Each of us wanted to share our own favourite moments and memories from the trip

Jo: I was most suprised by how challenging the trip turned out to be, both physically and mentally. I don’t think I realised quite how tough and exhausting the days work would be, but I am so pleased that I did it. Not only was the trip educational, but I also managed to speak and get to know people that I had never met before. I came away from Crete with new friends, and new experiences. My favourite day has to be the coastal walk between Loutro and Chora Sfakion. This was possibly the most physically challenging day, but the break at Sweetwater beach and the feeling of having accomplised the walk made it all worth while.

Becki: Everyone had been looking forward to the fieldtrip for months and it was definitely worth the wait. It wasn’t quite how I expected it to be with some days turning out to be quite challenging, especially in the heat , but the sense of achievement we all felt after completing the gorge and coastal walks made it all worthwhile. I really am glad that I came on the trip as everyone has made new friends and we all got on as a group. I can’t pick a favourite moment as so much happened in the week and we always managed to enjoy ourselves.  I was sad to be leaving on the last day as it has been a fun filled week and nobody wanted it to end.

Kat: I cant quite work out whether that week went slow or fast, but I do know that it was brilliant. I think we all have to admit there are very few degrees in which you are to go on a trip that was so utterly enjoyable. The entire week was amazing and it’s difficult to find a best bit. Richard’s misdirections and bad sorry good jokes were certainly entertaining! The trip was challenging but completely worth it, i’ve made so many new friends and gained a new perspective of Crete. I think our group worked really well together and are much closer than I thought we’d be, which is a really nice outcome.

‘Buddy’ Matt: For me this week went too quick. I think that next year the class should go for two weeks, maybe wit the second to relax. This week was a great experience, not only for the work and learning new things, but for the people I have met and made friends with. I don’t think you could get a better field class or trip better than this one.

I would even consider going back just to samaria gorge just to walk the whole thing.

Thanks very much to Alan, Richard and Ken for a very enjoyable trip and I hope that my group gets good grades hint hint.

‘Hench’ Matt: For me, I only knew 2 people going to Crete but after this fun filled fieldtrip I had made friends with everyone and I’m sure we will all stay in touch. To me my favourite part of the trip was at the Samaria Gorge, it was not what i had expected at all, the scenery was beautiful and when ‘buddy’ Matt and I went further up the gorge, we saw even greater geomorphological features which were stunning, it was worth annoying the girls to see that scenery!

Crete surpassed all my expectations and along with the good company of the rest of the students, staff and friendly locals, made this trip a great experience for me.

Thanks all!

Not only the perfect end to our video, but the perfect end to an amazing week!

We find ourselves still sitting here after a solid day of hard work. Not quite how we wanted to spend our last full day here, but as group 1 we always manage to enjoy ourselves!

From the very beginning, everything seemed to be going wrong, even Richard felt sorry for us. After loosing almost all of our video clips, we decided to start afresh by filming ourselves jumping in the sea. As a result of our refreshing dip, we had a sudden burst of energy and enthusiasm and finished the work in no time and with style we might add!

We were then able to enjoy our evening meal as an entire group, and along with each member of the group doing brilliantly in their exams, it all contributed towards the perfect end to a fulfilling and educational trip in Southern Crete.

Tomorrow we head to Chania for the day before traveling back to the much less sunny Reading and sadly we will be writing our final and last ever blog, a moment none of us are looking forward to : (. With an early start just around the corner we leave you with one final message…

Goodnight Bloggers, sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite.

Dear Bloggers!

We started off on the usual 10:30 ferry, but this time took it all the way to Agia Roumelli. Once we set foot on dry land, the heat hit us like never before. Following an unfortunate  suncream mishap in Becki’s bag, and without our usual break, we enthusiastically began the trek towards the gorge and soaked up all the beautiful scenery that surrounded us (whilst Kat’s shirt simultaneously soaked up all the sweat that covered her back).

We were taken aback by the vast contrasts between the Ilingas Gorge and what was in front of our eyes today at Samaria. We could see that the gorge was aimed much more towards tourists (i.e socks and sandal wearing Germans).

The Samaria Gorge - almost pedestrianised!

Within no time we reached our target of the Iron Gates, and this is when the story splits…

THE IRRITATED GIRLS:  As we sat slaving away in the sun, our so called friends and supposed team members took things one step too far, quite literally. ” We’re just heading further up the gorge”, they said. “We wont be long”. Hours passed by, darkness fell, and still no sign of the boys. We grew hungry, cold, confused and distressed, but we battled through. Then, suddenly, in the distance, with our tired eyes we saw something vaguely familiar, something we’d seen before, a long long time ago. No, it couldn’t be, but it was, it was the white hat.

THE ‘HEROIC’ BOYS:  After our easy trek towards the iron gates, the downright lazy girls (of which we carried most the way up the gorge) collapsed at their knobbly knees at the base of a tree. As the gentlemen that we are, we offered them food and water, but rudely they refused. For the purpose of both adventure and geomorphological interest, we gallantly took to lands which had never been seen (by the girls) before. We explored areas which dazzled and amazed us (apart from the toilets which were just a squat pit!). On our way we noted many extra notes to aid us with our work. We covered a substantial distance in the short time we had, then had to consider the ladies welfare. We said we would only be an hour but graciously we came back in 55 minutes. The girls, surprisingly, were not happy, even though we were early! And boy did they not let us forget it! As we came over the horizon, we saw the damsels in distress and we came to their aid as two Prince Charmings (but better looking). Even though we knew they were very happy to see us, they pretended to be angry, but you could see the smiles under their sweat and tears.

With the group reunited at last, we FINALLY set off downhill and took a quick stop where ‘Hench’ Matt enjoyed his ice cream just a little too much…

After admiring some sweet little kittens, it was time for the direction bandit to strike once more, where he deceived us through trickery and lies. We thought we could trust him, even after last time, but this time he crossed the line by forcing us to eat the local delights, as enjoyed by goats and sheep.

Once again being misled by Richard into eating the local delicacy aka GOATS FOOD!

Back in Agia Roumelli, we interviewed several locals and gained a wider perspective of the area and the noticeable differences within the region of Sfakia. Primarily the number of tourists present, the ecotourism in place within the gorge and also the slight increase in prices. Enjoying a well earned ice cream we boarded the ferry to return to the hotel.

This was the day of a well earned and much needed rest. After 4 days of hard work it was time for the 5 of us to relax in the tranquil area. During the day, the group split up to do there own activities. These included sun bathing, recovering from all the free Raki and walks along the coastline to the Ilingas Beach. A few also walked to the war memorials, that are located slightly out of the village, where beautiful views could be seen from all angles.

Where most of the relaxing took place!

Amongst this relaxation there was a sudden sense of panic. An eruption of flames was seen bellowing out of the nearby small restaurant, the Delfini and some people were seen fleeing from the site, whilst others remained to take pictures!

Tomorrow the return to work will be a challenge, however the Samaria Gorge provides us with the opportunity to compare the area to the gorge that we have visited, so it should be interesting. Many questions will be asked to different people, some prepared for a long trek down the gorge and some old, fat and in the wrong place.

Tally charts, questionnaires and hiking awaits us, should be fun…..

Today we returned to Loutro for a day filled full with educational questions. On our ferry ride the ‘Direction Bandit’ Richard, once again tried to mislead us! Just like yesterday, we indulged in a beverage in the same bar with our friendly parrot Coco, showing of his newly acquired skill of wolf whistling, which he had now perfected.

The Loutro Harbour

We asked questions on the topic of tourism, looking at aspects of the past, present and the future. These were directed at tourists and owners of the local restaurants and shops.

We met many interesting people, one of whom, a Dutch lady, came to Loutro 25 years ago with her university to study the area. One groups pet dog did not like us asking questions and when ‘Buddy Matt’ came over, their dog jumped up and tried to maul his face.

