06/19/2026
▪️Kalimera! Do you speak English?
Yes, of course. Where are you from?
America.
America! Wow, and on bikes!?
Haha, yes.
We don't see many Americans here, let alone on bikes!
Greece. Where to start...
Everything I thought I knew was quickly thrown out the window upon arrival.
The hospitality, courtesy and generosity were apparent from the moment we landed and never subsided.
The PEOPLE. The people really made this trip SO special!
In all the countries we've bikepacked through, Greece stands out from the others, with the people.
And then there's the food. The food was so good and SO cheap!
Kalamaki & Soulvaki & Greek salads every day!
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It all started when Kristen signed up for all 4 of the Mountain series races overseas this year and asked if I'd accompany her in Greece.
Greece!? I'd never even thought of riding through Greece!
I'm down!
The plan was this:
Tour to the start of the Hellenic MTN Race together.
Ride my own route to the finish in Nafpaktos.
Rejoin as a pair and tour to Athens along the coast.
Explore Athens on foot for a week.
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Here are some highlights:
- Cats everywhere
- Watching my wife Kristen Shoup Tonsager take 4th place female in the Hellenic MTN Race!
- The food
- Coffee, literally everywhere
- Chicken nugget sandwiches
- Stunning mountain passes and lush valleys
- Cherries!
- Swimming in the seas
- 6,000 year old stones
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This was one of the finer trips we have put together and my first time riding alone in a foreign country. Along with Kristens first time finishing a big race (600 miles!) and then getting back on the bike to tour for another week.
Badass.
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I've got more pictures, more thoughts and more words that will be posted to the website, soon.
But for now, this trip is over and I'm still processing everything we/I experienced over the last month.
One thing I can say for certain is, travel!
Get out of your home.
Get out of your comfort zone.
Get out and expose yourself to new cultures, new languages and new experiences.
It makes us all better in the end ❤️
22 days of riding
604 miles biked
104 miles walked
27 days of exploration
All pictures shot on Sony RX100 MKII
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