To Xanthi: It didn't rain

September 27, 2015

I looked at 2 different forecasts for the weather today. The Norwegian website, yr.no predicted rain all day. Accuweather predicted rain starting about 3 p.m. In an effort to make sure I got to wherever I was going to before the rain started, I was up early and out the door. It doesn't really get light until 7:30 or so, and I was pedalling by 7:45.

There really was not much remarkable about today's ride. It started off with a bit of a climb, and was up and down and up and down for a while, with the coast coming into view periodically.

The city of Kavala was only 8 miles into the ride, and my first potential bail out point if it were raining buckets like it did yesterday. It was still dry, so I took advantage of the big city and stopped for some cash at an ATM. Then I met a group of cyclists who were loading up their cars to go to an MTB race. Given the mountains here, that could be exceptionally challenging. We chatted for a while. They asked me about my trip, and suggested that next year the Tour de France should have a new category: with bags.

Kavala has some historical bits that would merit some sightseeing, but I had just taken my day off at the beach in the rain. The road took me through the aquaduct though, which was pretty cool.

The aquaduct is part of the city, and the road goes right through it.

After Kavala, the road pulled inland, and was mostly flat for quite a while. It had heated up and I stopped to pour water over my head before reaching Xanthi, where I've stopped for the night.

Good thing I studied all that math and physics, and learned the Greek alphabet. That's Xanthi in 27 km, the town I'm aiming for today.

Even more exciting than Xanthi, this sign indicates Turkey ahead!

Xanthi has a pedestrian center, distinct from it's old town. I wandered around, looking for some dinner. A lot of places are closed on Sunday, and I ended up at a kebab place in the center. The center seemed mostly asleep. Then I found the old town, and it was hopping. I managed to get some ice cream there, and then walked back to my Hotel, the Hotel Paris. I stopped at a Lidl, hoping to pick up some drinks and snacks, but it was closed due to Sunday, too. It never did rain today.

Today's ride: 67 km (42 miles)
Total: 3,057 km (1,898 miles)

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