Itea / Delphi

We arrive at Itea mid afternoon. It's a great afternoon, very warm and we find a space on the wharf, side on. Greg has fun with the the Port Police, seems like every place we go to wants to charge us now. We spend the afternoon at a few of the lovely Tavernas that are spread out along the wharf that goes for at least a mile. Finally we settle for a pizza place for a late lunch. Some how we adopt a lovely beagle dog. He follows us all the way home and rests on the wharf along side our yacht. By late afternoon it's reached it's peak heat and it's time to try out the shade cloth I made. I purchased matching sarongs last time in Bali so I could sow them together. Seems likes it's worked out OK. Keeps the heat and the sun away.

We have a well deserved siesta under the shade of the fading sun and spend the evening having another walk around town.

Although there is not a tide as such in the Med we do notice at times at least a tidal movement of at least a foot or so. Greg checks on the buffers at least four times throughout the night to move them as needed.

After the morning village bells toll numerous times and melodies I awake and go for a power walk around town. I find a supermarket and stock up on a few things. Unfortunately they don't have ice and you know what that means, it's been about five days now so not so happy!!!!!

Greg arranges for the fuel guy to deliver to us on the wharf and he arrives very promptly. It's a funny set up as he has to start a separate motor to pump the diesel; anyway it all works out well and that's another job done. Just in time for us to catch the 10.45am bus to Delphi. It's about a 30 min trip uphill all the way into the mountains. Passing by small villages where the locals have to remove themselves and their chairs from the boardwalk so the bus can pass.

It's pretty hot so glad we made this timeframe. The ancient site is relatively small and difficult to get around as it's uphill . The museum is a much better opportunity to really experience the sculptures and relics from this era so long ago. The most significant site here is the Temple of Apollo. Delphi was once thought to be the centre of the world and inhabitation dates back to the Mycenaean times (14th - 11th c BC).

After lunch at a local taverna we catch the 3pm bus back to Itea and finally we find a shop that sells ice. Now we can have a drink on the yacht!

We really enjoy our afternoon on the yacht under our shade cloth and out of the beating sun. Feels like summer is really here now. A few of the other yachties give Greg some advice on future destinations so he is busy re thinking in our plan. I'm not so sure........

Wind Tunnel

After visiting the Port Police and Marina Office we depart Mesolongion at about 9.30am. Next port of call is on the Island of Trizonia. Again on the mainland side of the Gulf of Patras. We are headed to Itea but won't make it today.

We are heading into a wind tunnel which is caused by the narrow straight, only one mile wide. The Greeks built the Rion Andirrion suspension bridge that was only completed in August of 2004 joining the mainland with the Peloponnese. It is the longest cable stayed bridge in the world. It's very impressive. Hopefully we will have some video to show you soon. Along the way we pass the large city of Patras just before the bridge and there are yachts racing with their spinnakers up. Just behind them we can still see the snow on the mountains of the Peloponnese.

Its a very cold breezy journey as we head into the winds gusting to 20 knots. We finally make it to Trizonia a small fishing village with a public marina. Unfortunately that means some of the yachts have been tied up for some time and look like they have been left there. There's a ketch that has sunk and we wonder if the owners even know. We tie off along side the jetty and head into town. As we walk by the dumpsters there is the most scariest cat we have ever seen and just walk as fast as we can past it. It's a weird feeling. We notice lots of little mountains of cat dodos everywhere and we wonder what's in store at the local town square.

There's lots of wild cats everywhere probably keeping away all the rats, who knows. We have a quick drink at one of the cafes and head back. Shame really as its very picturesque.

The wind is drying all my washing from yesterday so at least that job is getting done. It's still very windy and only settles down around 9pm. It's a home cooked meal tonight and early to bed as we are both wind blown. We only have a little trip tomorrow to Itea about 20 Nmls East. We are going there to visit the site the ancient sites at Delphi.

Unchartered waters

We depart Vathi at about 8am as the village bells toll at the crack of 7am here. We want an early start as we have a way to go. We are heading East; leaving the Ionians and heading into the Gulf of Patras. We have chosen Mesolongion which can be found on the south side of the Greek mainland; it's our next port of call mainly because they have a laundry service, I know how boring....

We motor all the way as the winds seem to like our route and keeps blowing directly into us. Its a very narrow channel on our approach to Mesolongion and we see a few turtles along the way. We have to be very alert as the local fisherman have dropped lines and nets across the channel entrance and are very difficult to see as they use dark blue floaties.

We arrive by 2pm and the locals help us dock. It's a bit of a kuffufle due to the wind but we finally are secure. First stop is the Marina and check out the laundry service.

We have a bite to eat at the local Sunset Cafe, owned by Spiros who comes all the way from Melbourne. The white wine is really nice and serviced in a little carafe bottle that looks like a Orchy bottle. Very cute.

