Girlie Road Trip & Poorly Pup

Posted on November 5, 2025 by Clunegapyears

Pick Ups and Poorly Penny

01/11/2025

Early start to go back around Athens to collect two rescues pups, who have a new home together in the UK. Both terrified at the port so saved their pee for inside Jez. All rugs now drying on the dash board.

*Chap from TaxiPet fetched Penny and Flo from the kennels on board*

It was soon fairly obvious that Penny not well. She refused food and was bringing up foam and any water. Her litter brother didn’t travel as planned as an inflamed tummy. By 11.00 I was concerned enough to find an open vet. Worried that if I didn’t now, I’d not until Monday. Lots of jabs. And meds.

Then Robyn, my road trip buddy arrived, by plane to Athens at 20.10.

Driving Day via Meteora

02/11/2025

Poor Penny still not good. Starting to be better when we broke her meds into smaller sections and syringed water into her every 15 mins. Passenger cannot sleep!

Fortunately, I was driving, when Flo excreted (diarrhea) all over the van floor. Robyn not so fortunate!

Slight detour to Meteora to show Robyn the monasteries on rocks. Built so the monks could be closer to God. I’ve not been here for 5 years. Still a big wow.

Parked at a Brian-recommended place. Super quiet. Nice beach and Flo actually managed to pee on it. Poorly Penny has very liquid stools, but had a little bounce on the beach.

4 Countries

03/11/2025

We had driven much further than planned. Through Bulgaria and Serbia to Croatia, once we realised that our data roaming packages did not cover Serbia. We wanted data so we could find a vet, if need be.

We were administering two syringes of honey water to Poor Penny every 15 minutes and she was keeping it down. Our biggest concern had been dehydration. However, she still has not had food. We were expecting her to eat tomorrow, same as her brother . Very sadly, Robyn woke at 3.00 a.m. and found that she had passed away. We are so devastated and surprised.

A long day that ended badly.

Kassandra Finger & South

Posted on November 5, 2025 by Clunegapyears

Kassandra Finger

28/10/2025

We planned to walk, but ended up doing a few chores. It is Oxi Day when Greece said no to capitulation to Italy. Greeks out for big lunches and potentially fireworks. We needed a quiet park up for our noise sensitive Corrie. We had planned a spot recommended by friends, but P4N mentioned fines … guess as it is a nature area.

We stopped at Siviri on the first finger, Kassandra. Another beach resort town. Tavernas all busy setting reserved signs on tables. A good coffee at one. Then a short hop up to a modern amphitheater car park. Jobs: admin, hand balling water, cleaning, windows etc. a UK van for 10 mins and a learner stalling and in and out of the car park. Super quiet.

No pix as nothing to capture … this finger definitely seems the least attractive.

Big Drive South

29/10/2025

We left our quiet parking at 0726. Stopped early for diesel LPG and motorway services for coffee and spanokopita (spinach pie).

Stopped near our destination for puppy food, for two rescue pups that I’m taking to the UK, more gin and wine for the drive and the pharmacy.

657 km. Over 10 hours. £83.66 in motorway tolls. I could have broken the trip, but now I have a non driving day. Dinner was definitely in the taverna!

We’ve stopped here a few times before, but not we think since early 2020. The padel court has gone. The car park has new tarmac. And the taverna we used has expanded with a completely new dining area.

Packing and Cleaning

30-31/10/2025

A no drive day and a lie in. I went through all the cupboards and packed my summer clothes, Corrie and James’s stuff and things that we want in Crete into a large and now very heavy suitcase and a backpack. We are planning to sell Jez on his return to the UK, so he will need to be emptied. We have limited storage in UK at the Aged Ps and Maddys.

On 31st, we filled with water, check access at the airport and then had a hideous rush hour drive to Pireaus port. Fortunately, we had planned spare time so were able to have supper together dock side. J and C boarded for their 10.00 p.m. departure.

I had to be back at the port for 0630 to collect the two pups. I contemplated sleeping at the port, but decided to return to Porto Rafti, as I felt safe there.

