Plakias Forums
Plakias => Where to go => Topic started by: badger on August 03, 2009, 01:16:24 AM
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Hi there Chris and anyone else who can help me, I seem to remember you posted some photos of the road to Kallikratis a while back, but can't seem to find them. When returning from Loutro two weeks ago, the taxi driver from Sfakia diverted with my sister in law and her husband to Kallikratis to pick up his brother who completed the drive to Heraklion. They were a bit disconcerted to say the least, and are not usually worried about winding roads. However at one point they appeared to be rolling back, and the driver said he could not put the aircon on or the car would not make it up. I assume they were on the road you posted- what do you think? Have you still got a picture or link to one? Thanks, Alison.
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this one?
(http://harribobs.smugmug.com/photos/206565306_NLN3d-M.jpg)
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hi alison
there is a collection of John R's photo's of the Kallikratis road here :-
Kallikratis (http://harribobs.smugmug.com/gallery/3626531_yBRcY#206564608_9En9D)
chris
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hi alison
there is a collection of John R's photo's of the Kallikratis road here :-
Kallikratis ([url]http://harribobs.smugmug.com/gallery/3626531_yBRcY#206564608_9En9D[/url])
chris
And do note the Killikratis monsters in the last photo of that series
John R
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hi alison
there is a collection of John R's photo's of the Kallikratis road here :-
Kallikratis ([url]http://harribobs.smugmug.com/gallery/3626531_yBRcY#206564608_9En9D[/url])
chris
And do note the Killikratis monsters in the last photo of that series
John R
I took this road at night- quite an experience-
Santa
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And do note the Killikratis monsters in the last photo of that series
John R
I'd forgotten about them!!
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Chrs, John and Santa,
Thank you so much for your replies. I will show my sister -in -law your pics if that's OK and see how she responds. She seemed to be having trouble breathing when she told me about it on the phone, and that was just at the memory! Can I just ask Santa, why at night?! I think had the taxi driver done that to us we would have got out of the car, if we could move that is. I do remember from your previous posts though that some of you enjoy this road and are not scaredy cats like me.
Thanks again.
Alison
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Chrs, John and Santa,
Thank you so much for your replies. I will show my sister -in -law your pics if that's OK and see how she responds. She seemed to be having trouble breathing when she told me about it on the phone, and that was just at the memory! Can I just ask Santa, why at night?! I think had the taxi driver done that to us we would have got out of the car, if we could move that is. I do remember from your previous posts though that some of you enjoy this road and are not scaredy cats like me.
Thanks again.
Alison
It was by accident-We were returing from Sfakia to Plakias and I just missed the cut off- after a while I told my wife we are headed in the wrong direction. By this time I figured what the hell keep going- soon it was dark. To tell you the truth, it was not as scary as you might think- First, there were not many cars and second, you could see their headlights from quite a distance - I would do it again. We ended up in Vrissis , had a nice yogurt with honey and then took the main road back to Rethymnon and then tom Plakias. Go ahead and enjoy yourself-
Santa
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It was by accident-We were returing from Sfakia to Plakias and I just missed the cut off- after a while I told my wife we are headed in the wrong direction. By this time I figured what the hell keep going- soon it was dark. To tell you the truth, it was not as scary as you might think- First, there were not many cars and second, you could see their headlights from quite a distance - I would do it again. We ended up in Vrissis , had a nice yogurt with honey and then took the main road back to Rethymnon and then tom Plakias. Go ahead and enjoy yourself-
Santa
You say you ended up at Vrissis after taking a wrong turning to Plakias from Sfakia. It sounds more to me that you indeed missed the Plakias turn after Sfakia (easily done in the dark) and then carried on up the Imbros pass aqnd not the Killikratis pass. The Imbros pass does have many quite hairy bends but it does not compare with Killikratis pass. That road (Imbros) would have taken you to Vrissis whereas the Killikratis pass on those photos would not. The start of the Killikratis pass is also very hard to locate and it is sort of "impossible" that you would go up it accidently en route from Sfakia to Plakias even though you do drive past it.
Now that I "know" that road - having done it a couple of times or so then I think I would find it more than ok at night. As you say you can see the headlights of the few cars that might be around. When I drive on it I concentrate 100% on the road - keeping on it and negotiating the corners using the whole road while my (willing) passenger Gillian keeps an active look out for any on coming cars. If any are spotted then refuge is taken early on a "wide" part - usually on or near a hairpin bend (believe it or not) so that we can pass easily. At night time, cars would be easily spotted. My main worry when starting the journey is if there may have been any rockfalls which may have partly covered an already very narrow road. So far so good. We never plan to go up that road - we just happen to be going past the end and one of us might say - oh go on let's have another go at it. It is without doubt the "best" road on Crete other than perhaps some unsurfaced tracks which we avoid.
John R
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Santa,
Thanks for your reply.The signposting out of Sfakia is really unclear, and handwritten at the moment. Paul and I took the wrong road up to the Lassithi Plateau back in the 80's, an unsurfaced road that was so narrow we had no choice but to continue, not knowing if it would get even worse!
John,
Thanks for the information and photos. You and Gillian, as well as Chris, must be the thrillseekers I remember from previous posts! Have you driven the road to Anopoli since it's been improved? If so, how does that compare?
Alison
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John,
Thanks for the information and photos. You and Gillian, as well as Chris, must be the thrillseekers I remember from previous posts! Have you driven the road to Anopoli since it's been improved? If so, how does that compare?
Alison
The new road up to Anopoli is now very wide and very tame - lots of hairpins but wide and very easy. Anyone should be able to drive on that without fear. I really don't know why they have built such a large road to such a small but beautiful area on a cul-de sac. The old road was somewhat hair raising and for me compared somewhat "favourably" with the Killikratis pass in that I actually got vertigo and was quite frightened on the old Anopoli road - there was always that steep drop right down to the sea. The Killikratis road is more dramatic in itself and is a fantastic feat of road building, narrower with more dramatic hairpins but there does not seem to be the same sense of vertigo (for me anyway). The main fear is meeting someone as there just doesn't seem to be any room. Some of the hairpins are difficult for anything but a small car. I remember Chris telling me on the day rather colourfully (brown if I remember correctly) about his trip in a 4x4 which was a bit big for the bends and he was noticabely quiet (unusual) for that evening. We are not really thrill seekers but I was brought up near and still live near the lake district and learned all my driving skills on the narrow roads and passes there. So these types of road are second nature to me.
John R
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John,
Thanks. I went to the Lake District with my dad when I was a child and he loved the roads there. Maybe we will be emboldened and try the Anopoli road sometime- perhaps on the bus, or maybe that's worse! I always remember watching the short wheel base buses leave Plakias for Sfakia when the road was partially unmade and went through the hillside villages instead of down by Frangokastello in the 80's, and thinking how the back must hang over the edge! We go to Loutro every year and although we've walked to Anopoli, we've only gazed at the road. I did go through a stage of wanting to see the Aradhena Bridge, maybe one day, I don't know!
Alison
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It was by accident-We were returing from Sfakia to Plakias and I just missed the cut off- after a while I told my wife we are headed in the wrong direction. By this time I figured what the hell keep going- soon it was dark. To tell you the truth, it was not as scary as you might think- First, there were not many cars and second, you could see their headlights from quite a distance - I would do it again. We ended up in Vrissis , had a nice yogurt with honey and then took the main road back to Rethymnon and then tom Plakias. Go ahead and enjoy yourself-
Santa
You say you ended up at Vrissis after taking a wrong turning to Plakias from Sfakia. It sounds more to me that you indeed missed the Plakias turn after Sfakia (easily done in the dark) and then carried on up the Imbros pass aqnd not the Killikratis pass. The Imbros pass does have many quite hairy bends but it does not compare with Killikratis pass. That road (Imbros) would have taken you to Vrissis whereas the Killikratis pass on those photos would not. The start of the Killikratis pass is also very hard to locate and it is sort of "impossible" that you would go up it accidently en route from Sfakia to Plakias even though you do drive past it.
Now that I "know" that road - having done it a couple of times or so then I think I would find it more than ok at night. As you say you can see the headlights of the few cars that might be around. When I drive on it I concentrate 100% on the road - keeping on it and negotiating the corners using the whole road while my (willing) passenger Gillian keeps an active look out for any on coming cars. If any are spotted then refuge is taken early on a "wide" part - usually on or near a hairpin bend (believe it or not) so that we can pass easily. At night time, cars would be easily spotted. My main worry when starting the journey is if there may have been any rockfalls which may have partly covered an already very narrow road. So far so good. We never plan to go up that road - we just happen to be going past the end and one of us might say - oh go on let's have another go at it. It is without doubt the "best" road on Crete other than perhaps some unsurfaced tracks which we avoid.
John R
Thanks John- My mistake- I will now look for the Kallikratis pass and try to navigate it-
Santa
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I did go through a stage of wanting to see the Aradhena Bridge, maybe one day, I don't know!
Alison
it's just up the gorge!!!