Its's really hot and after numerous trips to the laundry to check on the washing and then the drying which does not seem to work very well I give up and hang some of our our wet clothes all over the yacht, looks like a Chinese laundry, but hopefully it will dry quicker that the using the dryer.

After showers we walk into town, about a 20 min walk and find the town centre and stop and have a drink. It's a very busy square and the locals are very friendly. Unfortunately the bugs are out tonight and hungry. We try a few shops looking for bug spray and finally find some citronella spray which works. We a looking for a taverna but seems there are mainly cafes in the main area of town. We settle on a BBQ grill place and Greg enjoys locally caught grilled prawns.

We head back the yacht for a reasonably early night and enjoy a good nights sleep.

Ouzo Bay here we come!

The village bells toll at 8am as a signal for activity to begin. We have a coffee at a close by cafe and finalise our provisioning. Greg finds the white wine from last night so we stock up on a few bottle as well.

By 10 am we depart Fiscardo for Ouzo Bay. For our followers of last year you may know where I mean. Greg is keen to go back to his favourite anchorage from last year and enjoy some more Ouzo time. On the way we stop into Vathi on Ithaca for lunch and I purchase a basil plant.

By 2pm we are anchored over a rocky shallow ledge at Ouzo Bay just around from Vathi. It's a picture perfect afternoon; the sun is out and it's finally hot, feels like summer is here. Greg takes the tender ashore to tie off as it's too cold to swim ashore just yet. After our first sunbathing session it's Ouzo Time! We get out supplies ready and head shore in the tender. It's hot enough to just have our feet in the water and enjoy the afternoon with our Ouzo. I hope you like the shots!

After a home cooked meal and a hot shower the wind picks up and we have to pick up the anchor at about 9pm and we head back to Vathi for the night. Greg cuts away the lines as we begin to touch the bottom.

We drop anchor in the harbour of Vathi for a good nights sleep.

Leaving Levkas

After a leisurely morning of shopping and cleaning we depart Levkas around noon.

We are now heading to one of our favourite villages on Kefalonica called Fiscardo. It's a very pleasant motor for about three hours. Greg is getting all the video mounts ready including our dolphin cam. Lets hope we see some!

We arrive at about 3pm and tie up stern to in front of one of the restaurants, we are lucky to get one of the better places left on the jetty. It's also good to see some bars and shops open already.

The locals are getting ready for the season. They are cleaning and painting their shop fronts. It's such a pretty village.

We get a visit from the Port Police so Greg goes and visits him to have our paperwork checked and pay our dues.

We are planning on staying two nights and catch up on some sleep and hopefully get our body clocks on Greek time.

We have a few pre dinner drinks at one of the balcony bars and notice the fisherman next to our yacht pull out a huge swordfish. It's about 30 kilos without it's head. They are sawing and slicing it for the locals. We end up at Roula's for dinner, a grill house.

The sun is shining

Finally we wake up to a sunny warm day and oh yes I finally sleep in yeah!!!!

The church bells ring and the village is awake. After some home cooked breakfast and coffee we go for a walk to check out one of the local beaches called Emiele. It's about a thirty min walk and it's worth the climb. It's breath taking. It's so nice to be able to wear summer clothes for the first time since being here.

Back at the village we stop for a coffee and yummy orange syrup cake, it's delicious. A cruise liner is in the first of the season and a few Aussies stop by to say hello.

I'm really looking forward to just chillin out today it's great to be able to lie in the cockpit and have a snooze. Looks like the weather is improving now.

After a relaxing afternoon and siesta we head out for dinner at the only other taverna open. It's a good choice as the waiter is very friendly and chatty plus they have freshly caught fish and seafood. Greg picks the lobster for us and we are recommended the local Cephalonie San Gerassimo white wine, it's a little bit naughty but very delicious.

After eating both our complimentary desserts Greg is feeling very sick by 2am. He is praying to the porcelain god but feels a lot better afterwards.

Happy 22

I wake at the crack for five as usual and have some quite time to myself, updating the blog etc. By 7am we go ashore to find a bakery and cafe for breakfast. We depart Gaois by 8am and are prepared for another cold trip beating into a southerly while headed from Levkas.

It's about a five hour trip and we want to catch the bridge opening at 1pm. I spend most of the time below as it's too cold on deck and finish off some housework.

We get a berth at the Marina and head into town for some shopping. As Greg is keen to have an engineer look at the engine we head back to find someone at the Marina. Seems like all is ok but we need to check a few things when we are underway tomorrow.

We head to one of our favourite Bars to cheers our happy 22. They serve great wine and delicious appetisers. We then have a traditional Greek meat platter and there are lots of leftovers for tomorrow.

We attempt to watch a movie but fall asleep as we are yet to get our body clocks adjusted.