Crete Expedition Reunion Tour 1977 - 2011

34 years after the original Geog-Ex trip to Crete - several of the original members are returning to the area.

Iain Christie writes:

"to celebrate our 50th year a few of us are going to re-visit the scene of our Geog-Ex trip to Crete (1977) and walk the Samaria Gorge!

Three of us were on the original trip: Iain Christie (me!) , Steven (Danny) Kay and David Lymburn - who is coming over from Perth Australia where he has been living for 25 years.

The others are from the same year at school - and both former Scouts! - Martin Shaw and Neil McArthur.

All of us have kept in touch since Port High days. We will be taking our photos from 1977 to reminisce with over a glass of Ouzo and I will email you photos and a full report of the Crete 2011 trip! I know Ian would have been disappointed to hear that this time there will be no rucksacks, sleeping bags or Kendal Mint Cake! Instead we have rented a Villa.

Geog-Ex Crete 1977 was just the most amazing trip that was enjoyed and never forgotten by all on it. From the moment the school mini bus left Slaemuir until the day, 3 weeks later when we arrived back in Dover (with the school mini bus waiting with our O-Grade results!) we had experienced and seen so much. From witnessing 2 Yugoslavs jumping out of our train compartment window in the middle of the night while at border control and disappearing through the fields with their sackfulls of Levi denims to sell. It was a true trip of a lifetime, all down, of course, to Ian."

A gallery of images from the original 1977 trip can be seen here.

Update: 

"A great time was had by all on our 50th year re-union trip to Crete!....

Our fantastic villa was in a village called Kournas with great views over the bay by Georgioupli (between Chania and Rethymno). We arrived Friday lunch and raised a glass (or 3) of Metaxa to Ian.

Early start Sunday, taxi pick up at 7am.

Over an hours taxi drive later we were dropped at the top end of the Samaria Gorge in Omalos. (passing through the small village of Lakki, half way up, where the bus dropped us 34 years ago)

9.30am we started our hike through the gorge. It hasn’t changed apart from a new footbridge here and there. Hard work underfoot, had to make time to step aside and look up to admire the ‘views’ as you had to concentrate on every step. Litres of water and 6 hours later we emerged at the very welcome beach of Aghia Roumeli. 

Getting our boots off and falling into the warm sea was heaven!!

After our swim we had a well deserved beer(s) before getting the ferry to Chora Sfakeion where our taxis were waiting to take us back over to the North side and a great meal in Geourgioupli.

We all agreed to do something similar for our 55th!

Down to Ian, Crete now has become quite a special place for all of us."