Kate cycled through Greece, from Athens to Igoumenitsa, then north into Albania, in the winter of 2011. She and fellow-Australian, Jacqui Knox, had started riding from Istanbul airport in late December 2010 with the intention of reaching Tromso in the far north of Norway by July 2011.
We met them in January in Turkey, at Ancient Troy, after their ride through Gallipoli and a visit to Anzac Cove. They left Troy on a snowy day to continue south along the Turkish coast for a ferry to the Greek island of Lesvos.
In the picture, Jacqui and Kate are steering a ferry boat across the Dardanelles from Europe to Asia!
After Greece, they made good progress through Albania and the former Yugoslavia, on across Eastern Europe to Poland and the Baltic Republics, aiming for Finland. However, Kate had to drop out after breaking her leg in three places - one of which was Latvia. Undaunted, Jacqui continued on her own, reaching Nordkapp before turning back south to Tromso. Not content with Nordkapp itself, she left her bike to walk across the tundra to a cliff-top place that is even further north.
Kate was flown back to Australia, where her leg has healed sufficiently in 14 weeks to enable her to climb back into the saddle for her second spring of the year!
Read the fully illustrated account of their epic ride at: Riding North.
Here is the list of Greek campsites Kate sent us; sites that were open in February 2011.
Krioneri Camping Parga, Preveza 480 60 (South of Igoumenitsa) Tel +30-26840-31161 email:
Open early February 2011, however the hot water was broken.
A little campsite right by the beach and a 5 minute walk from the beautiful bay of Parga. On the left hand side of the road, as you head towards the beach from the south of town.
The owner lives on site and was happy to fill up our thermos and give us oranges from her tree.
Unsure if there are powered sites but lots of room for tents (10 Euro) and wigwams for rent too (13 Euro).
Ionion Camping Mytikas Etoloakarnania 300 19 (North of Preveza) Tel +30-26460-81110 Mobile +30-6977-249779
Open early February with hot water and a washing machine.
Campsite on the beach on the left hand side of the road as you travel west into Mytikas.
A beautiful spot on the ocean. A quiet tiny seaside town but it had a restaurant, an excellent cafe and a boat that did tours of the islands.
We were upgraded to a caravan for the same price as a tent spot (10 Euros).
Be warned, the pizza at the restaurant was dreadful (it did however taste better for lunch after being strapped to Jacqui's pannier for half a day!)
Open early February 2011. A big campsite across the road from the beach. We didn't stay here, just cycled past.
Tsolis Camping Lambiri, Achaia 251 00 (East of Rio on the Gulf of Corinth) Tel +30-26910-31469 Mobile +30-6948-824988
Open early February. A big campsite with powered sites and tent pitches on the beach. 2 km north-west of Lambiri, surrounded by orange and lemon orchards. 10 km NW of Egio.
As it was winter the hot water was off but they let us shower in their guest room and cook in their industrial kitchen. (15 Euros tent site)
Open early February. A big campsite on the beach in Kineta, with coin-operated hot showers and powered sites.
This campsite looks like it would be very busy in summer. During winter the caretaker is a drunk Albanian. He tried to force us to drink his homemade 'rocket fuel' and 'help' us into the shower. Pretty sure he passed out before we went to sleep! It was however a gorgeous spot by the ocean. (17 Euros tent site)
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January in Turkey, at Ancient Troy, after their ride through Gallipoli and a visit to Anzac Cove. They left Troy on a snowy day to continue south along the Turkish coast for a ferry to the Greek island of Lesvos. 