Safe Return Doubtful

I suppose it was inevitable that I would discover the most appealing area of the Peloponnese when my time is limited; I have the ferry to Italy on Wednesday, so am gradually moving north to Igoumenitsa. The two days I have spent in the Neda valley villages have made me hungry for more. The area would be fantastic for gravel riding, or MTB. Old tracks crisscross the mountains and it’s possible to put circuits together easily.

This morning I put together a simple 5 kilometre walking trail around the village, gained a bit of height, and was rewarded by some excellent view.

I then drove a couple of hours, on slow and twisting mountain roads just 80 kilometres, to the village of Lampeia.

I listened to a really good edition of Leading (from The Rest is Politics) that I want to recommend, with Seb Coe. It was him speaking about his formative years I found most interesting, and of the influence his father had on him. As with Tiger Woods and the Williams sisters, his father was his coach of course.

It’s a cloudy afternoon here in Lampeia, though this morning was clear. I plan to fit in a walk around the ancient ruins above the village tomorrow, before driving another couple of hours north.

This afternoon I spent a couple of hours writing up my best books and films of the year, something I always enjoy doing on New Year’s Day. Ironic though, that in starting a new book this morning, I’m a third of the way in, and already think it will figure as one of the best of 2024.. The title is Summer Fishing In Lapland, and it set in the remote north-west corner of Finland where I spent a couple of weeks last year.