We end where we began - Just!

We are all packed and ready for the taxi now. He arrives on time and we recognise him from the beginning of the trip. Shame he doesn't speak English. 

We head off to the airport for a three hour trip. It's not long before we realise this guy is one crazy driver. He spends more time looking at his phone than the road. He is using two phones and an iPad while driving at 130 km an hr. Greg and I pray we make it alive. As he plays chicken with the on coming traffic and overtakes on blind corners.

Greg finally pleads with him to slow down as we want to stay alive; I don't think he's too happy but bad luck.

We do make it to the airport where the fun begins. As we have the yacht for sale we have to remove all our personal items. Now over four  years I reckon we have bought about 400 kilos with us and we have baggage allowance for 60 plus  carry on luggage.  I've packed about 100 kilos. 

We end up with five check in bags weighing about 80 kilos so not so bad until they tell me they charge 59 euros per kilo; you've  got to be kidding me! 

So I quickly re arrange the bags and we are about 10 kilos over. We are asking about charity bins etc as we just can't abandon the bag. After a few minutes she let's us check it  all in for free what a lovely person. Then the last bag breaks and we have to go and get it wrapped in plastic but that's fine. I'm really happy I could bring all this stuff as we already threw so much gear out at the marina.

So we take a breath grateful we arrived safely and that we don't have to pay for excess luggage. We now have time for a bite to eat before we board the plane at midnight. 

The rest of the journey is uneventful and we finish where we began at the Heineken Lounge Dubai airport. 

 

As the bells toll for the last time

I'm awake in time to see our last sunrise in Greece, and it's spectacular.

We had a pretty quite night last night, a few Ouzos in the square and then to one of our grill houses for dinner.  We enjoy our walk back to the marina, as it all sinks in that this could be the last time.

After an awful sleep thanks to the marina dogs barking their heads off; Greg actually threw onions at them to shut them up.  I'm up early and get to work as we have lots to do today.  

You can tell their is a change in the weather as there is some wind and rain early on.  As the day goes on the rain storm builds.

We pull the headsail down and fold it and stow it way.  Then we have to see the marina staff and fix up all the paperwork.  Then we go over to the port police and customs to hand in our transit log, so far so good!

We are then waiting for Vangelis to call by and look at our anchor problem, he will be fixing it for us after we leave.  We have some spare time so take a break at the marina cafe then back to work.  After lunch we have to gain access to our main sail as it's been stored for us.  We then transport it by hand to the yacht, fold it and stow it, it's back breaking as it's really heavy.

In the meantime I'm trying to pack and make room for everything.  We head into town and pick up the washing and Bimini, all done.  I'm struggling to find room in the bags as we have so much stuff to take with us, I think we might exceed our luggage limit, but who knows I'll wait until we get to the airport to decide what else to chuck out.

The taxi is coming at 6pm for us so by 4pm we are nearly done.  It's showers then an ice cold beer to wash away the work.

The skies are looking gloomy now as it's about to pour with rain but we will miss it! 

Ouzo Bay just one more time

After a great sleep we head off from Meganissi around 9am.  It's about three hours to Ithaca for our final night at Big Vathi.  It's an uneventful motor as there are no winds and the haze is back.

 We haven't seen much wildlife this trip apart for all the stray dogs and cats; we have only seen one turtle outside of Messalonghi and one lonely dolphin and some flying fish.

By the time we get to Ouzo Bay it's packer out with many yachts and a large cruiser called Galileo from the Aegean.  Apparently the winds were so bad over there they changed thire route for the Ioninans.

So Greg slows down and I just jump off the back of the yacht to cool down as there is nowhere for us to drop anchor.

We head into town and pull up against the quay and for our final arrival we manage to blow the gear box of the anchor, just out luck.  Now we can put the anchor down but can't pull it up.  Greg goes in search for Spiros who organises for Yannos to call by tomorrow morning to see if he can fix it.  That ruins our departure plans for tomorrow but we'll work around it.  Worse case scenario we will have to pull the anchor up by hand, we will be searching for some muscle ment tonight.  We also pull up next to a large catamaran with eight Aussies on board, some from Sydney and a few from Adelaide.  They are all friendly and chatty.  

So we get ready for dinner and head over to our favouite restaurant for some white bait, garlic shrimp and salad, very delicious.  We then have to go say goodbye to George at the bar on the other side of the quay,  he is very happy to see us and we have a few laughs with him.

We try to be quite when we get back on board and crash out.  I have the best sleep ever.   We don't wake till 9am and are very slow to get started.  Greg has to follow up on Yannos and I cook some bacon and eggs with beans.  It really hits the spot.

