Arriving in Kalamata: 31 May 2018

Having rushed to leave work on time, we make good progress on the roads and arrive at Terminal 5 at about 8.30 pm. We push the bikes over to the departure terminal in order to check in for tomorrow only to discover this is not an option from Heathrow, only Gatwick it seems. Simon is very disappointed as he only really relaxes once we have safely checked in the bikes. However they are happy to store them at the Sofitel and we have a comfortable, if somewhat fitful, nights sleep. Back to the departure lounge before 9.00am and successfully check in both bikes and bags although have several long walks up and down the length of the concourse trying to get the bikes through oversized baggage. Finally free we enjoy breakfast and a bit of duty free shopping before our flight, delayed by about an hour. We arrive in Kalamata in a torrential downpour with impressive thunder clouds and rainbow over the mountains. Not quite what I had anticipated. Luckily the storm has passed and we have a dry cycle on wet roads about 6 miles from the airport to The Hibiscus Hotel near the marina in Kalamata. An old and authentic building, we think we are the only ones staying. A beer on the seafront before a delicious supper at Kanna on the marina. Sea Bass Carpaccio for me and baby fried squid for Simon. Homemade pasta with scallops and prawns to follow. Charming owner. Feeling a bit more relaxed and ready for an early night. We are 2 hours ahead so it will feel hard to get going in the morning. 

Itinerary

We arrive in Kalamata on 31 May and plan to travel down the western coast of The Mani (the middle finger of the 3 Peloponnese peninsulas) down to the tip at Cape Tenaro. We then hope to cycle back up the eastern coast to Gythio, and then inland to Sparta and Mystras before crossing the Taygetos Mountains via the infamous Langada Gorge back to Kalamata.