Trip to the North

As our motorcycles are cleaned very well we like to make they dirty again. Therefor we take very curvy drawn street in the north of the island. Chalkida in the morning traffic comes to a hold. With a motorcycle it is a little bit better. After the end of the town we drive some kilometers between the sea. In Psachna (Psahna) we drive wrong. Here the signs are only in zyrillic written and not in arabic letters.

The road becomes more closely, traffic less - so not at all what you would expect from the only large road into the north of the island.

In a small place we hold. I take the map, go me to a Greek (only the Greek speaks) and ask it in sign language, where we would be. He studies the map, drives then with the index finger on a place and says something that probably means "here". We are in Maktrikapa. Thus wrongly. "Efcharisto" - turned - and retour after Psachna.

There we land again in a lane, which does not look in such a way at all, as if it would be the north south highway circuit for of us. While we look still confused, an old man brakes his moped beside us and asks us in Greek words, where we want to go. We show it on the map. He understands our problem, begins out-curving to explain, whereby he interprets dezent in the direction, from which we comes. Without interrupting its word gush, it strikes a cross and interprets vehement to the right. Finally it completely wildly. We understand completely clearly: The road back, with the church right and then further, further, further, into the north. "Efcharisto" - turned - and retour to the church. There he waits on his moped for us, insures themselves that we turn correctly, led us still another piece, in order to finally dismiss us with its most cordial desires and with wild gestic still the to north. "Efcharisto poli".

Soon we are standing - again helpless - on the next road crossing. This time we concern it scientifically and not experimentally. Tjaky analyzes the crossing, the situation of the two visible place name signs and the road guidance and compare it with the very exact map of the "Road edition". A wife (Tourist , Englisch spreaking) with a map from the island in A4-form, also tries to find the way. Tjaky tells her the way. While we are are staiing and drink from the cycle-bar and smoke a truck driver held on and asks in greek language if he can help. "Efcharisto" - he can not, we are in the picture - and drive forward.

Starting from Psachna the heart of the motodriver strikes more highly. Gently it goes into curves and turns (more curves than turns) up into the mountains, which, wooded and shady, offer a distance, which is so beautiful at pleasant temperature that we decide to roll up and take with us home. We enjoy following 25 km (sounds less than it is) in full courses.

But attention!!! The flank is not passable - and the flank is sometimes till the center of the driving strip! The bitumen shifted in parts wavelike, which by the light and shade plays becomes only noticeable if you feel it. Particularly in curves, which would drive up the mountain, is with strong contamination due to rubber to count oil and Diesel! Silence witnesses of heavy accidents are the guard rails, the in parts than skurril in itself interlocked metal bands it from the road repair authority forgotten existence at the roadside periods.

The distance is in the best way suitable nevertheless must for each biker or curve lover and, because no extreme difficulties are inserted, also for newcomer.

There are taverns, which offer at least liquid, also on the hilly stretch. Tanks should you still in Psachna, because the next gasoline pump is before Prokopi.

We drive till Prokopi, where we give our body something to drink, and forward to Aghia Anna, where we planned the rest for high noon. In the town we did not find taverns and so we drive back to Prokopi. There are some taverns waiting for us. We take greek salat and tsatsiki.

Back to Eretria we take the same way. Also into the opposite direction the curves are a benefit.