The Middle Finger: Sithonia

Posted on October 28, 2025 by Clunegapyears

Karydi Beach

25/10/2025

We dropped laundry. Nearly didn’t as google maps took us to a house. We asked a lady nearby. Her friend. She rang her. What time tomorrow would we like to collect it? Fabulous as tomorrow being a Sunday, I thought it may have been Monday.

We didn’t drive far to Karydi beach, known for its rocks. It was pretty. Everyone else obviously knew about it too. Lots of German families. It’s school holidays. Something, as an ex-teacher, I’m delighted not to have to think of.

I took my sun lounger and knitting onto the beach. Contemplated a swim, but got as far as my ankles. Brr!

*We only just squeezed into the car park. And moved once the car park cleared, in case it got busy tomorrow*

*I’m a* *dog person but liked this one*. *It seemed to like dog food!*

Port Koufo & Heart Surgery

26/11/2025

We collected the laundry. 5.5 kilos for €22. Not bad.

*Stopped at* **Sarti** *as it’s the main town on this finger. Had an early toastie lunch, and ice cream for me. Not our cup of tea, so we promptly left*

Lin told me about Porto Koufo as her son, Craig, had been here. The Germans used the deep water as a submarine base here in WW2.

*Massive deep-water* *harbour and a* *lagoon. No flamingos this time*

*A P4N review said people had been fined in September for parking along the beach, so we are parked in the car park. Less sand walked into Jez is a bonus.*

We walked along the beach and around the lagoon, passing a few derelict concrete WW2 buildings. Could see out the harbour entrance.

A local chap recommended a taverna. Good shout as my sea bream was perfectly cooked. We celebrated 4 years since James’ heart surgery. And strange seeing an area other than Crete printed on tablecloths

German Cannons Walk

27/11/2025

We drove around to the next bay to walk around Toroni castle ruins and then up to the German cannon emplacements. These protected the WW2 German submarines in Porto Koufo.

*Look down from the cannons to the mouth of Porto Koufo harbour*

We rewarded ourselves with a cheese & ham toastie in Toroni, but actually neither of us enjoyed it. Should have consumed my homemade soup in Jez!

Only 19km to our beach / bay parking, recommended by Gillian. No camping signs, but no one here.

*Hit with a heavy rain and some thunder and lightning, which created an amazing indigo sea*

*Not sure how someone got this train carriage* *here, but it was obviously someone’s summer pied a terre*

J dyed my hair … I’ve gone from ginger, with a skunk white stripe, to very dark brown 🤔.

Oozing Rather Than Driving

Posted on October 25, 2025 by Clunegapyears

Fanari Walk

20/10/2025

We had bolted from Georgia and across Turkey to get van repairs done, doing some long driving days. I woke and had a revelation. An epiphany. We don’t need to drive today. We are in a lovely place. Let’s stay another day. So we did.

We walked along the beach and around the lagoon.

*And cotton fields! Google revealed that Greece is the largest cotton producer in Europe, c. 9% of the world’s production.*

*And fell into a bar … a couple of Aperol Spritz for me. Wine for J*

We elected to eat in, but joined Mary and Tony for drinks before supper in their van. Lots in common and very easy to chat too.

On a Spit

21/10/2025

The BG van hogging the spot by the water tap departed, so we were able to use the hose to fill. Said goodbye to Mary and Tony. Quick shop and short drive to between another flamingo lagoon and the sea. Several walks, but limited by the geography. And knitting. But you can have too much downtime. I was a tad bored.

A Busier Day

22/10/2925

Not having planned spending any time, other than travelling through Greece, I’ve no guide books. We spotted a cruise ship at Kavala across the sea, so googled why it was a cruise stop. Kavala is pretty and an aqueduct that was only decommissioned this century. And an ancient site. So that’s the plan then.

Filipos is named after Philip of Macedon. St Paul created the first Christian church here and was imprisoned. Sadly it was full of American cruise ship tours and all the local schools must’ve been empty, as they were all here. Signage and info boards lacking.

We couldn’t park in Kavala, so only got a flash retina image of the aqueduct and pretty painted buildings.

