The end of the week was approaching, and Sunday seemed more and more like an opportunity to dash with our beloved motorcycle. The weather is ideal and the temperature is perfect for you to be on the road, and later in the summer the high temperature does not allow you to enjoy it so much. Saturday arrived and the mind had already begun to travel. Preparation as always included food and map for the route selection. Our destination is south Evia. Close to Athens, full of authenticity and tranquility. Dating early in the morning at 06:30 to catch the first ferry from Agia Marina to New Styra at 08:15.
The trip to Agia Marina was enjoyable, as the morning's relaxation allowed us to walk comfortably and enjoy the morning dusk. After Nea Makri, turn right onto the Soulian bus, heading for the harbor of Agia Marina. Before Kato Souli, the road becomes interesting with the highlight of the passage through the Kyparissia. The distance from Athens to the harbor is 45 km, one hour driving. The first ferry boat leaves at 8:15 and relax with toast and coffee either in the ship's lounge or on the sidewalks. This passage will bring you hundreds of gulls, the most in a population that you will ever meet on a trip to the sea. They come with playful moods and beg you food by playing with the sea. The boat to cross over makes an hour, an ideal time to relax and gaze at the map.
Reaching New Styra, one hour later, we head south to Karystos, initially the road is closed with chirping pieces and uphill opening later with larger straight and small turns and overlooking the sea from above. Here our motorbikes for the weekend started the game. Initially, the small KTM 390 Duke, playful, in the closed part exploits its small size and the power it has been playing with the contiguous small turns, but giving the much bigger BMW S 1000 XR the baton and exploiting the most open pieces and unfolding engine power and horsepower, while providing confidence and smile to the rider.
We arrived in Karystos after a beautiful game on the provincial streets of southern Evia, full of joy. What good motorbikes to enjoy the weekend and what a nice place to enjoy your ride. Unprecedented streets, magnificent landscapes, a beautiful road with no difficulty and great sea views.
The route after Karystos is of special interest as the place here is more barren with little signs of life but wonderful nature and landscapes. As we head further south, the more dry and wild the landscape is. Particular beauty is the passage from Platanistos to the stone bridge, the verdant mountain slope and the waterfall. In many tracks the path ends from the bare mountains to the green slopes with passages of small rivers.
The route and the wrong signing led us to the end of the road and to a dead end. This impasse, however, for our good fortune was one of the most beautiful beaches, Amygdalia. A magnificent bay with pebbles and a rock on its side to relax in its shade. Opportunity to stop and dive in the sea. Crystal clear waters, ideal for one stop after two hours on the road. Relaxation in the shade and tranquility away from the bourgeois routine routine. Only sounds of nature and the sea.
After one hour break back. After the uphill, this time, climbing to the petal after the houses of Amygdalia we found some workers working to open the new road. We were told to take the dirt road leading east and from there to get to our destination, Paradise. The dirt road was slow, but we moved with care as our motorbikes because of low altitude were not ideal to move comfortably. However, we managed to cross the route without any difficulty. The place here is authentic. We met only free animals, many turtles, eagles, free horses, frogs, horses, and only two inhabitants who were moving to their animals they had left for grazing. The road takes you to Cavo Doros and from there it continues to the Gorge and Agios Nikolaos, looking at the Aegean Sea in a landscape of unique beauty and tranquility.
At the end of the dirt road in Sotera, Mr. Giorgos is waiting for you. It maintains the local mini market and the café. Here we refueled with bulk gasoline that Mr Giorgos had in the grocery, we were sure we would reach Paradisi and after we cooled down, we continued. From now on, the route is asphalt, remaining alongside the sea with the unique view of the Aegean Sea. Along the route you will find two beautiful beaches, Kaliani and Gorge, the beach of Agios Dimitrios.
After Agios Dimitrios, we traveled along the gorge and in half an hour we arrived at Paradise. Mr. Yannis welcomed us with a huge smile to his "Mouries" tavern. Wonderful person, always smiling and willing to host you in his shop in the best way. The food is all made with its own ingredients, vegetables, meats and pasta, local recipe. Here you will eat the best ewe, bean or french fries. You will taste a delicious and full-bodied, juicy tomato and relax in the shade of the square. I wish we had some more time and relax in the village with Mr. Yiannis and his company.
Returning, we refueled gas at the EKO petrol station outside of Marmari, the vending machine and we returned from New Styra to play a bit more with our bikes on the way. Games with the claws on the ferry and a summer rain in Nea Makri to beautifully close a beautiful two days.
BMW S 1000XR by BMW Motorrad Vagianelis S.A.
Exceptional power, incredible brakes, amazingly good driving position on a motorcycle that best presents the concept of Sport Touring. Whenever you wanted to take advantage of its great horsepower, feeling perfectly safe thanks to its impeccable front system, its rugged fork and its stunning brakes. The driving position is ideal to cover long distances without any problems. You clutch extremely, to the point where you feel the absolute control of the bike without any difficulty. Excellent and gearbox, great. Even on the dirt track, even more quietly it moved without any difficulty, only with caution because of its low height.
Small but ideal for everything. Its small length made it particularly playful and easy on small and closed pieces. On the straight lines, it was obviously difficult to follow the fascinating BMW, but that does not mean that it did not have the ability to turn the throttle safely and comfortably and move even with 140 without any difficulty. The front and rear system, excellent and robust, gave you all the information you need as a driver, giving you the feeling of being safe and handled with ease. Only the rear brake, if you know how to handle it properly in conjunction with the front system, you are happy. His torments are extremely low consumption.