After asking questions and not wanting to disturb anybody else we felt that we deserved a tasty, filling lunch and in this village it seemed hard to find anywhere where the food wasn’t going to be delicious. ‘Hench Matt’ serenaded us during lunch with his strangely angelic voice.

We discussed the major points of the day and concluded that both the tourists and residents of Loutro wanted the area to stay as it is, traditional. However, this area is dependant on tourism and development may be key to the area remaining a popular tourist destination.

After the days work had been done it was time for play! We spent the next hour in the sea on a pedalo, sunbathing and jumping in, but mostly terrorising the other groups in their kayaks. The taxi journey on the way back was very fun for all, apart from our seasick friend Jo.

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Everybody is looking forward to our day off tomorrow, when we can relax in the sun.

P.S  Farewell to our favourite Dutch nudist, Hein, who leaves today, who we were told watched us all the time that we were at Sweetwater beach.

We woke up today to an early start but still full of energy, apart from Jo.  After a 30 minute ferry journey we arrived at the scenic village of Loutro. Before embarking on the epic journey along the coast line back to Chora Sfakion, we  enduldged in a few beverages. During this short break, drinking entertainment was provided by a talkative parrot, which we taught to wolf whistle.

The friendly parrot

Despite a relaxing start, we soon found ourselves faced with an unexpected and unwanted incline. Along the route we stopped at various geological landforms, where we analysed the erosional processes both past and present, and also noted down any cliamtic factors.

All was going well untill our ‘friend’ Richard who had kindly lent us his hat, decided to lead us astray. However, this otherwise irritating event was soon turned around by the unexpected discovery that followed ….  

This picture simply goes to show our creative capabilities.

To our joy, Sweetwater beach lay around the corner, where we stayed and took the time to swim and relax, despite the unavoidable wrong… but yet… so right nudity (as believed by Hench Matt).

After replenishing our water supplies with the natural spring water, we set off towards the scramble ahead, whilst waving farewell to our Dutch nudist friend. The last stretch of the journey was somewhat more strenous than expected, yet at the same time extremely rewarding. Whilst on the hike back we noticed many different geomophological processes, mainly the many scree slopes, which we were informed are still active and have resulted in recent fatalities. 

We reached our hotel exhausted yet fullfilled, after what was in retrospect a very eventful day…. Thanks Richard.

Ilingas Gorge

Today we went to Ilingas Gorge to look at the disastrous effects of the December 2000 flood. We started off the day filled with anticipation of the events ahead, given the coordinates of longitude N of 35.21 and latitude W 24.12 to enter to our GPS and set off by foot on a trek of 30 minutes to the beautiful scenery of the exit gully of the gorge.

 After our wait for the geographically challenged group, we set our way up the long and strenuous gorge of which we reached a very high altitude of 210m, with the great annoyance of many flies.  After a well deserved lunch we set off on our days investigation, to determine the peak discharge of the 2000 flood within the gorge and to look at the effects that the flood had on the natural landscape.We went to 9 sites and on occasion measured the wetted perimeter of the gorge and also the cross sectional area, this was to eventually help us to measure the peak discharge of the gorge. We also looked at the topography using a clinometer to measure the gradient, aswell as taking note of particle size, lichen, vegetation type and erosional features (See Figure 1)

Figure 1

 

On our way down we saw many features, and also many goats, some of which were decomposing on the gorge floor. At the top of the gorge we noticed there was difficulty in finding the wetted perimeter due to further erosion caused by the 2000 floods and other floods since then. Further down the gorge we noticed not only the increased heat and flies, but also the abraded surface and impact craters. In the middle section of the gorge we noticed a narrowing and then widening of the gorge area, we believed this could be due to rock type. At the bottom, we noticed a meandering of the gorge walls, we thought this could be due to the flood’s energy being dissipated.

As a result of the flood in 2000, a man made barrier was created to help alleviate the problems if a new flood was to occur, due to this we took measurements so that we could compare the peak discharge of the December 2000 floods and the maximum discharge of the man made barrier.

Problems:

Lack of toilet facilities, irritating flies and wasps, unbearable heat, water shortages, and problems with the GPS receiver (poor signal).