*Big Lidl shop. It had gin … our first in 3.5 months. I can’t tell you how fabulous it tastes, even if I forgot to buy a lemon.*

We came onto the Mount Athos finger on Chalkidiki to Ierissos. A spot recommended by Brian and Gillian.

*Just lovely with our wheels almost in water.*

Ierissos Walk

23/11/3025

A non driving day. A walking day.

*Up past unmanned Akanthos C7th BC … not a lot here*

*It doesn’t look overgrown or steep, but it was!*

The path disintegrated and we could have done with a machete. We came down a steep section on our bottoms! The route then took us along a ridge so we could see both sides of the finger.

Salad and smoked mackerel at a lovely taverna. And a couple of glasses of wine. Our solitary spot has become a little congested as we’ve been joined by 3 other vans.

We will stay again tomorrow and walk over to the west side. Then, I think we will then need a campsite with a washing machine. We tried the laundry in town, but he claimed to be too busy with hotel laundry. Poo to him.

Both Sides of the Finger

24/10/2025

After a leisurely start, we walked over the spine to the other side of the finger. Maps aren’t always correct. Well, they are in that there is a path. But maps don’t show when there is a house, wall, gates and barking dogs. So we had to retrace and divert at one point.

*Bigger olives than Crete and lovely views. Glimpses of a cloud covered Mountain Athos*

I washed our knickers in the afternoon, before we run out. Knicker chandeliers deployed.
Supper out. J had pasta. I had a perfectly cooked Blue Fish … new one to me. Apparently it’s a cross between mackerel and sea bass

*Just one of the many boat builders at Ierissos.*

*A government notice to our Greek phone. Not sure how I feel about this.*

And so to Greece

Posted on October 20, 2025 by Clunegapyears

Food and Shopping

18/10/2025

We stopped at a large mall to spend the £170 we had left over from the van repairs. J came away with jeans and a top.

*We had our last Pide*, *not the best version but possibly the best of Turkish food*

*Coming around Istanbul we crossed a long bridge. My bridge expert passenger was able to tell me combined cable stay and suspension cable construction.*

Still with cash left we stopped at a seaside resort next to a C15 bridge built by Sinan the architect to carry Ottoman troops. He features in a book club read … The Architect’s Apprentice.

*Sinan the architect and his bridge to carry Ottoman troops. I ceased carry vehicles in 1970s.*

Dinner a lot more expensive and very disappointing. I had Roquefort salad, but the cheese was flabby and tasteless. It certainly had never been to Europe, let alone France. Perhaps we should choose destinations by the food!

Fantastic Fanari

19/11/2025

Filled with diesel just before the border, as it’s just under £1/ltr. Paid cash. A quick two item purchase in a supermarket got rid of the rest of the cash.

At the border, James was allowed to stay in Jez rather than walk through as a pedestrian. Issue with the van reg … the vehicle had not been registered as entering Turkey from Georgia. We have had this issue at some motorway tolls. The 1 is a number not an i, said I. Aah, never seen that said he. I didn’t bother explaining about a private plate. Two cursory glances inside from the hab door. Didn’t even open the garages. We could have illegally imported the dog I had liked, as no one was interested in Corrie or wanted to see her passport. Took just over an hour.

Onward to Fanari where we stopped on the way to Tr. Two BG vans that later departed and a UK van. We’ve not seen a UK motorhome in 3.5 months. Mary and Tony joined us for a drink whilst we ate. And then for a nightcap in Jez. Lovely evening.

I WhatsApp called my father’s 89th birthday party.

We had a great time in Turkey, but we decided the SE corner that we missed out on due to van repairs in Ankara, could stay missed. I had particularly wanted to see the stone heads at mount Nemrut, but just not worth the driving distance. We may re-visit Istanbul at some point by plane, but out of tourist season!

Georgia we would bolt back to anytime. Loved it. Amazing diverse scenery for such a small place. And fabulous food.

Clune Gap Years

A journal and reflections of our motorhome travels

Category Archives: 2025