We took the ferry in pouring rain back to mainland. Rained on and off most of the day. Called into Kavala again - we know that city well, having visited it at least 3 times. Then drove down to Thessaloniki and the east coast of the Sithonian Peninsula. Lonely Planet promised we would have it to ourselves and we did, hardly a vehicle all day. Beautiful coastal scenery, small inlets, beaches and mostly closed caravan parks. Camped for free at Talgo Beach Bar - like much else, nowhere near ready for the summer season. We gather the "season" in Greece to be very short, maybe 2 months from 1st June, and the locals obviously plan to do all the cleanup from last year the week before!

We decided we would not plan a Greek beach holiday - so many unfinished or derelict buildings, businesses not operating and looking very unloved, and general lack of care for scenery (rubbish lying around and no trimming of trees next to the road .) A reflection on the Greek economy, no doubt. Towns are even worse - so many abandoned or derelict buildings of all types. Does not look good.