While in the boatyard......

Having the hire car while in the boatyard meant that we could go out and about while waiting for parts to arrive.

Dessimi beach - a short drive from Vliho. Lovely spot to sit in the shade and go for dip to cool off.

Nidri Waterfalls

We had walked up from Nidri to these waterfalls a couple of times a few years ago. As Dave is still convalescing, we drove up to the cafe and walked on from there.

Not a huge torrent of water rushing down but we were pleased to see any considering how dry it is here now.

Acheron Springs

An hour and three quarter drive up to the mainland and inland from Parga, took us to Acheron Springs for a really wonderful day. The water was a clear, clear turquoise. You could go rafting or horse riding but we chose to walk up river as it was just so beautiful.

The view from the cafe on the water's edge before we started.

The first part is a walk through the woods to where the springs bubble out into the river with so much force it is quite difficult to keep your balance if you stand in the water next to them. Very nice tasting, fresh spring water!

 From there you then have to paddle as the gorge rises steeply from the river and there is no room for a path. Quite a current slows down progress!

Walking through the water watching fish around your feet.

Time for rest on the rocks at the side and a drink of water.

Now it starts to get deeper so no photographs further up but, from paddling, you then have to wade up to your waist and in a couple of places it was necessary to swim. We walked for about an hour to a point where we needed to swim but the current was quite strong. Walking back down was fun - you could just float at some points like a lazy river.

Another visit to Dessimi beach.

Looking for a shady beach and water to cool off in, we drove to Nikiana and spent a while on the beach.

This little dog was enjoying being towed along on his rubber ring by a chap swimming in front.

Gaios to Corfu to Vliho, Lefkada

Leaving Gaios we returned to Corfu but this time we anchored in the bay under the castle, a short walk to the airport to drop off David.

Corfu bay - about 20mins walk to the airport.

After taking David to the airport, we weighed anchor and set off across to the mainland for an overnight stop in Parga bay to break the journey down to Lefkada. About halfway across we spotted something bright blue floating so went to investigate. We now have a lilo with drinks holders!

 

We left Parga bay at 06:00 and watched the sun rise over mainland Greece.

Not many other boats out at this time of the morning, just a lone fisherman.

We arrived at Lefkada bridge in time for the midday opening. The bridge you see on the right connects the island to the mainland but has to be removable as Lefkada is very keen to remain an island - a permanent bridge would mean that it wasn't. Also it is quite a busy waterway for boats heading south.

Back to familiar waters, we anchored in Tranquil Bay. It lived up to its name when we arrived so, having dug the anchor in well, we headed off in the dinghy to Nidri to watch the World Cup match England v Sweden. By half time the wind was getting up and, as there were quite a few other boats coming in, we decided to return to Serenity and watched the second half on Dave's phone (England won!). Just as well we went back as, somehow, a catamaran had hooked up the chain of the boat in front of us, we think around one of their drive shafts. This meant that the two boats were drifting around in fairly strong winds with two others in dinghies trying to help untangle them. Once it got really dark they had to abandon their efforts, tied the two boats together and stayed on the catamaran's anchor overnight. In the morning more help arrived and they were sorted.

We then headed into Vliho bay to Sail Ionian (Serenity has come "home") ready to have the engineering work done. Chris came on board and soon decided that the vibration that had been a problem for so long, was probably caused by the rudder.

The following day we were lifted out of the water and put up on props in the boatyard. We hired a car from Vassilis in Nidri as we would be out of the water for a while waiting for new rudder bearings to be delivered and fitted.

As Dave's heart had been in AF and wasn't resolving itself we went off to Lefkada hospital They checked him out, tried a large dose of Amiodarone which didn't work so they decided he needed cardioversion (using electricity to stop and restart the heart). This was then done and he was in recovery for the rest of the day to stabilise his blood pressure. Back to the boat that evening but to take it easy. Thank goodness, for the first year ever, we had asked the company to do the antifouling and polishing for us while she was out. 

Gentle walks in the morning and evening (when it is a bit cooler) to recover, no tea, coffee or alcohol for a while. This was the view from our early morning walk round the top end of Vliho bay. The boatyard is in the distance.

