Text: Antonis Sassalos, Katerina Pantazi
Photos: Antonis Sassalos
Translation to English: Violandi Vratsanou

On Sunday 7 January, Andros Routes organised the first maintenance hike for the New Year on the route Gavrio – Ano Agios Petros – Tower – Beach – Gavrio. Only 4 people participated as the previous night’s storm discouraged other potential participants, very unfairly as it turned out. So they came: a Dutch couple who have been participating continuously in all the maintenance hikes, a new friend of the project and the Route Angel – guardian of the path from Gavrio.

The weather was very good for hiking. The day was not cold and we got rid of our coats on the ascent of Agios Petros. The scenery looked like an English countryside: all green and cool and in the background the foggy horizon! The Angel of Route 15, who knows his path and the area very well, described all its highlights: churches, threshing floors, old abandoned buildings, cottages… a proper guided tour!
We rested for a while at the spring of Agios Petros where we were offered a treat by one of the few inhabitants of this beautiful village.

On the way to the beach and back to Gavrio, we stopped to admire and learn more about the impressive Tower of Agios Petros, which is currently being repaired, as well as the adjacent iron mines.
At the beach we saw the rough sea and returned to Gavrio full from the experience and made an appointment for the next maintenance hike on the 20th of January.

We thank everyone who participated and especially Route Angel Antonis Sassalos and we strongly encourage you to join our maintenance hikes. With your participation you are contributing to the maintenance of the hiking trails and the preservation of the natural wealth of our island.