Greece

I took the boat across from Italy to Igoumenitsa in Greece. On board there was a large group of young Greeks who had been across to Italy to see Athens' 4th best water polo team (you've heard of them, surely?) play in the European final. They weren't able to get into the stadium, so they came back on the boat and had a party on the boat, dancing and singing to a fusion of traditional Greek music and trance.

I don't care what the rating agencies say - Greece gets a triple A from me. They are the friendliest, warmest people I've met so far, both on the boat and here in Inoumenia. They see me sitting on my own so instinctively invite me over.

These are oranges the size of a grapefruit.

I cycled from the port at Igoumenitsa to Inonia, and it was 100km of mountain climbing and descending. Truly wonderful cycling terrain. I seem to have picked up a non-fatal cycling injury from yesterday. There is a soreness and pain on the bones of my undercarriage/throne of prince albert/gucci - it's not saddle sore, however - so I'm taking it easy today before pressing on to Thessaloniki.

I've never been to Greece before, but I'm very glad to have done so. It's a mix of both bristling chaos and laid-back charm, and you get the sense that despite the economic collapse the Greeks aren't prepared to wallow in the situation the government and the banks have put them in. That said, I have yet to see either Athens or the second city, Thessaloniki, where the effects of high youth unemployment would be more evident.

Here's a few more photos from yesterday's road.

High up in the hills you come across tiny brick shacks which are Greek Orthodox dedications to the Virgin Mary. You find inside a small altar, bouquets of plastic flowers, and small parafin burners.

Day 10 Venice

I made it to Venice yesterday afternoon. I'm getting a boat to Greece early in the morning, as I need to cycle across from Igoumenitsa to Istanbul to collect my Iranian Visa, so the route and distance has changed somewhat.

I haven't had much of a chance to update this blog. It's a habit thing as much as any other excuse, so I'll try and wake a bit earlier, cycle a bit faster, and write stuff down as I go, but I've got permanent numbness in my right hand (not convinced about the 'butterfly' handlebars) so the writing is a bit difficult. Also starting to feel the cramps in the legs, so I am studying carefully what I'm eating.

Next update should be when I'm in Greece...

Col de Grand St Bernard

Home to the big St Bernard's, this area is where the alps properly begin. It's a climb I did last year and the year before, so I have both a loathing and affection for this gruelling 27km winding climb upto the summit at 2400 metres.

Here's a few pictures from the way up

Up above the tunnel at 18km, the Col was closed (opens 1st June). As there hadn't been much snow over the winter, I chanced an ascent of the last 400 metres - but after less than 150 the road ran out, completely covered in snow.

I went back down to the tunnel (bicycles aren't allowed through as it's basically a motorway) and spoke to the Italian police at the toll, and got a lift in a pickup through the 7 or so kilometres of the tunnel. Then you find yourself in Italy, where there's a very quick descent down to Aosta

The Jura

The Jura is a famous cycling region between France and Switzerland, and has some stunning scenery. I cycled on to Lons Le-Saunier and went up this 13% climb out of the town. I felt like my heart was going to explode, as it's incredibly steep and is basically a dual carriageway which lasts for just under a mile, but rises 200 metres.

I found a lake up at the top, so I pitched my tent and then went for a swim. I woke up in the morning to this:

Paris to Montargis

I set off from Paris yesterday morning, but the going has been slow and tough. With the extra weight on thicker tyres and front suspension, it`s 5-10km slower than on my race bike that I used last year. That`s as much as two hours extra cycling every day.

Campsite near Montargis

Dieppe

I arrived in France at 03:30 in the morning and set off the ferry looking for somewhere to pitch my tent. Surrounded by barbed wire and steel fences, Dieppe ferry port feels more Songat than St Tropez, but I found a patch of grass to put the tent and get some sleep. No one gave me any bother

DAY 1 - The send-off

(by Oliver Robbins' biographer)

We assembled on Kennington Park an hour late for the big picnic. But that was OK because Ollie was even later, and he had a team of mechanics in the form of his friends and family to fine tune the bike and make tutting noises at the state of preparations so far.

A beautiful day had descended on the People's Republic of South London for this event as Ollie circled the group whilst nervously shedding posessions across the grass. The enormity of what was about to happen had, I think, dawned on both Ollie and the rest of us.

It only took a few posh olives and a couple of glasses of wine before the 11th hour dash home for bananas and scissors and an emotional farewell. But needn't worry, it's going to be easy. I mean, look at the confidence in his face. Look Ollie, just past Brixton Road, that's the land they call Australia...

And that was it, he left. And he was just going to keep going and going. The man didn't even have a map. But he had a bicycle. He had his panniers stuffed with Drum. And he hates airports. I think it's fair to say that we were all incredibly proud of Ollie as he wobbled out of the park to embark on what will undoubtably be an incredible adventure for a fantastically worthy cause.

GOOD LUCK OLLIE!!

Leaving!

Friends, leaving shortly after some food in Kennington Park. I'll try and keep you updated when I get on the boat this evening, or get to Paris at lunchtime tomorrow. Oliver

Visa FULL-HOUSE

Bangladesh Visa has just been approved, so that's the full house. At the eleventh hour and fifty-ninth minute. Iran, India, Bangladesh and Australia all approved. The other countries - Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Singapore - all provide a visa on entry.

Update: 17th April, picnic in Kennington Park

please join me for a picnic in Kennington Park, south London, on Sunday 17th April. My boat leaves Newhaven at 10:30 pm, so it would be a good chance to see some of you before I leave. Meet in the middle at 12:30pm



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They don't make them like they used to

This is a bicycle I came across on an island in the lagoon in Venice. I don't think it had been touched in 70 years