Stage 2 DAY 2 May 23
Please watch my Relive video here: https://www.relive.cc/view/vE6Jn2jmBg6
Good morning and adieu Athens!
We shuttled out of busy Athens to historic Megera where we will began the cycling adventure of Stage 2! It seems like the sprawling Athens goes on forever!
On the Road – Distance 82km / 51mi | Elevation 1720m / 5,743 ft
A truly amazing day on the bike as we travelled from the Saronic to the Corinthian Gulf. After an optional coffee in Megera,
we gently climbed out of town – it was super quiet as we slowly ascend through olive and walnut groves. As we gain a little elevation (the first 13km is a comfortable 5% with a few 14%’ers!) we got glimpses both of the sea and Athens behind us and the Corinthian Gulf opening up ahead.
Our descent was spectacular, through some bushfire damaged areas; the aqua blue water ahead drew us down and as we turned left along its shores it was hard to take mu eyes away from the beautiful waters. After a snack on the water, we followed the coast for 12km – it is an amazing stretch of road jammed between canyons and cliffs and the azure seas, and pistachio groves! (lower right pic)
However at around 35km we turned inland for our second climb of the day. This 9km, 6% average ascent through the pretty village of Pisia had pine forest shade, a gradual perfect surface and amazing views – this is Greece! At the top we descended a little then picnic in Perachora.
After lunch we rode down to Choros Hraion ( shown above)
The sanctuary of Hera was founded at the beginning of the 8th century B.C., probably by the Argives or the Megarians, but it soon came under the control of the Corinthians. In the 6th century B.C., the shrine of Hera Akraia was constructed on the site of a Geometric apsidal temple, and 200 m. east of it, near the harbour, the shrine of Hera Limenia was built. The sanctuary expanded in the following centuries but after the destruction of Corinth by the Romans in 146 B.C., the sanctuary fell into decline and was abandoned. The Sanctuary was excavated in 1930-1933 by the British School of Archaeology at Athens.
There is a legend recounted in Euripides that Medea buried her murdered children at a sanctuary of Hera Akraia as she fled from Corinth. This may be a reference to this site. Herodotus tells the story of Periander stripping the clothes off of the Corinthian women at a sanctuary of Hera and the Greek historian Strabo wrote in the 1st century CE that there was an oracle associated with the sanctuary.