(http://harribobs.smugmug.com/photos/72729863_fPUnz-M.jpg)
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Thanks Chris!
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I did go through a stage of wanting to see the Aradhena Bridge, maybe one day, I don't know!
Alison
Do it Alison!! It used to be my adrenalin rush before I found Kalikratis, so do the bridge first and then Kalikratis.
Looking at Chris's pic, you'll approach it from the left and you'll see what I call my Olive bar on the other side. You might just might stop there and get a drink!
george...
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Thanks George. Self service? With dog? (Vague recollections of Chris' old posts.) Why Olive Bar? Noticed that bungee is going on every weekend from posters, have looked at it on YouTube, now that is madness.
Alison
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Thanks George. Self service? With dog? (Vague recollections of Chris' old posts.) Why Olive Bar? Noticed that bungee is going on every weekend from posters, have looked at it on YouTube, now that is madness.
Alison
Hi Alison
No self service or dog, they come later. My 'Olive bar' is the first thing you see as you cross the bridge and park up, and you will. You'll want to go back and look down over what you've just driven over and take the pics. Keep in mind you will have to go back over it again to get back!!
The Olive bar is a small snack bar constructed of Olive wood even the bench at the front, it's fabulous.
Bungee jumping?? Well it's their life! I saw them once, it made my personals disappear I can tell you!!
george...
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Thanks George. Self service? With dog? (Vague recollections of Chris' old posts.) Why Olive Bar? Noticed that bungee is going on every weekend from posters, have looked at it on YouTube, now that is madness.
Alison
I have attached a few more photos to give you a better feel for the bridge.
By the way George didn't jump. He is standing beside me.
Peter&Dawn
[attachment=670:Plakias_2007189_1.JPG][attachment=671:Plakias_2007190_1.JPG][attachment=672:Plakias_
007193_1.JPG][attachment=673:Plakias_2007197_1.JPG]
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Oh, thanks Peter and Dawn. George looks very relaxed! The last photo is dramatic.
See what you mean about the olive wood George!
Alison
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We went there this year, well worth the drive. I bet its spectacular in the spring. If you go on You Tube and type in "liquid crete aradaina" theres some good videos of people bungy jumping off the bridge (they must be mad). Apparently its the biggest bungy jump in europe, and only 100 euros a go!!!
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Thanks George. Self service? With dog? (Vague recollections of Chris' old posts.) Why Olive Bar? Noticed that bungee is going on every weekend from posters, have looked at it on YouTube, now that is madness.
Alison
I have attached a few more photos to give you a better feel for the bridge.
By the way George didn't jump. He is standing beside me.
Peter&Dawn
[attachment=670:Plakias_2007189_1.JPG][attachment=671:Plakias_2007190_1.JPG][attachment=672:Plakias_
007193_1.JPG][attachment=673:Plakias_2007197_1.JPG]
George,
I just love the colour co-ordination of your shorts and crocs
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I had a feeling someone would say something. I wear the crocs in the garden now, pink wasn't really me!
george...
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Don't know if it is any better George, but I beleive they call it Fuschia (I bought the missus a pair).
I always used to laugh at Crocs (even more so Crocs 'n Socks :-) ) but since having a pair i'm a convert and don't care how I look.
I had a feeling someone would say something. I wear the crocs in the garden now, pink wasn't really me!
george...
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I'm with you Paul! I'm on holiday so I need to be comfy and they are comfy. I've got a blue pair and a green pair as well BTW!!
george...
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I always used to laugh at Crocs (even more so Crocs 'n Socks :-) )
[
Crocs n socks
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i hear the Kallikratis road has been improved slightly, making the bends easier and some yellow lines down the side (that should sort it out!)
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i hear the Kallikratis road has been improved slightly, making the bends easier and some yellow lines down the side (that should sort it out!)
Well our sarcasm levels are on a par then Chris The yellow lines at least should stop people parking up there
george...
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i hear the Kallikratis road has been improved slightly, making the bends easier and some yellow lines down the side (that should sort it out!)
If they keep improving it, it won't be any fun to drive.
Peter&Dawn
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The yellow lines at least should stop people parking up there rolleyes.gif
haha!
the main improvement was filling in the dip between the asphalt and the side of the hill with concrete
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The yellow lines at least should stop people parking up there rolleyes.gif
haha!
the main improvement was filling in the dip between the asphalt and the side of the hill with concrete
And that made it possible to overtake.
Well - oncoming vehicles anyway !!
John R
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The yellow lines at least should stop people parking up there rolleyes.gif
haha!
the main improvement was filling in the dip between the asphalt and the side of the hill with concrete
And that made it possible to overtake.
