I've never been one for hitch hiking but it came down to a simple choice... Pay the taxi drive the extortionate €35 to traverse the 18km gorge and spend a second day not eating or try find an alternative and get to eat something more than the few remaining pine nuts and dried apricots I have left in my pack. I'm Hungry... I can smell breakfast cooking in the refuge refectory but I'm scared to spent the taxi fare. I have exactly €43.50 to make it to Thessal...

Currently sitting at 2100m, the fog is beginning to circle like and Indian blowing smoke rings. The night draws in. It is near mystical watching the sunset over the mountains when you are in the heart of them. You can nearly begin to believe how the Greeks believed that the Gods lived up here as each peak takes on a new shadow and personality. In a surreal moment one of the refuge staff brings out a Spanish guitar and plays beautifully and haunting folk melody....

There was hissing, chirping, clicking and hooting all around. The forests noise was like a deafening wall of white noise in the eerie morning dawn light. I stood as still as possible frozen in mid step as the snake slithered with surprising speed across my path. Freaking adders... Hate them! Using all my senses I strained to detect any more unsuspecting visitors. My hairs all stood on end, goosebumps littered my arms more and more with every step. Would som...

This may be the shortest blog yet. Marios again. Have learnt lesson. Now drink the house red. Much better than yesterday's thessalonian white. But bad call on Lamb. Beautiful flavour but too tough, clearly not from N.Z. Can't wait for perfection 2mrw. Pork and good red wine. All be it, wine made in house by restaurant does that mean I'll go blind?

So finished my morning 12km hike around the Moni or Monasteries as we know them of Kastraki. Great walking possibly some of the best view I have ever seen. There must have been done pretty crazy or rather zealous monks to build way up there. Took up another spot of sketching about mid day while it was too hot to do anything and I concluded art really isn't my thing! Just bought train ticket for Friday.... Well that should be an experience before hitting mount O...