Suggestions for Walks

[DOTTY]

another route i'd recommend is going over to rodakino ( well nearly) via the coast

walk over to souda bay, cross over the stream and look for the path going up the hillside ( this may be overgrown) to join the main path going towards the headland. the path is pretty obvious at this point, but tends to fade out


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The beginning of this walk is now much easier to do and to find since the new buldozed track is now (October 2004) completed all the way to Souda. Walk up the road North a little from Souda, turn left down a track and the new buldozed path is easily picked up. It is a super walk. We walked all the way to Rodakina, had a good rest and drink at the Taverna and then walked back. - Superb. Some of our friends staying at the same hotel did this walk but took some very unconventional transport back to Plakias from Rodakina - the details about which I am sworn to secrecy. I do feel that confessions are required on this small matter  

John R
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Looks like busy time has arrived no room for confessions J

[harribobs]

No problem. As I'm not a native speaker, I don't know which terms are commonplace and which aren't. I hope I'm understandable though.
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Andy, i think your english is better than mine   I'd sort of guessed it was a bike but i wanted to be certain, do you hire one in Plakias?

Looks like busy time has arrived no room for confessions J

i'm sure we'd all love to know, confession is good for the soul ( so im told  )

[Mike G]

The beginning of this walk is now much easier to do and to find since the new buldozed track is now (October 2004) completed all the way to Souda. Walk up the road North a little from Souda, turn left down a track and the new buldozed path is easily picked up. It is a super walk. We walked all the way to Rodakina, had a good rest and drink at the Taverna and then walked back. - Superb.

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Very useful information John, which has happened since Lance Chilton last updated his "Plakias Walks" books.

I hope they don't upgrade it to a road for motor vehicles as that would presumably mean cars travelling from Rodakino to Rethymnon could go through Plakias, with unpleasant results for the tranquil nature of the place.

Mike

[DOTTY]

No problem. As I'm not a native speaker, I don't know which terms are commonplace and which aren't. I hope I'm understandable though.
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Andy, i think your english is better than mine   I'd sort of guessed it was a bike but i wanted to be certain, do you hire one in Plakias?

Looks like busy time has arrived no room for confessions J

i'm sure we'd all love to know, confession is good for the soul ( so im told  )
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=3159\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Tell you what if you are in Plakias end of Oct/Sept I will tell you in person, that is if John R doesn't beat me to it.

[wakefossil]

Andy, i think your english is better than mine   I'd sort of guessed it was a bike but i wanted to be certain, do you hire one in Plakias?
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Too kind, harribobs.  

Yes, I always hire a bike in Plakias. It's much cheaper than at the airport or in Iraklion. I usually go to the bike rental near Lysseos Restaurant. It's called "Odyssia". They have the best prices by far (as of Sep. 2002 when I was there). Only setback: The helmets available are (#@&. So your best bet is to bring your own helmet (which is what we always do).

[harribobs]

Tell you what if you are in Plakias end of Oct/Sept I will tell you in person, that is if John R doesn't beat me to it.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=3176\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

i'll hold you to that  

Yes, I always hire a bike in Plakias. It's much cheaper than at the airport or in Iraklion. I usually go to the bike rental near Lysseos Restaurant. It's called "Odyssia". They have the best prices by far (as of Sep. 2002 when I was there). Only setback: The helmets available are (#@&. So your best bet is to bring your own helmet (which is what we always do).

i know the place you mean, i'll leave the motorbikes to you    i might be able manage a pedal bike down to the far end

[John R]

Tell you what if you are in Plakias end of Oct/Sept I will tell you in person, that is if John R doesn't beat me to it.
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My lips are sealed, my mouse is asleep  

John R

[harribobs]

regarding the new bulldozed road bit

it has been extended towards souda, BUT, it isn't completed

it runs around the side of the hill and down towards the stream, ( about 500 yards from the sea)

there is no bridge across the stream, in order to get across, you must climb down about six foot and use the stepping stones to cross the stream and climb about four foot up the other bank

no real problems for agile walkers, but Andy won't get his bike over it

Andy, other points to bear in mind, there are still a couple of fences on the road, they have gates but you need to be careful. there was also a dog chained across the road towards the Rodakino end, he was friendly but again be careful

chris

[John R]

regarding the new bulldozed road bit

it has been extended towards souda, BUT, it isn't completed

it runs around the side of the hill and down towards the stream, ( about 500 yards from the sea)

there is no bridge across the stream, in order to get across, you must climb down about six foot and use the stepping stones to cross the stream and climb about four foot up the other bank

n
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Not true - you didn't investigate far enough. We did it last October. You walk up that side road (blacktopped) Northward from Souda and after a short distance you come accross an unmade  track to the left which goes to some houses. Take this track and after another short distance you come to another track to your left. This leads directly to the new buldozed bit with absolutely no obstructions nor any rivers to cross without bridges.

