Day 45: Cycling from Berlin to Athens FINAL DAY

Day 45

Giannitsa > Chalkidona > Thessaloniki 

55.1km

3 hours 13 mins

96m elevation gain

WE DID IT!! We cycled from Berlin to Athens Thessoliniki, we travelled 2,855km across mountains, lakes, rivers, cities and woodlands. It really was an awesome adventure and I am so glad that we took this spontaneous decision. It is true that whilst cycling through a country you get to know a bit more about the locals and the place, rather than staying in the big cities or tourist areas you stay in small towns or villages where people don't usually visit. Of course, I don't think we will ever forget the family down the isolated road in Bosnia and Herzegovina who agreed to drive us to the next town 40km away in the dark and pouring rain. Even the bigger cities, we felt that we would settle in a lot quicker than usual and two nights and a day was the perfect amount of time to explore on rest days and get the laundry done for the next four or five days of cycling.

Champions!!

Re-cap of the incidents:

• 2 flat tyres (both mine)
• 3 incidents with dogs barking and jumping at us (not in a friendly way)
• 3 times I swam in a lake or outdoor pool in the evening, when it was cool and people thought I was mad
• 4 mealtimes where we had to get an extra main course because we were still hungry
• 2 panic attacks (me again) when it got dark and the roads were busy
• 1 incident of falling off the bike (Shanky this time) on a rainy day - luckily he was only bruised

The last day of cycling

We only really had the option of main roads most of the day, there was even a diversion which brought everyone onto the back road I had planned to take. We did cut off some of the main section nearing Thessaloniki which brought us through some farmlands (gravel paths) and into an industrial estate, so that was a bit of relief. We also had to watch that we didn't end up on a motorway nearing the end of the cycle. All along the way today there were cotton farms and harvesting, the trailers had open back and sides, I assume to allow ventilation for the cotton, so there were little balls of cotton along the road as well. We had a nice coffee break in Chalkidona which had some nice cafes and we got an ice drink each and some flapjacks. 

Cotton plants

A field of cotton with the mountains in the distance

A river and quieter road as we got nearer Thessaloniki

Thessaloniki

As we arrived into Thessaloniki we came to the seafront and there was a bike lane and a big expanse of sparkling ocean. It was a fantastic spot to end the trip and we got off the bikes for a high five and a photo. We checked into the hotel and then went in search of the vegetarian restaurant, rOOTS, which was yummy and then we went to a few bars to celebrate. We had cocktails and played Uno the card game. We also saw some of the historical landmarks of the city - Roman ruins - and got to bed. We have one last rest day and then we fly back to Amsterdam. Now just to pack up those bikes for the airplane!

Roman ruins including a forum

Bey Hamam - a Turkish bathouse