Walking, cycling and swimming!

Today was a day for exercise.  It started with Nicky and I taking an early morning walk.  We are trying to get back into the swing but it has been a month since we last went.  It was a beautiful morning to walk - we left before 8.00am because it looked as though it might get too warm if we left it much later and we were right.  The weather now (after the blip last week) is amazing.

We did one of our regular circuits which took us out through the village and around Lordos 2 heading out towards the radar then turning left and coming back through Inea and up past the taverna (House of Eleni) before cutting through and coming back into the estate.

It was good to see that our clean the other week has made a massive difference and there has not been too much new litter added.  We plan to do that stretch again maybe next week and that way we can keep well on top of it.  I hope that other people have noticed but I fear not - I do know that Gail has felt much happier walking the dogs that way now that there is so much less detritus to negotiate!

We were home just after 9.00am - probably before I would have been up if we had not planned to walk!!!

Pete, John and Richard were cycling to Lara today - well I say cycling - it is basically 90% downhill but the views are amazing!!!  Gail and I were the support team.  Gail was driving Richard's trusty old truck so the bikes could go in the back for the return journey.  I was taking Kenny with my swimmers and a celebratory drinkie for the boys.

Gail and I set off before the boys so that we could be at the taverna to see them arrive.  Neither Gail, Pete nor Richard had been to this bit of coast and today it was perfect.  We probably could have got a drink at the taverna as there were people in there and whilst we were waiting for the boys several buggies pitched up.  The last time John and I had done this was 2 years ago when Rachel, Nicky and I walked from Droushia and John was there to pick us up.

They arrived safe and sound, no accidents this time thank goodness and John was pleased that his hands were holding up although they all said that travelling on the brakes is quite hard work.  The ride might not have been taxing but the views were spectacular.

The boys enjoyed their celebratory beer and I got changed to go into the sea.  I did it when we came 2 years ago which was actually early December and the sea was pretty rough - today it was like a mill pond and warm.

John did not manage to get a photograph of me swimming that was in focus - I don't know what he does with his phone but he did manage to get a rather unflattering one of me as I was getting out.  

We stayed on the beach for a while and I disappeared off to get changed before we packed the bikes away and made our way back to Droushia.

We had decided to go to lunch in the village having had such an exciting morning and as we came back through Inea John saw that the House of Eleni was open.  In the past this place has only been open in the evenings but John said he had seen Achilles and thought he had said that he opened lunchtimes on a Saturday.

We decided that we would walk up there and see what he had to offer.  Gail and Pete had pitched up there with family once and Achilles had opened and provided them with a fabulous meze!  We had attempted to take Richard there once but it was closed so he was keen to try it.

Achilles gave us a bottle of his own wine to drink with our meal.  It was 15.5% so more like port or sherry - it said it was dry but it was more medium to us and we thought it would go great with a brandy in it!!!

We had a lovely meal.  Far too much food but it was just very pleasant to sit there and watch the world go by.

Needless to say the remainder of the day was rather quiet.  John wanted to watch the Mighty Blades playing Cardiff - it was rather a dire match but they did manage to secure a win which was encouraging and well timed as there is now a long break for the World Cup.  Thank the lord I wont be hearing John shouting at how useless they are.

I got prepared for tomorrow - Mum will be coming up tomorrow for lunch - we are having a casserole so it was easy to put everything in the slow cooker and let it do its thing.  We are having the boneless shin that I got from Shuks the other week with veggies and mashed potato.  Haven't decided on pudding yet but John bought some pears so will be doing something with those.