Crete in 50 days: Day 1 from Malia to Agios Nikolaos

Distance 24.8 km
Hours 7
Burned calories 1253
Number of steps 27.352
The last day, before start, everything that could
go wrong, went wrong...(Murphy's law)...
I went to bed at about 00.30. Wake up at 07.00
and appointment at "The Haven" at 08.30 for the start....Lots of
people were waiting for me and Gayner had a huge cake and coffee
for everybody !
At
09.00 I started my walk around Crete, followed by friends and volunteers
with their dogs. The Animal Mobile Clinic was also following me
(PHOTO).
Christina, my partner, came behind with the sponsored
car.
At the main road most of the volunteers and friends
turned back. Geoff, Marilyn and Amanda joined me to the Monastery
of Selinari (Agios Georgios). On the way I was joined by Alan and
Marilyn left.
Christina joined me at the monastery, where I
had a short meditation and was blessed by a priest. We went on
to Neapoli and I had the opportunity to talk to the mayor, a very
friendly and understanding man, about the stray problem. After
my walk he will invite us for a meeting, in order to see what can
be done. Gayner and Christina were waiting for me, together with
Alan, who stayed with me until Limnes (old road). And..from Limnes
(km 12) I was all by myself, after I said goodbye to Christina
and my little dog Rea.
The road from Limnes to Xerokambos, heading towards
Agios Nikolaos went trough olive groves and lots of flowering almond
trees. Just pure nature...
As I walked on I could spot various flowers, such
as orchids, irisses and fine herbs like "vaskomilo", sage. I spotted
on this road about 20 "barrel dogs". These animals are supposed
to "protect" a property, but tied on a chain, it is a bit difficult.
I must say, although that all were well fed but only a few of them
had water !
This road is really the rubbish trash of the province,
I think, as loads of rubbish is dumped along the roadside and down
the hills...Shame !
I reached finally, after 7 hours, the city of
Agios Nikolaos where I called Ann Adamaki from the animal friends
in Elounda. Ann took me to her appartments and I was offered a
nice studio with all the facilities and a fantastic view on the
bay of Elounda and the sunken city of Olous. Fabulous !
With Ann I talked about the stray problem in Elounda
and area as well about Agios Nikolaos. She, and so many others
are against a circus that performes every year in Agios Nikolaos.
Once she saw 9 lions in one wagon ! She gets no support from the
city of Agios..but keeps on trying. On March 19 and 20 she will
join a conference in Athens on this item (animals in circusses),
organized by RSPCA.
I was invited for a nice meal in a traditional
tavern and went to bed at about 11.00.
Looking forward to tomorrow !
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