The ride covered 35.9 km with 853 m of ascent and 851 m of descent, set along a rolling profile that combined short technical climbs with a longer sustained ascent through the centre of the Apokoronas before returning by a series of ridges and descents. Moving time totalled 2:08:36, with an ascent time of 1:18:18 and descent in 0:50:18. Gradients reached +18.3% on the steeper sections and –13.4% on the way down. Maximum speed recorded was 55.0 km/h, averaging 16.7 km/h across tarmac lanes, farm tracks, loose limestone, gravel, hard-packed earth, woodland tracks, and rocky double-track, with 70% off-road. It was a stepped route — each climb and descent building towards the next section of ground, with no wasted movement and no unnecessary distance. Climb Profile (Summary) 6 climbs | Total structured effort Longest: C5 – 2.6 km @ 6.6% Steepest: C2 – 23.0% Final: C6 – 0.7 km @ 6.5% ## Climb Profile (C1–C6) C1: 0.8 km | -5.5% | +19.2% C2: 0.4 km | -5.4% | +23.0% C3: 0.7 km | -4.8% | +14.3% C4: 0.4 km | +0.3% | +16.8% C5: 2.6 km | -6.8% | +15.8% C6: 0.7 km | +0.0% | +11.3% As always, the ride began in Kokkino Chorio beneath a clear sky. The morning light was already reaching across the Apokoronas and the White Mountains stood sharply defined to the south. Even before turning a pedal, the relationship between sea, plain, foothills, and mountains could be seen clearly. It is this relationship that repeatedly emerges when studying the withdrawal routes of May 1941. Maps show roads and villages; the ground reveals the obstacles between them. The descent through Kambia and Plaka served as the opening phase of the ride, dropping from the higher ground around Kokkino Chorio towards the lower agricultural landscape of the Apokoronas. The route then entered the Salt Pan Tracks where tarmac gave way to gravel and farm tracks. Loose limestone, embedded rock, and sections of rough double-track reflected the conditions that have shaped movement through this landscape for centuries. From Plaka the route continued through Plaka on single village roads before reaching the Clu Cave Track and the Stone Track. These sections remain among the quieter corners of the Apokoronas, running between olive groves, low stone walls, and small agricultural holdings. The riding was fast and flowing in places, technical in others, requiring frequent changes in pace and line choice. St Basil's Track and the Aspro Tracks followed. Here the surface alternated between compacted gravel, loose limestone, and rough farm access roads. The route remained efficient, linking a series of older movement corridors that still connect villages, fields, and grazing land. Although modern vehicles use many of these routes today, their origins often lie much further back in the history of the region. The Roller Coaster section provided a succession of short climbs and descents before joining the Oliver Grove Track. By this stage the route had completed its opening transition from coastal and lowland terrain towards the more complex ground inland. The Prophet Elijah Climb marked the beginning of the more sustained climbing effort of the day. The route gained height steadily before reaching the Church Hill Descent. From here the ground opened and views extended across the Apokoronas towards the White Mountains. The mountains dominated the horizon throughout the ride, acting as a constant reminder of the barrier that shaped every military movement on Crete during the Battle of Crete. A short but sharp effort followed on the Plague Hill Short Climb before the longer descent towards Gavalochori. The surface alternated between hard-packed tracks and rough limestone sections. Speed increased quickly on the descent, but the loose stone demanded concentration. Coffee at Gavalochori provided the natural midpoint of the ride. From the village the route turned towards the wells above Gavalochori, the focus of this study ride. Military histories often concentrate on battles, commanders, and units. Less attention is paid to water. Yet every movement across the Apokoronas ultimately depended upon it. The wells visited during the ride remain substantial structures. Stone-lined shafts, mature plane trees, and associated water infrastructure indicate a location that served generations of local people. These are not isolated farm wells. They form part of a wider water network embedded within the landscape. Looking at them today, surrounded by shade and vegetation, it is easy to understand why they mattered. In May 1941 thousands of British, Commonwealth, Australian, New Zealand, and Greek troops moved south through the Apokoronas under difficult conditions. Men could carry only limited water. Many had already spent days marching and fighting. Wells such as these provided one of the few reliable opportunities to replenish supplies. The importance of the wells is therefore not sentimental or symbolic. It is practical. Without water, movement stops. The wells sit exactly where they are useful to people travelling through this part of the Apokoronas. Their location reflects the realities of terrain, settlement, and movement. In that sense they represent another example of the central theme of this series: the ground decides. Leaving the wells, the route climbed towards Xerosterni before joining the Dry Stone Wall Track. This section passes through a landscape that has been shaped by generations of labour. Walls define fields, routes, and ownership boundaries. They also guide movement. The route here remains narrow and controlled by the terrain. The Enchanted Forest followed. The photographs capture the character of this section well. Dense tree cover, enclosed tracks, shade, and limited visibility create a distinctly different environment from the exposed coastal sections. The riding remained straightforward but required constant attention to the surface and line choice. The forest also demonstrates how quickly visibility can disappear in the Apokoronas. Within a few metres, riders can become screened by vegetation, folds in the ground, and woodland cover. Beyond the forest the route emerged near Kefalás. The village sits on elevated ground and provides extensive views across the surrounding countryside. From here the ride continued through the Palailoni Loop and Drapanos Loop, linking a network of agricultural tracks and minor roads that remain largely unchanged in their relationship to the landscape. The final major effort came with the approach towards Drapanos. By this stage the longest climbing had already been completed and the route settled into a series of smaller rises and descents. The Drapanos Hill Descent provided the final reward of the day. The route dropped steadily towards Kokkino Chorio with wide views across Souda Bay, the Akrotiri Peninsula, and the northern coastline. The contrast between the open coastal ground and the enclosed interior routes was striking. The ride finished back in Kokkino Chorio after 35.9 km and just over two hours of moving time. The purpose of the ride was not to prove a theory. It was to examine the ground. The wells above Gavalochori remain where they have always been. The surrounding tracks still connect villages, fields, and water sources. The terrain continues to influence movement exactly as it did before roads, motor vehicles, and modern mapping. For anyone studying the withdrawal through the Apokoronas in May 1941, the lesson remains simple. The ground decides. And sometimes the most important feature on the battlefield is not a hill, a road junction, or a defensive position. It is a source of water.