Antirio - Chani Mpania, Nafpaktia 20130420

Continueing exploration of Nafpaktia's mtb trails. This time loop through the hills north from Antirio to Chani Mpania and back to Nafpaktos and Antirio with national road Nafpaktos-Thermos.

0,0km (at 5m) - Ag vassileios. Standard begining to Rio docks and ferry to Antirio.

7,4km (at 0m) - Antirio. From the docks with national road to traffic lights with new national road, straight on the lights and quick left after 200m towards Molikrio.

11,3km (at 70m) - Molikrio. Following the signs towards Agripidakampos, trails starts to climb very steep. Nice view to the bridge and Patra on the other side of the bay

17,6km (at 270m) - Agripidakampos. Just before the village, trails turns left with asphalt road and later again left to dirt road starting steeper climb.

19,6km (at 380m) - Crossing and damaged road. At the crossing, the main dirt road goes sharp left (towards Kaloriza), but the trail keeps straight with minor road. After 100m from the crossing, the road is very heavily damaged, without possibility to pass on the bike. We had to carry bikes to get to other side. After this road is good enough to continue.

23,2km (at 440m) - Crossing. trail meets bigger dirt road and continues left with downhill.

27,0km (at 420m) - Sharp left. Trail leaves main dirt road and turns sharp left to continue the climb.

28,7km (at 550m) - Sharp right. A little more climb before reaching the highest point of the loop.

30,8km (at 580m) - Highest point. Fun and fast downhill with large dirt road starts from here.

37,0km (at 390m) - Sharp right. Trail continues with fast downhill down to Evinos river. Nice views to the valley and river itself.

44,4km (at 100m) - Chani Mpania. Small village located at Evinos bank. Old iron brigde crosses the river in the village as a part of Nafpaktos-Thermos national road. We made a stop for snack at the river's rafting club just below the brigde. The river at this time of the year is full of crystal clear and freezing water with very fast current. After resting a bit and filling the calories, trail starts with a climb to Pitsineika with national road.

50,0km (at 350m) - Pitsineika. The highest point of the climb and return to Antirio. Now only downhill left to Nafpaktos.

58,1km (at 40m) - Nafpaktos, bypass road. After passing over bypass of Nafpaktos, trail turns right to minor local road, going through housing areas, until reaching national road Antirio-Itea. Turns right and follows the national road all the way to Antirio.

66,1km (at 0m) - Turn left. Trail leaves national road to take left turn into local roads, a shortcut to the east docks in Antirio. Unfortunately we missed the ferry, and since it was not very windy, we decided to ride through the bridge (climb to 50m and downhill to the other side).

70,5km (at 0m) - Rio. Back in Peloponesse, small round to supermarket in Rio and back to Ag Vassileios by the sea.

76,3km (at 5m) - Ag Vassileios. Back at home.

I mark the trail as moderate, although it is quite long and has overall 1100m climb. But it has no technical difficulties and climbs are quite mild. Very nice views to the Evinos river and surounding mountains.

For all photos from this (photos 42-62) and other rides in Nafpaktia, visit my google gallery:
https://plus.google.com/photos/107064915676715871291/albums/5869555900622227425