First experience with Cretan mentality

This season Reevax goes back to the origin of our civilization, and according to some people we can really use it. The small but modern airport of Luik is new for us and a convenient alternative for the busy airport of Brussels. After a quick stop in Ostend, we fly to Heraklion on the Greek island of Kreta.

Due to a misunderstanding with the organization – something in me says this will not be the last time it takes almost 4 hours before we are picked up for the 170 km long car trip to the western part of the island. At night all gas stations are closed and with only 3 drops of gas left in the tank we arrive at the hotel at 3 AM. The building seems abandoned, no note, no information, but everything is open and we can walk around everywhere in the hotel. We choose our own apartment on the 3 rd floor (as we did make a reservation), put all our stuff inside and went to bed.

The next morning the hotel owner is there, doesn’t make any problems and immediately starts preparing our breakfast. Typical mentality here: everything entaxi (no problem).

Kissamos has a cosy little square with outside tables and chairs and many little shops. We obviously want to try the local culinary specialties and after a way too big mixed grill, salad with feta cheese, pizza and a kind of pancakes filled with spinach is the first indigestion a fact. In the meantime we met a couple of guys from the organization and it appears there are only about 20 participants. It will be a small and cosy event. Very nice.

Also with the rental car that Kroki arranged are some problems. The car would be delivered at the hotel at 10u30, but an hour later there is still no car. After a quick phone call it seems the reservation email which they confirmed never arrived. A few moments later they found back the email with the reaction: oh my God, my stupid manager. Later it would become apparent we had the manager himself on the phone At 2h30 PM the car finally arrives, not a Suzuki Vitara 4×4, but a Hyundai Matrix mini-monovolume. After a lot of discussion the Vitara will be delivered at 11 PM this evening. Let’s hope this works out ok, otherwise we go offroading with the Korean, as we rented an offroad vehicle

We are extremely curious how the next week will be, as it promises to be an extremely tough challenge. There is the distance and the steepness of the climbs. The trails consist mostly of difficult, sharp gravel and there is only 10% asphalt. Despite not being summer yet, temperatures go quite high according to our standards, and at the coast there is a more then decent sea breeze. Kroki will try to supply us with new drinking bottles once in a while and take care of the mental support.

Foto album

Transcreta Race 2006

Transcreta Race 2006

Vechten om de bike in de fietstas te krijgen
Fighting to get the bike in the bag
Transcreta Race 2006

Afscheid nemen van de supporters thuis
Saying goodbye to the supporters at home
Transcreta Race 2006

Reevax gepakt en gezakt in de luchthaven van Luik
Reevax ready to go at the airport of Luik
Transcreta Race 2006

Wachten op het transport naar Kissamos
Waiting for the transport to Kissamos
Transcreta Race 2006

Ontbijt met Thomas, een van de helpers tijdends de race. Na de foto gezien te hebben, is hij prompt naar de kapper gegaan.
Breakfast with Thomas, one fo the helpers during the race. After seeing this photo, he promptly left for getting a haircut
Transcreta Race 2006

Aan Domie's BMX is niet veel werk om te monteren
Domie's BMX does not need a lot of work to assemble
Transcreta Race 2006

Culinaire specialiteiten uitproberen (eigenlijk gewoon the vreetzak uithangen)
Trying culinary specialties
Transcreta Race 2006

Ook het hotelzwembad werd getest en goed bevonden
Also the hotel pool was tested and found to be ok
Transcreta Race 2006

Kissamos heeft het meeste klare zeewater van heel Kreta
Kissamos has the most clear seawater from Crete
Transcreta Race 2006

Eerste kennismaking met Kretenzische offroad wegen, heel veel mogelijkheden voor lekke banden !
First test on Cretan gravel roads, many opportunities for flats !
Transcreta Race 2006

Reevax klaar voor de start in Kissamos
Reevax ready for the start in Kissamos
Transcreta Race 2006

