How come "Bluesky"?
Gotta name those trips. I've got so many under my belt and it helps me define which is which.
Still, how come "Bluesky"?
It's my first trip since I joined Bluesky. Sideways testing whether I should stay there or not but that's a few months later decision. At the moment I'm all packed and ready to ride from Athens to Patra, leaving the recently suffered from heatwave capital to take the ferry to Italy from the latter's port.
Don't fool yourself that was drama free. You see, my "beloved" syndicate went on strike for days in a row putting my departure in question. I'll spare you how much stuff I'd have to cancel in that case. Can't remember how many messages I got from the ferry company saying "this is your new departure time" "this is your new vessel". Yep, they even had to change the ship! That's the 3rd time I face such stuff in my travelling career trying to make it from my birthplace to Italy but let's leave it all behind and focus on the good things.
And that's the weather first of all. After days in a row with maximums at 40℃ I'm fine with low 30s although the city hasn't cooled down yet hence I load my bike under the tiny shade of a tree pretending I skip the sun's laser this way. Athens is not about Green but I'm so looking forward to catch the ferry to Venice and see this masterpiece after so many years that I can easily convince my Mediterranean DNA that summer heat is no biggie. Plus I'm so looking forward to see my dear friends in Netherlands and take care of their sweet house and animals while they'll be vacating (which means fresh eggs daily!).
I hit the road eager to leave the city's heat behind and I'm glad to see that the traffic seems to be moderate in the very first kms:
The opposite direction is packed as you can see. Unfortunately, before I even start feeling lucky mine becomes a nightmare too:
Fortunately I still keep a good amount of my muscle memory from the days I used to ride in such conditions daily, although fully loaded is a little different story. And certainly not what travelling should be about.
First fuel stop at the oil distilleries South West of Athens:
Can't get any closer to the source right? I run on the reserve, they're among the cheapest ones, right before the toll road so it's a no brainer. Tire pressure check, clean the mirrors, windshield and headlights and I'm on the road again.
You can watch the whole route in the following video:
It's more of an FYI than a scenic route as I followed the toll road, something that I never choose unless I really have to. I had enough time in my hands to take the much more beautiful coastal road but at the peak of the touristic/swimming season with a zillion villages and towns to cross, nope. It's also a chance to listen to my last tune (details in the video) as the footage is largely killed by the penetrating sun.
As I am getting closer to Patra I my bike feels kinda shaky and as soon as I arrive at the port I take a look around to see how come. Turns out it has a reason to behave like this as my rear left bag lost a zip tie and became loose. I love zip ties except that they tend to become brittle under the sun. No biggie, one minute fix, at least as you carry the right bits:
Time to check in. I queue while hoping my bike will stay untouched. This time the port looks like a church compared to how it used to be, it's super quiet and neat though no police in sight. Nothing like the bad old days years ago when the port was so full of illegal immigrants that I could find them hiding behind my bike to skip the arrest. Crazy times.
I finish the process, get my cabin's key and the vehicle's card which now proudly says that I'm going to Venice, sitting behind my custom DIY windshield:
Time for some saddle snack(s):
The sun lowers making everything more purplish so I picture the lost industrial past of Patra hiding behind those trucks while mountains overlook in the background:
Time has come to enter the ferry but the sunset is too good to pass so I take this distant shot behind the fence:
I leave my bike with lots of company at the garage, a little surprised that nobody thought to park like me heading outwards, neither the guy at the garage told them so. Would make emptying the ship in 2 mornings much less messier but kinda 1st world problem anyway.
This surprise can't be compared to the surprise I got from my cabin. You see, for a long trip like this I had booked in the initial ship a single bed cabin with a window. Look what I got in this ship:
I don't know how come they gave me a thing like this but of course I didn't ask. That's a double bed with what feels like a brand new real mattress, super firm and not paper thin like they have at the rest cabins. The bathroom is twice the size of the normal ones and the whole thing feels like I could happily live there not just travel for two overnights.
Time to walk the deck and see what is what. The sky is so sweet now:
Patra by night:
Back to my cabin my only complain is the dirty window but I guess we can't have it all although it's a pity cause it looks to the West and blurs those unique colours:
The cabin also offers a pair of slippers, thicker than the normal disposable ones:
But the real treat is when I discover I got a semi loaded fridge!
These taste better than expected:
The dirty window and the moon create this artistic composition at night:
A nice touch before I meet my monster magnet, my bed. And it's so lovely and so magnetic that next morning I miss the port of Igoumenitsa as I wake too late for that. Sorry folks, it's a lovely area but no pictures this time, first time I miss it!
Here's some shots I take later from the deck but it's a rather blurry morning:
The monster keeps steaming its way,
and I enjoy my relaxed time over a flat sea:
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