Bansko (Bulgaria) to Krinides (Greece)

Today's road profile

Today was another chilly start in the low 40s F (5 C). Every evening our tour leader sends us a climb, wind, and temperature profile. We were all bundled up for our start downhill out of Bansko in the predicted headwind. We didn't even consider the distance or what climbs we'd have because the downhill made it all seem easily possible.

First coffee stop

Pinecone basket at the coffee stop

For the first time, nine of us left town together and hung on as a line of cyclists. We were flying downhill, my Garmin hitting 31 mph (50 km/h). It was intense but I didn't want to lose the train. Eventually, my friend slowed up and let the other cyclists go ahead. Then, three of us were able to enjoy the scenery on the way to the first coffee stop, which was an eclectic place along the highway. Inside, there was a collection of Christmas cacti in plastic pails, as well as baskets made out of pinecones. They even had hot chocolate for me.

Still 1245 meters of climbing today

All the strong cyclists headed off before us. Then, we enjoyed our own more leisurely pace to the border crossing between Bulgaria and Greece. Since both are part of the EU, we didn't have to all congregate with the van before we could cross. However, at the crossing, all the cars were supposed to drive through a sprinkler system to wash off their cars. It was the only way through but I didn't want to get wet! When we tried to go around, the border control officer came over and told us that he needed our bike wheels to roll through the puddle of water accumulating from the sprinklers. Some type of disinfectant?

Baklava and ??

Tiny gas station on the street by the town square

After passing the border, we took off layers of clothing before starting the downhill to the next coffee stop. It was in the cute town square of Kato Navrokopi. There were coffee shops, a bakery, and a tiny gas station. Best coffee stop of the trip so far! I bought some baklava and another unknown sweet treat. Soon, the sweep was texting us that we needed to get a move on for the next 40 km (25 miles) to lunch. All the other riders had already left, some as we had arrived. 

Mountain top above the clouds

Today was starting to feel like a race from point to point along the busy highway. We did stop to take a photo of a mountain summit above the clouds along a rare shoulder on the highway. We are still tourists, after all. When we finally arrived at the lunch stop, all the other cyclists cheered for us. Otherwise, we would have missed it. Perhaps, too, the strong ones were happy that they could now continue onto the hotel. They and the luggage van left soon after we arrived. It was great to see a bike share dock even in this town of Drama. (We spent a lot of today heading toward Drama!)

Bike share in Drama

It was 4 pm; and, I was starving, shoveling food into my mouth. We were also pressed for time, so, only ordered a couple of appetizers, which we quickly ate and then got back on our bikes. The tour leader rode with us the final 22 km (14 miles). We passed the archaeological site of Philippi on the left side of the road but no extra energy (or daylight) to climb that hill to the ruins.

View of the sunflower field from our hotel balcony

Our hotel is in the middle of nowhere. The hotel restaurant wasn't open, so, the tour leader arranged for taxis to take others into Krinides to a restaurant. Very happy that I had extra sardines, bread and fruit so that I could stay back in the quiet of the hotel. Our balcony overlooks a drying sunflower field.