2016 Feneos

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Someone like me who enjoys birthdays by taking a trip (usually on motorcycle) could have been born on a more convenient month than November but being a Greek that makes it up, at least as long as I don't travel abroad on that day. (Useless info of the day, I don't bother with signs but those who do they say I am a Scorpio on both my day and time of birth).

So, on a beautiful November day, while most of the rest of Europe is beginning winter habits I begin a motorcycle trip under full bright sunlight. The goal is to make it up to Lake Doxa located at Peloponnese, and take one more place of my "to do" list. The funny thing is that already from the very first km on such a nice day I wonder, do I really leave for a better place? I mean it's not that bad here anyway:

That's the wonders of Attica region (where Athens also is BTW) which I am leaving behind heading West riding on the non toll road. It makes the ride longer but much less boring. Being neglected it acts as a time machine giving you an idea of how the country looked several decades ago but most importantly it gives you images that the toll road will never do:

At the above spot for example, west of Megara, you get off the bike to have a closer look at the sea and you get this:

The stunning colour of the crystal clear sea on such a sunny day is second to non.

As I reach Corinth the neglected bits of the road's time machine are still around. Who knoes when it was the last time this train whistled:

The real fun though begins as I leave Kiato (that's the one in Greece not even close to Kioto) to take the road that leads to Stymfalia Lake. I stop to enjoy the view to the vineyards with the Corinth bay in the background:

Heading South West even when my eyes loose the sea they still don't miss a nice view:

A few km later I arrive at the lake of Stymfalia:

You'll probably wonder where's the lake? This is actually a marshy lake so on a dry year it can look like this. An impressive fact is the local fish that manages to survive under such conditions by hiding in that layer of mud that forms when the water's gone. During the Roman period emperor Hadrian made an aqueduct here for the needs of Corinth.

One last shot and I'm on my bike:

I continue my way North West this time and half way between Stymfalia and Doxa lake I can't pass this fantastic view of the mountains and the fields at this plateau:

The sun is not really a camera's friend on this ones but I guess you "get the picture". After inhaling this beauty I jump on my bike again:

I am just on breath away from Doxa lake and impressed by the (partially gravel) route I take a picture from its North end:

Finally time for some pictures while touring around the lake:

As you can see it speaks for itself. The golden brown of some trees contrasting with the rest green ones, all reflecting on the lakes water under the blue sky. What more can you ask for? This eye candy lying 900m above sea level is an artificial one, made in the late 90s named after the local stream Doxa who offered its water resources. On a not so nice note, the lake has overflowed a few times causing extended damages to the fields you saw in the previous images.

See you on the next one!