Our view from the boat up on props (looking towards where the previous picture was taken).
 The tractor and trailer in the foreground is how they lifted us out. 

June 2018

Cruising 2018

After a late start to our sailing season we flew back to Sicily on June 7th and back to Serenity who had been well looked after in Marina di Ragusa.

A rather empty Porto Turistico. 

We arrived back to 45 knots of wind so no chance of getting the sails back on yet. 

We hired a car to stock up on food, wine etc and early one morning it was calm enough to replace the sails.

An outing to Ragusa for oil, gas and wine, we stopped off in the old town for a spot of lunch.

Enjoying a traditional Italian lunch before we leave Italian shores and head for Greece.

After an overnight anchorage in Porto Palo, we sailed up the east coast of Sicily to the beautiful Siracusa. One of our favourite spots on the island. We didn't need to go ashore which is just as well as the port authorities now give you precise lat and long coordinates as to where to anchor and we were quite some distance from the town - it would have been quite a voyage in the dinghy!

Night scene on the waterfront.

Leaving Siracusa, the old castle in the background, next stop Crotone on the south coast of Italy - 32 hours of sailing and motor sailing. A long journey with very fickle winds which meant we were constantly altering the sails, reefing in then back out again, especially at night.

A day spent in the town of Crotone while we waited for the right winds to take us across to Corfu.

 Leaving Crotone we passed the oil platforms.

Part way across, no land or other boats in sight, we were approached by the coastguard helicopter who came down very low to have a good look at us, circled us twice and then headed off.

Sunrise between Italy and Greece

After 28 hours (a better crossing than last time) we see land for the first time - the island of Orthoni, north of Corfu.

We anchored in a beautiful bay in north east Corfu called San Stefanos.

Here we spent a few days relaxing waiting to meet David Stanley in Gouvia marina.

An idyllic spot, nice little village with all amenities.

Now to enjoy Greek cuisine - lovely meze and marinated anchovies.

We met David in Gouvia marina, spent a morning sorting paperwork to check back into Greece, no, our old cruising log was not still valid so had to purchase a new one but all sorted by very helpful, pleasant port policewoman. We left Gouvia to head north to take David to our idyllic bay but were hit by very strong winds and lashing rain - not what we had promised David!

We then anchored back in San Stefanos, went ashore the next morning but, as the winds came back up, Serenity dragged her anchor! I don't think the dinghy has ever traveled as fast as she did back to the yacht! There followed a dreadful afternoon of trying to re-ancher along with most other boats who were also dragging. Luckily, no harm done on this occasion - Keith and Stella on Ananda were out with fenders and a very kind American went onto Serenity and started the engine. Eventually, by late evening the winds died down and all was calm again - time for G&T!

**************************

From San Stefanos we sailed across to mainland Greece and went in, past a lot of fish farms into Pagania bay which was very tranquil, nothing there except one other yacht, one farm in the distance and a fisherman.

Early morning reflections in Pagania

Spot the herd of goats on the hillside.

Obviously the sun is over the yardarm!

We spotted seven pelicans on the water before going into  Igoumenista Creek for a lunch stop.

Land ahoy!

Traditional fishing boats in the harbour at Sivota (where Dave worked for Neilson for ten weeks). 

A walk round the coast from the harbour took us to a beach bar with a view over to Corfu in the distance.

 Rather stoney sand but clear, turquoise water.

Spot the cicada - the insects that make so much noise, sounding like crickets.

Well camouflaged against the tree trunk.

Sunset over Corfu.

From Sivota we crossed over to the island of Paxos and anchored in Lakka bay. A beautiful spot with incredibly clear water but gets very busy - I counted 95 boats in here!

Looking towards the entrance to the bay.

Morning coffee and baclava on the quay in Lakka.

A pretty corner of the town - Lakka has grown quite a bit since we were last here.

From Lakka it was a short hop down to Gaios, still on Paxos.

On the quayside Gaios waiting to watch the World Cup match between England and Columbia - and WE WON!

Waiting to go fishing!

Looking back towards the main town of Gaios from the north quay where we were moored. On the left is the island that shelters the town.