Heraklion - Mires -Timbaki - Kokkinos Pyrgos - Agia Galini with www.eurodriver.gr

V-Strom in Kokkinos Pyrgos harbour, Crete. Motorbike tour with www.eurodriver.gr

Today was a beautiful day and we were both ready for a little southern sunshine. Although February is a generally a gloomy month, we are lucky to be blessed with sunny days throughout the winter too, Making Crete a perfect location for motorcycle tours all year round!

view from the Mires national road about 20kms after Heraklion

We set off from Herakion, and took the new national road for Mires. This is an excellent road running directly from the north to the south of the island, passing through the villages of Agia Varvara, Mires, and Tymbaki, also the archaological site of Gortys.

The road is fairly new, wide and well maintained for the first 30 kms. A quick road up until the village of Agia Varvara climbing upwards from Heraklion. Agia Varvara is situated right at the start of the plane of Messara, therefore it is key agricultural town on the island with much of the vegetables and market produce coming from here. 

From Agia Vavara, we make our way down the mountain into the plane of Messara. The road changes at this point, narrowing and winding down the mountain side. A good chance to see to catch some of the stunning views if you can tear your eyes off the downward spiralling twisting road!

1,500 year old olive tree, growing around the remains of a Roman temple.Opposite the Gortys archeaological site. 

Aprillia Pegasus 650 from http://www.eurodriver.gr/site/bikes.asp

The road to Mires on the plane of Messara

Driving through Messara plane with  www.eurodriver.gr

Agios Georgos chapel on the hillside. Motorbike rental from Eurodriver

http://www.eurodriver.gr/site/bikes.asp

Suzuki V-Strom and Aprillia Pegasus from Eurodriver motorcyle rentals Crete 

I can't believe that this is in February!

Once on the Messara plane, the roads are fairly straight and wide, with fields full of olive trees and orange groves on either side. On the hillside is the tiny chapel of Agios Georgos. Although we weren't a great distance from Agia Vavara, you could really feel the temperature rise as we came down the mountainside. Even the flowers are in full bloom around here even though February is still a little early for spring.

We drove through the town of Mires. Mires is on the north south axis of Crete, and surrounded by agricultural land, and this town is really buzzing with life. We happened to pass through on market day, Saturday. The main road of the town is closed and lined up with market stalls, where every thing that can be grown can be found, also clothes, leather goods and handicrafts. 

From Mires we continued south along long straight fairly flat road to the market town of Timbaki. Timbaki is very pretty in itself. Once again surrounded by rich agricultural lands, such as olive and citrus groves. It is also blessed with a lovely beach,  which was a bit tricky to get to because of a military airbase. 

We didnt stop because we wanted to press on to Kokkinos Pyrgos which is right next door. A location that Yannis hadn't been to for over 20 years!

Kokkinos Pyrgos south Crete

Time out just to soak up all those colours

South coast and Lybian sea great destination for a holiday motorbike tour

Looking south out to Paximadi island with Eurodriver motorbike hire

Aprillia Pegasus and Suzuki V-Strom motorbike rental eurodriver

Kokkinos Pyrgos south Crete

We wasn't dissapointed by Kokkinos Pyrgos. One of the prettiest harbours that I have seen, with miles of stunning beaches on either side. It doesn't seem to be massivly developed as a tourist destination unlike some other north coast resorts, and yet it has some of the longest, most beautiful coastline and beaches. It still has a charm about it and a peacefulness and has managed to hold on to its own identitiy.

motorcycle hire Eurodriver

From Kokkinos Pyrgos we headed west, and started back up the mountain and up and out of the plane of Messara. 

Looking back over the plane of Messara with many green houses in view

Sheep, snow and mountains

Once again, the road became narrower as it wound around the mountain side, of course the higher we climbed the finer the views. 

When we make a motorbike tour, I always enjoy the variety of road types, each presenting its own challenge. I did find that on this stretch of road between Kokkinos Pyrgos and Agia Galini  I needed all my concentration skills. It is a windy mountain road, and it is not as well travelled or maintained as the other road surfaces that we passed. I don't know if it was because of the recent bad weather or the steepness of decent as we came down the mountain, but there was an awful lot of loose gravel on the road especially on the bends, of course we took it steady but at one point there was a 'surprise' around every blind bend! It was well worth the trouble of course as Agia Galini is spectacular and not to be missed on your motorbike holiday in Crete.

Coming down the mountain into Agia Galini

Agia Galini Harbour

Built into a cove clambering up the mountainside, is the beautiful fishing village of Agai Galini. It's little houses are stacked on behind the other up the hillside. All looking out to the Gulf of Messara.

