Monday 15th July 2024
We had decided to hire a scooter today from “Scoot Scoot motorcycle rentals “
Having just signed the papers provided driving licence etc. Penelope Pit-stop on leaving the office walked into a low framed rock door.
She was carrying her crash hat – pity she hadn’t put it on ! LOL.
After triage and waiting for her to stop seeing stars we set off.
There are lots of walking trails some that were used for years by Skyrian shepherds for their sheep and some others lead to historic chapels whose festivals are still celebrated by the islands inhabitants. If you had a lot of time it would be a great place to get off the beaten path.
As you can see from the maps the island is very definitely geologically different North to South and the rentals guy suggested we stick to the North.
That was fine by us. Today we wanted to visit Skyros town and the castle atop it. Penelope isn’t the best pillion passenger at the best of times and an epic wouldn’t have been a good idea ! So today was limited to the middle right portion of the island.
First ride was out on the coast road as far as Molos & Pouris where the road peters out and then we turned back into Skyros town proper and the climb up to the castle.
Skyros town in the distance and arrival below the castle
Many mythical figures such as Theseus, Achilles, Neoptolemos & King Lycomedes have been linked to Skyros. According to mythology Achilles departed from Skyros for the Trojan war from a small harbour called even today Achilli.
I’ve got a soft spot for Achilles and his pal Susan Whiteford – a bog in Ireland, LOL.
Anyway I digress. After a further medical stop the get Penelope’s heid dabbed wi ointment at a Farmakeio ………….
…………………. we set off up to the castle through wonderful old winding alleyways.
Almost there
At the top fabulous views northwards of the island.
Then the climb back down
………………. for a welcome coffee
Back onto the bike again heading past Aspous to a deserted, part finished “marina”. There was one German catamaran that had managed to get in despite depth warnings and they seemed to like it but there was absolutely nothing there , no water, mini market or tavernas for miles. I see on the map the name Achilli so it could be built on top the the famous harbour but I rather think its a smaller bight a wee bit further over.
The “marina”
Next was turning inland to visit Mouries Farm near Kallikiri, a Skyrian horse breeding and conservation centre. The Skyrian horse , native to the island is one of the rarest & most ancient breeds in the world. It is considered to be a descendant of the horses Achilles took to Troy, and the horses of Alexander the Great
Mouries farm was created a few years ago by Manolis Trachans and currently hosts 43 Skyrian horses. The starting point of this project was the gift of the mare Astrapi to the then young Manolis 25 years ago. The main goal of the centre is the reproduction of pure Skyrian horses through controlled breeding.
One of the horses on the farm whose name is Elpida (Greek for “hope”) was born with serious problem with a hind leg. In 2013 she received the 1st artificial limb ever made for a horse in Greece, manufactured by Dr Prerkles Nikopoulos who declined any payment. His unique gift has enabled Elpida to walk with the other horses.
There are educational programmes, volunteering, riding, traditional exhibition of the threshing of the split peas for Fava by the horses
Threshing split peas
………… and my favourite Hippotherapy, which is a therapy centred around interaction between the horses and children who face mental & physical challenges. Skyrian horses due to their particularly calm and friendly character are ideal for this.
After a welcome beer in the taverna we headed back in the direction of Linaria via Kalamitsa bay.
Approaching the said “welcome beer”
Kalamitsa and over the next hill we came back into Linaria from the opposite direction
That evening on the recommendation of Scooter Scooter we headed back Skiros town direction to a fish restaurant on the beach, called Istories Tou Bharba.
It was OK but a bit expensive, views fabulous though.
Istories Tou Bharba.
and the views
And so ends Scooter Day #1
