We collected the quad at 09:20 & were shown how to operate it. With our helmets on we first tested it out by going back up to our room and in the car park.
Becky was lead driver & took us off on our first stop just past Kardemena. This is when things went slightly wrong. After pulling over to check directions I stated we were 6 minutes from the castle. Becky then drove for 20 minutes over the mountains to the other side of the island. As we were on a major road and I was sat behind her I could not distract her to point out that we had gone too far. When she finally realised that something might have gone wrong, google maps told us we were as far from the castle now in the other direction, as we were when we set off from the hotel. The castle at antimachia afforded some amazing views of the coastline. It clearly had once been a maintained tourist attraction, but now the paths were growing over with sharp plants and it was difficult to navigate.
I had a little drive of the quad back up to the main road where Becky took us too antimachia village. This little village right by the airport was very quaint and we took our customary photo of the windmill.
I took us to our next destination which wasn’t planned and we ended up visiting a cultural centre known as Hippocrates Garden. They had created a replica of an Ancient Greek settlement. Being able to wander around and into these structures brought us closer to the past and added some unexpected culture to our Kos trip.
Back on the dirt road and Becky took us to Plaka forest which has the strange combination of cats and peacocks living together in the forest. We saw Peacocks strutting around, caring for their young and a good scrap. The noise that echoed round the forest when that took place was quite something.
We now had a bit of a drive from there to the most Western town on the island. I took us first to the harbour just below the town of Kefalos. Becky who loves driving on the hills and windy roads gave us a scenic vista tour before parking up just north of the town centre where we had a view of all of the island it seemed. Conveniently right next to where we parked was a particularly posh restaurant and bar complete with its own windmill. Here we sat with a shandy and watched the clouds roll by and even felt a minutes rain!
We popped into the very very small town centre before getting back on the quad to go to Helona Beach. Things went wrong and pretty scary next. I missed the turn off for the beach as it wasn’t signposted. I had two coaches right behind me and was only able to move over to let one past. I ended up stopping on the road to Kardemena. Becky took us back along the main road and we found the turnoff, which is signposted if you come from Kos. We ended up in a resort by following the road along. We backtracked again and found the ‘road’ down to the beach. We both agreed that it wasn’t a road at all and we didn’t feel safe driving down it. So we went back to where we had been 25minutes ago & into Kardemena itself. We stopped off for a glass of excellent wine in Casa Rosso to round off a successful island tour.
Back at the complex there was still time to grab a beer and have a dip in our pool before we got ready for dinner.
Our plan was to have an early night and we almost succeeded until I suggested we chat to the Swedish fella at the bar on his own. Numerous cocktails were had. We were joined by his family and then a polish couple. Vodka and beer shots somehow happened I think the barman suggested them. The night goes a bit hazy from there. All I do remember is that Becky headed to bed slightly earlier than me. This plays a key part in Fridays exciting adventure.