Thursday 20^th August – Messolonghi (Mesolóngion)

38:21.635N 21:25.026E

This morning we set off on the bikes for a short tour of the area. 

We started off cycling the 4km down to the coast, a road that passes over the salt flats; on the way we saw some white pelicans circling overhead and there were a couple of stopping off places for cars where people were able to go swimming and help themselves to mud baths – this seemed a popular pastime.

The coastal area is only slightly developed, with the buildings being mostly the converted pelades we saw on the way in.  There is a small beach with a few tavernas and there are steps from the sea wall down into the water for swimming.  There are also showers in a number of places along the front and changing huts for those who are shy.  It looks like it is a nice place to spend a day and not too busy either.

After our visit to the coast we cycled back to town and had a drink at one of the cafes to rehydrate.  We then visited the Heroes Garden; this walled garden is just out of town with many crosses and statues, all with inscriptions on them, dedicated to noted people.  Unfortunately, our Greek is still not up to much yet, we couldn’t even figure out the names on many of them.  Still it was a nice quiet area to visit.

After this it was time for domestic chores to take over.  We found the Carrefour and Dia just beyond the Heroes Garden and filled my two panniers with supplies before cycling back to Pyxis.  The good news about cycling here is that the area is all flat.

This evening we enjoyed a BBQ ashore with Cape and Enya.