10 van de 12 deelnemers klaar voor de start
10 of 12 participants ready for the start
Transcreta Race 2006

Domie over de Kretenzische gravelwegen
Domie over the Cretan gravel roads
Transcreta Race 2006

Nog snel een schietgebedje voor de laatste klim
A quick prayer for the last climb
Transcreta Race 2006

En die mag er wezen, 4,5 km over grove gravel en stenen
And that's a tough one, 4,5km over rought gravel and rocks
Transcreta Race 2006

Domie ziet af vandaag
Domie is suffering today
Transcreta Race 2006

Start 2de etappe: direct bergaf
STart 2nd stage: immediately downhill
Transcreta Race 2006

Domie is goed bezig
Domie is doing well
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Machtige killem onder een brandende zon
Mighty climbs under a burning sun
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Eindeloze slotklim naar Askifou
Endless climb to Askifou
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Zonsopgang in Askifou
Sunrise in Askifou
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Gunther en Domie
Gunther and Domie
Transcreta Race 2006

Highway to hell
Highway to hell
Transcreta Race 2006

Beloning voor een dag afzien
Reward for a day of suffering
Transcreta Race 2006

Kroki onderwe op het parkoers
Kroki on todays stage
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Pepe in de afdaling
Pepe in the descent
Transcreta Race 2006

Als toetje een supersteile klim
A supersteep climb as dessert
Transcreta Race 2006

De camping in Axos
Camping in Axos
Transcreta Race 2006

Kroki's auto na 4 dagen: een klein beetje stof
Kroki's car after 4 days: a little bit of dust
Transcreta Race 2006

Tre3intje
Uphill train
Transcreta Race 2006

Domie is gecrasht
Domie has crashed
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Kroki zorgt voor een extra bevoorrading
Kroki makes for an additional water station
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Nog enkele deelnemers van vorig jaar...
A few participants from last year ...
Transcreta Race 2006

Groooooote ijscreem als beloning
Biiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiig icecream as a reward
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Moeilijke klim langs de kust
Difficult climb along the coast
Transcreta Race 2006

Droge en stoffige landschappen
Dry and dusty landscapes
Transcreta Race 2006

Domie's cassette is gebroken
Domie's cassette broke
Transcreta Race 2006

Stikkapot een beetje schaduw zoeken
Looking for a bit of shade
Transcreta Race 2006

Veel supporters onderweg
Many supporters on the way
Transcreta Race 2006

Slecht nieuws: de wedstrijd wordt gestopt
Bad news: the race is stopped
Transcreta Race 2006

Over de weg naar Agios Nicalaos
Over the road back to Agios Nicolaos
Transcreta Race 2006

Het Kreta- WC-moment, eindeloos wachten op de plons !
The Kreta toilet-moment: endless waiting for the plunge !
Transcreta Race 2006

De pijlen waren soms makkelijk te vinden ...
The signs were sometimes easy to find ...
Transcreta Race 2006

maar mobiele pijlen maakten het dikwijls extra lastig om de juiste weg te vinden!
but mobile signs made it often hard to find the right direction !
Transcreta Race 2006

Any closer and I'll have you for lunch !
Any closer and I'll have you for lunch !
Transcreta Race 2006

De residentie van de familie Geit
The residence of the Goat family
Transcreta Race 2006

De officiele finish-bevoorrading van de organisatie
The officiel finish-catering station of the organisation
Transcreta Race 2006

De finish-bevoorrading georganiseerd door Sybille en Angelique. Bedankt dames!
The finish-catering organised by Sybille and Angelique. Thanks ladies!
Transcreta Race 2006

Radek Sibl wordt toch nog tot officieuse winnaar gekroond
Radek Sibl is crowned unofficial winner
Transcreta Race 2006

De pijnlijke afloop wordt volgens dokter Jan het best verteerd met ...Appeltaart !
The painful end is, according to doctor Jan, best digested with... Apple pie !