|
No2
|
Duration:
3 hours
|
|
Altitudinal
difference: 1000 m
|
|
Route of
medium difficulty
|
|
Length:
4.5 km
|
The route from Prionia
(1100 m) to Spilios Agapitos Refuge (2100 m) is the
most frequented hiking path on Mount Olympus and makes up a
part of the E4. It is the continuation of the Litochoro – Prionia path. Prionia
is the highest point which can be reached by car (it is 18 km from Litochoro)
and here there are parking areas. The source of the Enipea River is also to be
found here and a cafe-restaurant operates in
Prionia all year long. The majority of the walk is through the
forest. The path is in very good condition and the combination of thick pine
trees with beech and fir trees lend a unique charm to the place. Spilios
Agapitos Refuge is located on a natural flat surrounded by impressive age-old
Bosnian pine trees.
I can’t believe the length was only 4.5k!!! We were all
absolutely smashed by the time we got to the refuge. Although it is almost the
equivalent of walking up Snowdon twice in one day.
Jamie, Richie, Ethan, Gerry, Glenn & me. |
After some hot food and lots of resting we all
had an early night, ready for that early start in the morning to the peak.
had an early night, ready for that early start in the morning to the peak.
SPILIOS
AGAPITOS REFUGE - SKALA - MYTIKAS
|
No3
|
Duration:
3 hours
|
|
Altitudinal
difference: 818 m
|
|
Route of
medium difficulty
|
|
Length: 3
km
|
The route increases in difficulty from Skala to Mytikas. From refuge A (Spilios Agapitos Refuge at 2100 m) the path becomes quite steep and after about 20 minutes follows Hondro Mesorachi ridge until it reaches the path for Zonaria on the right at 2480 m. A few metres further on the path towards Stavraities and Agios Antonios bears to the left. Follow the main path, which is a relatively steep E4 path through a bare alpine landscape and after approximately one hour the path ends at Skala peak (2866 m). From here continue following the red markings on the rocks along the route called Kakoskala (bad steps), thus named due to the natural steps which lead to Mytikas. It should be noted that this stretch of the route is quite challenging.
Quite challenging!?!?!? I can’t believe it’s only
classed as quite challenging, and we stopped and Skala! One of our party ran his first marathon
recently and said he “would rather run a marathon again than do that hike any
day of the week”. I think the word we used most during the day was ‘gruelling’.
I think quite bloody challenging!
At the top with the Gods |
Another proud moment as a Dad |
Feeling on top of the world |
At the point of wanting to give up, these views drove us forward |
The mountain itself is absolutely stunning with
waterfalls and streams and dozens of colours from the plants. We saw
butterflies of blue, yellow, orange, green and even the peacock ones. We saw
lizards and toads and dragonflies and even some ladybirds. We walked over rocks and trees and snow up to
our knees. The views were spectacular; they were the only thing keeping us
going at some points.
After taking our pictures at the top we made our way
back down. The clouds had now set in so we had lost a lot of the scenery and it
gave the mountain a whole new feel, if not a little spooky. Me, Ethan and Jamie
really started to pick up the pace and threw ourselves into the path. We were
sinking into the snow sometimes up to our thighs and were sliding all over the
place, but we made our way to the refuge in an hour. After resting for a while
and drying off, and waiting for the others we then started our final descent
back to Prionia.
Path? Where? |
Visibility was drastically reduced going down |
We stopped at the café at Prionia for an ice drink and
ordered a taxi back to the hotel. Me and Ethan had booked into the hotel for
the night to recover so were very spoiled with hot Jacuzzi baths and various
choices of food for dinner.
After meeting the rest of the lads in the dining room
for dinner and re-living the adventure we all got our heads down, i was out for
the count, totally exhausted, especially after only getting three hours sleep
at the refuge the previous night..
Seriously though, quite challenging!?@!!
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
The following day Beth picked us up and we spent the next two days on the beach next to the camp site with our legs up, they were feeling like lead so the beach lounges were abused and the ‘frappes’ were flowing.
Ethan not being allowed to relax |
First beer with Ethan, well deserved |
Suddenly Ethan has has grown taller than me |
Just to note, it was the first time the van had been left with Beth. When she picked us up from the hotel she said she noticed a light come on the dash, and it was difficult to start? And on the way back to the campsite the front tyre also went flat! So the next day we had to go on a mission to find a garage to get the tyre repaired and find an electrician to deal with the battery (it needed a new one). Well done Beth.
My legs were killing me |
The words drama and queen spring to mind.
The day before Ethan was due to go back we returned to
Prionia, this time in the van and took Alf & Tom for a walk to the water
falls. On the way we picked up one of the other lads from the party, Glenn, who
ended up walking all the way back down to his hotel as the scenery was so
beautiful, crazy man.
Revisiting the scene |
With Glenn watching toads |
White trainers, Mmmmmm |
Alf and Ethan taking it easy |
Ethan’s week came to an end all too soon and we drove him back to the airport. It was sad for me to say goodbye as I enjoy his company, and he is turning into a very interesting young man who has started his spiritual journey.
Ethan rehearsing for Bay Watch |
Alfie goes one step further and uses aids |
Wild camping in IKEA car-park. It's not all golden beaches and blues seas when you travel |
Woke up to this, it certainly beats IKEA |
Much closer and we're swimming |
Tomorrow we are hoping to be in Corfu
What wonderful memories you will have with all of your children and they with you. Enjoy your travels.
ReplyDeleteThanks Wendy, it's been a great adventure so far.
DeleteLoved reading the blog it even made me tearful [not a common emotion being as I'm from Blidworth] but there you, are can't wait to see you all again. xxxxmum
ReplyDeleteAnd you didn't even cry at E.T. i presume they were tears of laughter?
Delete