PREFACE
In 1989, I attempted to follow in the giant footsteps of the great
British archaeologist, John D. S.
Pendlebury in Crete, while visiting dozens of ancient sites in the process. That I
failed for the most part, to cover the enormous distances that JDSP managed, didn't
detract from the experience which had been the best three month period of my life,
even if my memory, at times, wears rose-tinted glasses. Then, in May 2001 during my
two-yearly trip to Crete, driving from East to West, I noticed that three of the sites I
had visited during that period followed a line of sorts, running from Kato Zakros, via
Praesos to Vassiliki. What fun it would be to retread my past. Upon arrival home, I rushed
for a book I had first read upon its publication, in 1992 and immediately begged a two
month sabbatical from work, giving two years notice.
"Between the Seas: A Quiet Walk Through Crete", by Christopher
Thorne was to be my inspiration during the next few months, though upon reading the book
for the third time, I decided that his 400 mile trek, traversing the mountain ranges of
Crete, in two weeks, was (a little!) too tough and besides, his route was not my desired
one. I was to drive everyone I knew, either to the brink of madness or boredom (and in
some cases both), during the two-year "training period" that followed. I
found myself able to talk of fewer and fewer things, other than "the walk", and
by the time I arrived at the final month's countdown, even I was growing tired of this
obsessive behaviour. Unfortunately I was stuck with my single-mindedness, to the degree
that I found it impossible to get more than three hours of sleep at night, though I had a
habit of nodding-off at work, but I am sure that others enjoyed the rest, every bit as
much as I.
All walk and no play, made Jackson an extremely dull boy and no-doubt
lowered his resistance to illness. Three weeks before I was due to leave, the dreaded
lurgy hit! The week in bed which followed, left me more rested, but considerably weaker.
My "training bag" - weighing in at a hefty 15 kilos - which had
accompanied me on a 25 mile walk two days before my illness, was now nigh-on impossible to
lift, never mind carry any distance.
Thankfully I recovered in time to attempt the walk,
but there was little doubt that I'd lost a lot of the strength built up during the
previous couple of years. Well, that's excuse number one out of the way. Expect others at
least as lame, throughout the pages that follow:
>> The planning and arrival (E4 I go!)
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