Day 192 – EU – Greece [Oinofyta to Thiva]

01/09/20

44.5km

  From Oinofyta (Greece) to Thiva (Greece)

Europe

An adventurous run, catching up with an ex work colleague and a fantastic welcome from Thiva running club!

Starting out this morning, I had elected to run alongside the old National Road, hoping for little traffic (as the “new” National Rd runs parallel and I assumed it would have most if not all the traffic). From the word go there were loads of trucks and I realised I was just running through a very large industrial estate. I decided to change my route and follow an alternative Google Maps itinerary that directed me through the countryside instead.

Well… it was quiet and nice until I hit the Tanagra Air Force base! The simultaneous departure of three military aircrafts took me instantly out of my running reverie and 1 kilometer later, I got turned away at the base entry checkpoint. I thank you not! Google Maps! I found another itinerary which directed me cross country again, outside the boundaries of the airbase. But a few kilometers later, I met a dead end. Google Maps insisted on having me cross railway tracks and keep on going. I left BoB the stroller behind to investigate on my own: there was no path at all. And it was very dangerous to cross the tracks as it was on a bend!

So I turned back again and crossed a few muddy fields before I found the main road outside of Harma. And just as my wheels were fully caked in mud, I got a flat tyre. Dirty job it was – to change the faulty tube!

I reached Harma – and there was John! Waiting for me in his car, dressed in his running attire. John was my direct boss at Scottish & Newcastle International Division and he was responsible for sending me off to Greece back in 2003. I spent two years doing some ground work there and John took over in 2005 and managed a superb recovery of the business. He’s been living in Greece ever since!

John ran the last 6 kilometers by my side and we caught up for coffee at a local cafe for part of the afternoon. Time flew by as it does when the company is pleasant, and it was 3:30pm when I ran the last kilometer to Thiva and into the nearest taverna I found – I was hungry!

As I left the taverna to check into my hotel, another surprise awaited me: my lunch “had been paid”. This more than stunned me! Who? What? Panagiotis from the local Running Club of Thiva, had phoned in and covered my meal..! I met Panagiotis later that evening with members of the Club who will be running with me the first few kilometers as I leave Thiva tomorrow. Lucky me..!

Check my daily run GPS data on or

Here is the map of today’s run: