Greek islands and an old XT600

Friday was an easy day, walk up the hill, choose a wrong and overgrown path, pick another one, carry on etc. Back into the village for a welcome cold beer and salad, later on calamari and wine in a wee taverna.
Back in the hotel the owner and his mate (who is a sea kayaking guide and does some amazing trips) were on the terrace with a jug of wine so we sat and talked till whatever time.
I was up early and the owner got up and made me coffee, you couldn’t find a more hospitable and decent guy.
Off to Naxos town, I had been planning on a ferry to Athens to head to Evia and east but the ferry times weren’t great and the lads, over wine, suggested I pop into Andros so here I am.
I like being flexible, inspirations come and go.
Naxos is a great island, one big town and a mix of small hill towns, even smaller coastal villages and a labyrinth of twisty roads connecting them all. Worth a visit, it’s no wonder you can rent a decent bike there.

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The ferry from Naxos to Andros went via Mykonos, an island I do my best to avoid. It is hugely overly crammed with folk, very, very camp, gay in your face, full of designer shops and €10 coffees and lots of luvees saying how wonderful they all are. Lines of guys with chaps on and bare arses don’t do it for me so I hate to think what the old Greek folk think. And the big cruise ships stop there, as they do at Santorini, another over hyped over crowded spot.
So, Mykonos followed by Tinos, a medium sized island with a religious fervour so attracts more pilgrims than beer monsters.
And a busy 10 minutes at Naxos port
Then Andros
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Northern jock said:
The ferry from Naxos to Andros went via Mykonos, an island I do my best to avoid. It is hugely overly crammed with folk, very, very camp, gay in your face, full of designer shops and €10 coffees and lots of luvees saying how wonderful they all are. Lines of guys with chaps on and bare arses don’t do it for me so I hate to think what the old Greek folk think. And the big cruise ships stop there, as they do at Santorini, another over hyped over crowded spot.
So, Mykonos followed by Tinos, a medium sized island with a religious fervour so attracts more pilgrims than beer monsters.
And a busy 10 minutes at Naxos port
Then Andros
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View attachment 408639View attachment 408643
Click to expand...
Hell on earth :eek:
 
Northern jock said:
The ferry from Naxos to Andros went via Mykonos, an island I do my best to avoid. It is hugely overly crammed with folk, very, very camp, gay in your face, full of designer shops and €10 coffees and lots of luvees saying how wonderful they all are. Lines of guys with chaps on and bare arses don’t do it for me so I hate to think what the old Greek folk think. And the big cruise ships stop there, as they do at Santorini, another over hyped over crowded spot.
So, Mykonos followed by Tinos, a medium sized island with a religious fervour so attracts more pilgrims than beer monsters.
And a busy 10 minutes at Naxos port
Then Andros
View attachment 408636
View attachment 408639View attachment 408643
Click to expand...
It would be interesting to see that cruise ship sink, nowhere near enough life boats, but in my world, that is a positive. :D
 
ATT said:
It would be interesting to see that cruise ship sink, nowhere near enough life boats, but in my world, that is a positive. :D
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It would make a great artificial reef, good for sea life and diving, finally have a worthwhile purpose 😀

The small islands they visit get overwhelmed with thousands of folks being herded in flocks through the pretty old towns. I’ve seen it on Santorini when we went there for a flight, a couple of hours of amazement at just how busy an island can become.
 
Northern jock said:
I weakened at the first hurdle, passing this town I decided I needed breakfast so I stopped at a small cafe and asked the pretty girl if she had fresh cheese pie? She said yes, very fresh so I said that would do me. So here I am.
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A nice strong looking coffee there Alistair, good preparation for that twisty road ahead. Looking forward to your next pics and posts.👍
 
Lovely photos. I think my most relaxed times have been on Greek islands. It’s the simple beauty of it all. Special places.
 
The old XT seems to enjoy the islands, the happy sounding burbling and chortling it does as we make our way through towns and villages, especially first thing, is a delight to hear as it reverberates off white washed walls and blue painted doors.
Happy bike, happy rider.
Popped down into the main town but it’s a bit of a rabbit warren of one way streets. Out again I think.
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Bike parked by the steps and that is a pub on the corner so location good as well
At this time of year accommodation is good value, £45 is probably the average I’ve been paying. The more rural then the cheaper and more basic obviously. Most rooms have a basic kitchen set up - fridge, two ring stove, kettle or coffee machine and some basic utensils. Works for me.
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Northern jock said:
Bike parked by the steps and that is a pub on the corner so location good as well
At this time of year accommodation is good value, £45 is probably the average I’ve been paying. The more rural then the cheaper and more basic obviously. Most rooms have a basic kitchen set up - fridge, two ring stove, kettle or coffee machine and some basic utensils. Works for me.
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Click to expand...
Sounds idyllic

Half makes me want to buy an old XL600R/Dominator & ship it to Greece

A friend has a house in Cyprus which he visits 4-5 times a year (there now …straight after our trip to SSDT) and does a lot of trail riding there on a DRZ and also has an older 600 Transalp to potter about the villages with his wife on pillion

They go to the beach, have a swim and then stop at a taverna for lunch/supper & his pics are equally alluring
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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