Around 11ish Yannis drops by and checks out the gearbox, it's dead so we will have to order a new one from the marina.  Yannis, his mate and Greg then hail up 40 metres of chain and Yannis does not even break into to a sweat.  We drop then back off on the quay and are now on our last leg to Messaloghi. We get away about 11.30 so running half a a day behind where we would have liked to be but we can make up time.

It's another stunning day, not a breath of wind and it's a five hour motor so we enjoy the last of the summers sun.  We are both feeling blue as we don't won't this holiday to and.  We also feel it could be the last trip on Moet22 in the Med as she is up for sale.  

There is a big front coming in the next few days so we have been lucky that we had the most perfect weather.  An hour out of Messalonghi the swell picks up and it's a little choppy.  We have been cleaning the yacht in readiness for wintering, the cockpit cushions have been washed, dried and stowed away already and Greg is doing his skipper stuff.

We pull into the marina around 5pm.  We take down the Bimini and gather the laundry and head to town.  We have a small repair to make to the Bimini a and are in search of the upholster Greg used a month ago but we can't find it.  

We ask some random guy in a work shop if he knows but he doesn't really speak English.  He tries to give us directions.  So head off and five minutes later he cycles by us giving us directions.  He shows us where they shop used to be, apart newly it moved last week.  So this guy phones the number on the shop front and organises for Dimitiri the upholster to come down to his old location to see us.  Wow what a great help this guy has been.  I take his photo for the blog.

Dimitri arrives but can't speak English so calls his wife who is Canadian / Greek and then rides her push bike over to talk to us.  It's such a funny thing, the Greeks are so hospitable and very friendly and happy to help us out.  We Are able to pick up the bimini tomorrow at midday same as the laundry, so we are happy.

Next stop is the town square to watch the world go by for the last time.

It's a lazy start to the day

As we can't pick up the laundry until midday we manage a sleep in as it was very peaceful on the quay last night.  I do the final provisioning for the trip and we set off around noon for Meganissi, Abelikie Bay.

It's already hot and the day is clear, and we are looking forward to a few nights at anchorage before heading back to Messalonghi.  

This is our back yard for the next few nights.

We make the most of the last bit of sun for the trip and relax and swim.  The wind picks up a little and we drift off the anchor so we have to quickly pull in the lines and move the yacht to the middle of the bay.  We are safe and secure for the evening.

I make Belinda's receipt of halomui and figs, but it's not as good as hers and we enjoy some smoked salmon and delicious blue cheese and honey.  We also enjoy some anchovy subs for lunch. 

We wake up to another beautiful day, we can't believe how great the weather has been this trip. Again it's a lazy day.  We have decided to go over the Minas for dinner tonight so we row over around 5pm for some ouzo.  

We forgot to get cash out in Nidri and only have credit cards and Aussie dollars.  We meant to check they take cards before we order but we don't.  It's too late now we've already had two Ouzos each before we find out they don't take cards.  I power walk into Little Vathi in search of a machine, but no ATMs on the island.  Guess we'll be washing up tonight.  I head back to Greg and he rows back to the boat to find some loose change at least.  Bingo we are in luck as there is 100 Euros amongst   my Aussies dollars so we can eat tonight.

Back to paradise

After the worst sleep ever and the most outrageous dreams I think I have ever had, we depart Levkas for Nidir, just a little 90 minute motor south.  We farewell our Aussie neighbours  and are happy they have their electronics working.

It's a perfect day weather wise, the haze has lifted and it's just a beautiful setting.  We pull up at the quay this time as the charter pontoons are all full as most of the yachts are in for the turnover.

We head straight to the laundry and negotiate the pick time for tomorrow, she must be busy due to the charter companies,  it's a 12 o'clock departure tomorrow then.  We head back the yacht pick up a few things and then it's off to the beach.  I can't explain how beautiful it looks today.  Greg takes a few pics.

We enjoy a bacon and egg roll for breakfast and they make the best piña colada, just perfect.  We bake as long as we can take it and then head back to town.  After a quick change we head over to deBlanc to try the place out, it's new since we were hare last year, a wine and speciality champagne bar, just my kind of place!

They have Moet so it's an easy pick, plus we order the mixed platter, yummy!

We are being very pathetic about us, our relationship etc, as we know how lucky we are and appreciate every moment; a pinch moment!

We go home to change as it is starting to get cold of a night.  We want to try Roots again especially the garlic prawns that Rob had the other night.  The staff are so friendly and lovely.  We have a great meal and retire early to bed.  We use a blanket for the first time this trip.

Good night to Nidri.