Mountain Biking on Corfu

Tuesday, November 5, 2024

We decided to do something a little more active to try to work off all of the extra calories we’ve been enjoying on the ship, so we went mountain biking on mountainous Corfu! No e-bikes – these were regular people-powered bikes! Our trip was 17 km or 9.5 miles heading up the mountain and back down again for a total elevation change of about 500 feet, although it felt like thousands more…!

Our route began along nice, open (level!) Ipsos Beach before turning onto a narrow country road starting our ascent to Agios (Saint) Markos, our first photo (and rest!) stop. It was a very small old Venetian village with a Byzantine Orthodox Church perched on the edge of the mountain. We downshifted and willed our legs to just keep pedaling with the mountain rising on our right and sneak peaks of views to the sea on our left. There was no stopping for anything in order to keep whatever momentum we had going!

After our short breather and water break, it was back in the saddle again to continue our ascent to the village of Ano Korakiana, where we had a nice long stop with a Greek salad, bread, and beverage, while learning more about the area and the people living there.

On the way up, we all had noticed that every olive tree had netting placed carefully on the ground all around it. It is now olive season, and the owners will be shaking the trees or raking the branches in order to make the ripe olives fall down to be collected for making oil. The olives are not left to lay on the ground because they will start to rot. These olives are not eaten as they are too bitter, but that is when they are the best for oil. The edible olives are ready in January.

After our delicious break, it was time for our downhill return back to our start at Dasia. We enjoyed more great views of the mountain valleys and the sea while up high and small houses and farms with chickens and a cow at the lower, less steep elevations. Again, no way to stop to take a picture – only memories!

We survived! Back to the ship for some naps…then sailing off to Olympia, Greece overnight. (Never saw the old main town and scenes from “The Durrells in Corfu”…!)