Epilogue

Saturday 9 June
This tour did not go quite as planed. It was a nightmare.
First we ran into problems with campsites in Italy, some were closed and others just didn't exist forcing us to make large detours by train in the evening hours after a days ride to try and find a campsite.
This was mainly dew to camping's not being posted as open or closed on the net.
Secondly in Italy we found the campsites in a very a poor state and quite pricey at an average of 23 euros.
Being fed up with this we changed the plan and sailed from Ancona to Igoumenitsa.
Our first night in Parga camping while we were asleep some low life bastard (there are other words I'd like to use but want this page to be clean) broke into our tent and stole our camera with over 450 pictures, our two mobile phones and about 80 euros cash.
Later on when I told this other cyclist he said that we were lucky as they like to use a razor on the tents, razors make less noise and also really damage you tent.
It is difficult to describe how we felt and it really ruined our vacation and will to continue, but we did.
We decided not to get another camera so there are no pictures of this tour.
Thirdly, after arguing with this blond bimbo at the Athens airport check in counter for two (2) whole hours we were able to get her to check our booking number. Her problem was with the bike's, she wanted to weigh them and I told her we just pay 47 euros each, that was the condition when we purchased our tickets. I kept telling her to check our booking number and all the information she needed was there, it was unbelievable, she just refused to do so and tried repeatedly to call Brussels air in Brussels. On our flight out of Brussels we had a delay of 10 min. while the person at the check out counter checked our booking number.
Finally, when we arrived in Brussels, I found my bike to be heavily damaged, (final cost is 450 euros). I trully believe this was done deliberately at Athens airport.
Needless to say we have learned quite a bit on this tour and have gained some very useful experience for our future tours.
I will try and put this site together in the coming weeks, but not having any pictures, I will try and put a thorough description of the route and have links to Google maps that show elevation graphs.

One really has to wonder how can this damage be done to a rim without substantial damage to the frame. The only answer I could come up with is that the nice baggage handlers at Athens airport had to be very inventive to do this.
It is a shame when things like this happen and no one can do anything about it, but to accept it and wait for the insurance to pay up. (click on photo)