John R

[harribobs]

regarding the new bulldozed road bit

it has been extended towards souda, BUT, it isn't completed

it runs around the side of the hill and down towards the stream, ( about 500 yards from the sea)

there is no bridge across the stream, in order to get across, you must climb down about six foot and use the stepping stones to cross the stream and climb about four foot up the other bank

n
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=3436\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Not true - you didn't investigate far enough. We did it last October. You walk up that side road (blacktopped) Northward from Souda and after a short distance you come accross an unmade  track to the left which goes to some houses. Take this track and after another short distance you come to another track to your left. This leads directly to the new buldozed bit with absolutely no obstructions nor any rivers to cross without bridges.

John R
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i couldn't have investigated it any further, i was walking down the track on sunday afternoon

the bulldozed section ends just in front of a concrete structure by the stream, to get to the tarmac road ( above the tavernas) you have to cross the stream and there is no bridge

[John R]

i couldn't have investigated it any further, i was walking down the track on sunday afternoon

the bulldozed section ends just in front of a concrete structure by the stream, to get to the tarmac road ( above the tavernas) you have to cross the stream and there is no bridge
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=3456\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I can only think that they have progressed the bulldozed part a bit further and demolished the old bridge or culvert over that stream and stopped there for now. We certainly walked on an obstacle free track all the way at the Souda end last October - will investigate again next October !!

John R

[harribobs]

i couldn't have investigated it any further, i was walking down the track on sunday afternoon

the bulldozed section ends just in front of a concrete structure by the stream, to get to the tarmac road ( above the tavernas) you have to cross the stream and there is no bridge
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=3456\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I can only think that they have progressed the bulldozed part a bit further and demolished the old bridge or culvert over that stream and stopped there for now. We certainly walked on an obstacle free track all the way at the Souda end last October - will investigate again next October !!

John R
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that's the only thing i can think of, certainly the last section has been freshly  bulldozed ( there were two still on the track)

i notice that andy is over there now, i think we'll find out if he trys to ride it  

[harribobs]

You rang Sah   

Now...this bulldozed track you talking about which I believe runs past our door heading east, is it short cut to Plakias for our 4X4 
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hmmm indeed ! you turn right out of the 'drive', past the sheep, being careful of any tethered dogs, watching for fences and landslides  

and remember when i got to the end there was a six foot drop   so as you start losing height...FFS get out and have a look first !!

cheers

PS  what a cheery reply, you can tell i'm back in manchester

[wakefossil]

i notice that andy is over there now, i think we'll find out if he trys to ride it 

Indeed, I was over there until yesterday  :'( , and rode it.
Harribobs, your observation is absolutely correct.

I tried to find the start of the road in Souda, but as there's a real labyrinth of unsurfaced roads there (as is in so many places in Crete), I gave up, went up to Sellia (nice ride as well), went to Rodakino, and tried it from the other side.
It's very easy to find there: Start at the beach below Rodakino (forgot its name), follow the signs to Akropolis Apts., pass Akropolis and just stay on the main track.
There is one fence across the road which needs to be shut after you went through (i suppose to prevent the sheep from invading neighboring territories).
And then you're almost in Souda and find out that the Finikia "river" (more like a creek) has dug in just deep enough to make you rethink your route plan.
But no problem: So I had an excuse to ride that nice track again  

There was no sign of current construction activity, so I have no idea if a bridge will be built or not.

[harribobs]

i notice that andy is over there now, i think we'll find out if he trys to ride it 

 So I had an excuse to ride that nice track again  

There was no sign of current construction activity, so I have no idea if a bridge will be built or not.

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glad to hear you enjoyed it mate,

was there a dog tied up near the akropolis apartments?