Agia Galini fishing village Crete

Agia Galini

Looking towards Agia Galini harbour

Meddeterrainean colours at Agia Galini

Agia Galini was a stop off point for us. This little fishing village can get incredibly busy in the summer time, but then again it does have a unique beauty about it! The beach here is pebbly, very long and clean and well maintained.

 There are plenty of coffee shops and rent rooms and sea food tavernas, however,  tourism is not the sole source of income here. We ordered from one of the coffee shops by the harbour a village herbal tea. A really delicious infusion of wild mountain herbs, served with honey. Totally refreshing and just what we needed. Then we just sat and watched the little community go about its business.  

We were entertained by the innovative way in which a boat after repair was launched into the tiny harbour. It  was dragged on beams of wood by a large tractor, to the sea side, then the tractor after many difficult and tight manouvers managed to angle to boat so that it could be lauched into the sea. A very delicate and difficult opperation considering the lack of space that he had and the shallowness of the water there.

Boat on wooden beams about ready to be launched

Shallow water, lack of space makes the JCB drivers job tough

A safe launch, only the beams remain to be removed, the little boat is safe at sea. 

All in all we had an excellent motortour. The scenary was beautiful and varied, the roads were fun to drive and well maintained. Our tour including the return was a total distance of 170 kms. With plenty of opportunitiy to swim, sample local culture, eat at various local tavernas and view archaeological sites along the way. We know that motorcycle touring is a great way to see Crete, and all of the beauty it has to offer. We hope that you will be inspired and one day have the opportunity to explore Crete with one of our motorbikes at www.eurodriver.gr If you would like more information about renting one of the bikes that we used, please have a look at our website.http://www.eurodriver.gr/site/bikes.asp

Happy touring!

HERAKLION - RETHMYNON VIA NORTH COAST with www.eurodriver.gr

National road curving round the edge of a mountain just after Bali, Crete

Although, it's a fairly straight forward drive, the Cretan national road that runs along the North Coast, from Hania right the way through to Sitia, offers plenty of opportunity to see the coastline of Crete, and the stunning terrain and views that Crete offers.

The quality of asphalt on the National Road is good, and although it is a fairly fast moving road, there are still plenty of chances to enjoy the coastlines twists and curves without it being over challenging.

All in all, it is quite a good run for a first day tour when you are still getting a feel for your www.eurodriver.gr  motorcycle rental.

Suzuki V-strom 650 and Aprillia Pegasus 650 @ www.eurodriver.gr  

For our drive we took the Suzuki V-Strom 650 and the Aprillia Pegasus 650. Both of these models are very comfortable for long distance motorbike touring, and have plenty of seating space, whether one up or two.

The Pegasus for me, is still my number one choice. Being alot lighter than the V-Strom and lower it is very easy for me to manage despite my short legs! It is also a bike that has plenty of power but is also very forgiving and without any major surprises. Making it really easy to relax and enjoy the driving and tour.

We set off from Heraklion, connecting with the National road at Gazi, and it is a simple one road all the way trip, right along the north coast.

National road between Heraklion and Rethmynon Crete

As you can see from this photograph, although it is classed as a motorway in parts, most of the national road is simply a main road, offering twists and turns and still enjoyable to drive.

National road Crete, just after Bali

Although our trip was done in February, and the weather was cool at 11C, you can see that there are plenty of opportunities along the north coast, to find small beaches and coves for a swim in the sea which would be ideal on a hot summers day!

Another look at the National road snaking round the mountains between Heraklion and Rethmynon

We turned off just over the bridge at Geropotamos to take a look at the beach

The turn off for the beach at Geropotamos, is on the left side of the road heading in the direction of Rethmynon. It is a dirt track that runs under the national road and by the river.

Pretty chilly in February, but a lovely place for a break in the summer time. Susuki V-strom 650 and Aprillia Pegasus 650 from www.eurodriver.gr rent a bike Crete

Geropotamos Beach, Crete

There is one hotel near the beach, but other than that a remote location.

My camera skills aren't that great and so it is not so clear, but the coastline had arches and coves carved out of the rocks by the sea.

All smiles from me.

There are so many places to see in Rethmynon, ours was a short trip, made shorter by the thunder storm that rolled in from this sea. Luckily, in Crete, we are blessed with over 300 days of sunshine, with most of that rain coming down during January and February.  Apart from the beautiful coast, mountain roads and scenery the weather is what makes Crete and ideal location to tour with a motorbike, and we at www.eurodriver.gr will have the perfect motorcycle for your tour.