Athens was colder and wetter than Cape Town. Through most of South Africa, I slept only in my silk sleeping bag liner. Through most of Greece, I closed my sleeping bag over my head to save every bit of heat and some nights still had to add the silk liner for my legs. The first days in Greece looked like very scenic cycling. At least it did given my limited view from the sag wagon.
Like I mentioned, Athens was wet. The fancy hotel in Athens had fancy decorative brick leading to their garage. Slippery when wet. I never fell so fast. I ripped a hip pocket button off my riding shorts and jammed my right thumb. With no gripping ability, I was forced off the bike for four days. The middle two were some of the most scenic riding of the trip - according to those who rode. They cycled up gradual switch backs climbing a cliff wall. They cycled passed the best preserved Greek amphitheater. They cycled through quaint villages with narrow streets. The fourth day, my painful thumb saved my life.
The route climbed for 27km to almost 4500 ft. I mentioned that nights were cold. At 4500 ft, it was cold during the day. The later it got, the colder it got. In fact, it snowed. I would have been one of the later ones to top the pass, then, with my fairing, would have assumed I could go down faster than other riders. Three of the best riders, including a USA national team member, fell at the same spot (two getting bright "raspberries" on their hips). Another slower safer rider fell and broke his leg. He hopes to rejoin Odyssey in Canada. I would have gone flying down the mountain, skidded on the sleet in a corner, and gone off the mountain. At best, I would have sustained serious injury. I can envision paralysis or my death on that mountain.
It will be another week before I can manipulate buttons without some pain, but I'm alive with full feeling in every fiber of my body. Everyday, my thumb gets better. And now - I'm in ITALY!!!
Happy Trails,
Bruce