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Alan McWilliams went mountain biking
July 5, 2026 at 04:29
Objects Along the Way - Part 1: The Roadside Shrine
01:47
29.9km
16.7km/h
54.9km/h
580m
580m
Today's ride marked the beginning of a new series. Rather than following battles, myths or historical figures, Objects Along the Way turns its attention to the ordinary features of the Cretan landscape—the things that are seen every day yet rarely examined closely. Together they form another way of reading the island, one object at a time.
The ride covered 29.9 km with 577 m of ascent and 582 m of descent, following a rolling profile with three principal climbs connected by high traverses and three corresponding descents. Moving time totalled 1:47:29, with an ascent time of 1:03:40 and descent in 0:42:12. Gradients reached +14.1% on the steepest climb and –14.3% on the descent. Maximum speed recorded was 55.6 km/h, averaging 16.7 km/h across quiet tarmac lanes, rough concrete climbs, loose limestone tracks, compacted dirt, rocky double-track and broken stone, with 75% off-road. It was a stepped route—three distinct climbs linked by flowing traverses and corresponding descents, with nothing unnecessary and every section serving the ride.
Climb profile (summary)
3 climbs | Total structured effort
Longest: C1 – 2.0 km @ 7.4%
Steepest: C1 – 11.1%
Final: C3 – 0.7 km @ 6.5%
Climb profile (C1–C3)
C1: 2.0 km | +0.9% | +11.1%
C2: 0.9 km | +0.0% | +9.4%
C3: 0.7 km | +1.3% | +12.0%
Descent profile (summary)
3 descents | Total return effort
Longest: D3 – 5.8 km
Steepest: Overall route –14.3%
Final: D3 – Return to Kokkino Chorio
Descent profile (D1–D3)
D1: 1.7 km | –4.8%
D2: 1.8 km | –2.9%
D3: 5.8 km | –2.0% | –14.3% maximum
There are thousands of roadside shrines across Crete. Some stand at road junctions, others beside mountain tracks, olive groves or isolated farmhouses. Most travellers pass them without a second glance, yet each marks a story known to someone, even if it has long been forgotten by everyone else.
Known in Greek as an εικονοστάσι (eikonostási), these small shrines serve many purposes. Some commemorate a fatal road accident or the place where someone narrowly escaped death. Others are built in fulfilment of a vow, in thanksgiving for recovery from illness, military service, a safe return from the sea, or simply as an act of personal devotion. They are not monuments in the formal sense. They are quiet expressions of remembrance and gratitude, placed where everyday life continues around them.
The shrine I stopped to photograph stands beside a quiet country road between Drapanos and Kefalas. It is simple, whitewashed and well maintained, with a small glazed recess containing a cross and devotional objects. There is nothing to identify why it was built or for whom. Like so many Cretan shrines, it keeps its story to itself.
Roadside shrines are so common in Crete that they almost disappear into the landscape. Yet each one represents a moment in someone's life that was considered important enough to mark in stone. We may never know the story behind this one, but its continued presence is a reminder that every journey leaves traces, even when the people themselves have long since passed.
Waypoints
Route Details
Elevation
Highest point (380 m)
Lowest point (240 m)
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