A Kettle of Vultures...

Today, a few core EASE team members went on a scouting mission to see whether it was safe to visit one of the planned sites for AVL 1 (Cave of Big Psistraki (Σπήλαιο Ψιστράκι). The Cave of Big Psistraki sits in an arid, high-altitude karst landscape at approximately 950 meters elevation within the northeastern foothills of the Psiloritis Mountain Range. Overlooking the mountain village of Gonies in Heraklion's Malevizi district, this vertical chasm is carved into terrain shaped by tectonic uplift, pastoral plateau life, and deep subterranean drainage systems.

Turns out it wasn't safe. Heavy rains and flooding hit Crete just 3 weeks ago, and rural road conditions were less than ideal. What is a bumpy but doable drive in the height of a dry summer became an impossible route for a typical 9-seater. So the final day will be a hike rather than a drive, James mapped out a reasonable 4km route!

But we did find some lovely sites, and we were all thrilled to encounter a kettle of vultures circling the side of a mountain road. It is really hard to capture how amazing it was to see this in person while touring through, like most things in Crete.

The area around Gonies is famous among geologists as a textbook cross-section of Crete’s geological history. Known as the Gonies Nappes, different rock layers were stacked on top of one another during the collision of the African and Eurasian plates. Visible layers include green and purple weathered ophiolites (serpentinites), volcanic lavas, and deep limestone formations. Learn more here: https://tours.nhmc.uoc.gr/geo/psiloritis/en/

Overall, we had many great conversations, and the afternoon culminated in a brilliant (if unexpected) team-building activity: avoiding a certain disaster which put collaboration centre stage. Early proof that scientists, artists, and entrepreneurs can find common ground quickly when faced with dire circumstances: in this case, our car's imminent collapse into a muddy mess.