The Second day of our Kalipefki excursion.
The evening, starry and cool, gave its place to the sweet dawn that slowly passed through the foliage of the forest. We woke up before the sun rose above the tall trees. The morning dew was refreshing, as did the cold water of the spring. Birds had already begun their song, interrupting the silence. The things we left, tidy on the table, were messy, a sign that our evening pet wanted to get to know us better or thought that she could find something to eat. The first rays of the sun found us at the breakfast table. We happily enjoyed our coffee by discussing and observing the woods around, perhaps to find our friend again. But we were not such lucky as yesterday. Our fox, after strolling around all night, would now rest for her next night’s hunt. We decided to pack immediately after breakfast, to be ready and then to take a long walk to the village and return to our base through the forest.
So we started by going to Kallipefki, walking along the road, next to the beech trees and the oak trees, and in about 500 meters we left the forest and started to approach the junction with the main road. The trees had become thinner and the grass taller. We passed the Scouts camp and soon we were on the outskirts of the village. Low houses with beautiful gardens, flowers and fruit trees, show us the way to the central square, where, there is the church and three or four café – taverns. Their tables are laid down under the big plane trees and of course near the spring with its cool water. We are chatting with the locals who looked at us a bit strange, since the village is not a tourist destination. We bought our beers and our loukoumia to accompany our lunch, from the local grocery store that reminded something of another era and we continued making the circle of the village to return to Patomeni. Moving on, we saw everywhere piles with logs, supplies for the winter, and lots of wild apple trees with apples that were hanging like bunches from their branches.
We stuffed a bag to make apple sweet preserve and we went to the forest. We have left the village behind us and we walk through the tall trees, in an easy field, with a slight inclination, heading east to Patomeni. Now the beech trees and the oak trees are our companions as we walk freely between them. The coolness of the forest envelops us and stimulates us pleasantly. The light is hardly passing through the dense foliage and with its rays gives more emphasis to the small details of the landscape.
Without realizing it, we found ourselves on the small side of Patomeni on the upper side of the road. This entire 5km circular, relaxed route opened up our appetite, so we engaged in the noble sport of grilling, in the barbecues that exist in the area. We tried to do as slow as we can, because we did not want to leave this wonderful place with the paths, the forest roads, the gurgling waters and the scattered chapels on the slopes and the clearings. The charm of Lower Olympus and the area with its rich natural environment is addictive. It was late afternoon when we entered our cars and chose the road to Leptokarya this time, in order to make a bigger circle and stay more in the embrace of the mountain.
PS
Do not forget, if you choose to return from the road of Leptokarya, stop and observe the “magnetic field” in Leevithra. It is a point on the road where, although it is downhill, when you stop, your vehicle will go back to the uphill. We do not know whether it is an optical illusion or something else, but it is really peculiar. It’s 2 to 3 km before you reach Leptokarya and you will see a sign, written on the road with red spray “STOP MAGNETIC”