Europe on a Virago days 39 and 40 in Loutraki

Very mountainous ride from Delphi to Loutraki.

The beach at Loutraki was made of large pebbles.
Made my way to the temple of Heraion which was sited in a pretty cove.

This view above was used in a World Atlas as the introduction to the Europe section and was always a target of mine to reach.

Europe on a Virago days 37 and 38, Delphi

Return of sun at last for my ride from Meteora to Delphi. Stopped overnight at Amfilochia.

Had a room with a nice view over the water.

Rode South to the gulf of Corinth then the road followed the water East towards Delphi

In the distance you can see the new bridge connecting Northern Greece to the Pelopponnees.

Nice house site here, access would have to be by boat though.

This was a nice spot to stop for a coffee.

Waitress couldn't quite get the focus right.

Made the turn inland and started the climb up to Delphi.

Stayed at Sybilla Rooms for 22 Euros a night and made my way to the ruins.

No Charge to walk around this temple of Athena.

Great views from all the ruins.

Re -constructed offering temple

Temple of Apollo

Detail from one of the columns.

Europe on a Virago Day 36 Meteora

Stopped at the Meteora Hotel for 35 Euros including a big breakfast at Kalampake in the shadow of the Meteora Hills.

Had a nice rain free day although the sky looked threatening at times. Cruised past all the monastries but declined to join the queues entering.

Landscape was stunning enough without the added attraction of the monastries.

Left Meteora and headed North and then West towards Ioannina through some dramatic scenery.

Very happy to ride along in Warm sunshine.

Knew the chain was slack again but didn't have a 22mm spanner to loosen the rear axle nut so stopped at Arte at a Moto shop and got a oil and filter change and asked for a chain tighten.  Technician got to the wheel and called me over and said "Problem" and pointed to two broken spokes on the rear wheel.  He said he could replace them with some second hand ones to I went for a stroll into town and left him to it.

Came back as he was putting the tyre back on the wheel and asked to see the broken spokes. He pointed them out to me and said "Eight"! I thought it was the luggage and maybe the rear wheel tread that slowed me down on cornering, I wonder if that's why I got spat off at the roundabout in Italy?
All fixed and I began to wonder at what the cost would be, probably over 100 Euros I thought. Last time oil alone cost me 15 Euros.  Got a very nice surprise when he showed me a scrap of paper with 40.00 written on it.  Happily gave him a 50 Euro note and said use the change for beer.
Back on the road South but the rest had made my back stiffen up so stopped at the first nice hotel on the water.

30 Euros a night including breakfast and my own balcony on the third floor with a nice view.

Europe on a Virago Days 31 to 35, Montenegro to Macedonia

Waited three days in Kotor for the rain to stop and finally left on a 20 % rain chance day that turned out fairly true to form.  Had a long ride down the coast to Albania.

Paid my 16 Euro insurance at the border but wasn't asked for road tax contrary to posts read beforehand.
Beggars at the Albanian border gave a bad first impression. Changed some Euros for Leks when buying fuel but didn't need to as everywhere I went (one day) Euros were accepted. Roads were shit with nasty potholes and shoddy expansion joints on all the bridges. Average speed must have been about 70 kph. Pushed on and got to the Macedonian border about 4PM.
Paid FIFTY Euros there for insurance. Robbing bastards. Stopped at Ohrid on the lake.

Nice smallish place with  pedestrianised centre and nice parks beside the lake. Changed the Leks at the border with a taxi driver and his mate arranged for a guy to stop me on a street corner in the town centar and I stayed in his apartment block for 20 Euros a night plus 5 euros Tax and 5 Euros to do all my laundry.

Stayed for two nights and left on another rainy day but after getting wet thoroughly, reached the Greek border, crossed into sunshine and passed the 4000 mile mark.