Well - oncoming vehicles anyway !!
John R
It is a little unnerving isn't John?
I had a lorry coming up at me when I went down there so I tried to find a wide bit and stopped. He just came passed me as if on the main highway, casual as you like. Arm hanging out of the window as always and a cig in the other!
Hopefully the in fill will help steady the nerves, well mine anyway
george...
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The yellow lines at least should stop people parking up there rolleyes.gif
haha!
the main improvement was filling in the dip between the asphalt and the side of the hill with concrete
And that made it possible to overtake.
Well - oncoming vehicles anyway !!
John R
It is a little unnerving isn't John?
I had a lorry coming up at me when I went down there so I tried to find a wide bit and stopped. He just came passed me as if on the main highway, casual as you like. Arm hanging out of the window as always and a cig in the other!
Hopefully the in fill will help steady the nerves, well mine anyway
george...
Yes it can be a bit unnerving. I still reckon it is the best bit of road that I've ever driven on.
A super video of the descent taken last year during the enhancements on youtube :_
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huAK5_w9MAo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huAK5_w9MAo)
John R
John
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The yellow lines at least should stop people parking up there rolleyes.gif
haha!
the main improvement was filling in the dip between the asphalt and the side of the hill with concrete
And that made it possible to overtake.
Well - oncoming vehicles anyway !!
John R
It is a little unnerving isn't John?
I had a lorry coming up at me when I went down there so I tried to find a wide bit and stopped. He just came passed me as if on the main highway, casual as you like. Arm hanging out of the window as always and a cig in the other!
Hopefully the in fill will help steady the nerves, well mine anyway
george...
Yes it can be a bit unnerving. I still reckon it is the best bit of road that I've ever driven on.
A super video of the descent taken last year during the enhancements on youtube :_
[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huAK5_w9MAo[/url] ([url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huAK5_w9MAo[/url])
John R
John
Wow, that bought back happy memories.
We got just over half way down when we drove it earlier this year when Dawn said she could smell burning.
Being the gentleman I am, I waited until we were on the flat road leading to Frangokastelo before I told her it was the smell of the brakes.
Must try going up next year.
Peter&Dawn
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We went up it in October. I thoroughly enjoyed the drive but had to stop about 2/3 of the way up so Cherry could...ummmm...'unload some unwanted baggage.'
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I just got Ruth to look at the video and she is not sure if she wants to drive down or up, or was it something else? I lost it in translation! It may be quiet at Easter?
Barny.
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I just got Ruth to look at the video and she is not sure if she wants to drive down or up, or was it something else? I lost it in translation! It may be quiet at Easter?
Barny.
I've never seen it busy. Driving down might be the easiest as it is easier to observe any oncoming vehicles and plan well in advance. When driving up, Gillian cranes her neck to spot any downcoming vehicles. I think I've only ever come across one vehicle in the few times we have done it. Done carefully it is spectacular but actually very easy. Driving up and down requires the least travel - which would be required on other quite hairy roads. The road from Miriokafala is now tarmaced and offers a slightly less traumatic climb up to Killikratis village than the twisting climb up from Assigonia. All those roads to/from Killikratis village are now tarmaced and make for superlative driving and scenery.
John R
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I just got Ruth to look at the video and she is not sure if she wants to drive down or up, or was it something else? I lost it in translation! It may be quiet at Easter?
Barny.
I've never seen it busy. Driving down might be the easiest as it is easier to observe any oncoming vehicles and plan well in advance. When driving up, Gillian cranes her neck to spot any downcoming vehicles. I think I've only ever come across one vehicle in the few times we have done it. Done carefully it is spectacular but actually very easy. Driving up and down requires the least travel - which would be required on other quite hairy roads. The road from Miriokafala is now tarmaced and offers a slightly less traumatic climb up to Killikratis village than the twisting climb up from Assigonia. All those roads to/from Killikratis village are now tarmaced and make for superlative driving and scenery.
John R
The YouTube video was brilliant thank you John, and the music was incredibly apt. Unfortunately I must admit that it took me a lot longer to get down there than the video suggests. I'm with you John it is the scariest piece of road I've been on.
Thanks again John, I'll look at that link often, hopefully until it stops making the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and stops the goose pimples.
george...
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Ha ha, great video, confirmed everything I ever thought in the first place!
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That bit of road is fun to drive, both up and down, although the tightness of the turns slows it down a bit (handbrake turns aren't the same in a Toyota Yaris compared to more powerful machinery!) and the infilling has made it far less of a challenge. The views are brilliant though.
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Yup!