SO PICTURESQUE, THE COASTLINE HERE IN ALONNISOS ......WHITE CLIFFS, RED CLIFFS, CRYSTAL CLEAR SHALLOW WATERS.... enabling us to check our anchor easily. The temperatures are still very high, water delicious! Definitely more activity around here than we have been used to, but August is coming to an end, so ..... We have a small 'technical' problem with our watermaker , therefore we are ordering a new panel from the 'Spectra' agent in Athens. Hopingly should arrive rapidly. Now in the SPORADES.....PATITIRI, on the island of ALONNISOS. An uneventful crossing, little wind, which gave us the perfect occasion to fly the spinnaker.....looked beautiful, but unfortunately had to take it down and resort to the motor, which we detest!
Patitiri is lovely...surrounded by pretty cliffs and pine clad slopes, but certainly a 'cultural shock' for us after our past 6 weeks further north! It is busy...!! ferries, many yachts and many many tourists! Especially as we are tied up on the town quay! Trucks, noisy scooters, cars....However, at least I can catch up with the blog etc (free wifi connexion!)...and Bruno can refill the diesel tanks. OK for one night, but no longer! We have such fond memories of the Sporades from our passage here with 'Farmington' in 1998, so we are impatiently looking forward to exploring these rich green, pine clad remarkable islands once again. (Mama Mia land as named by some!) Happy to return to 'our' favourite anchorage off this enchanting island .... sort of 'feels so much like home'. It is going to be so difficult to leave this very 'under rated' area of Greece with so many well protected anchorages and clear waters. Bruno and I are feeling positively laidback, but do swim and walk for exercise. Of course, Bruno maintains the upkeep of our 'floating' home, always a job to do! Extremely hot sticky weather and threatening skies announced thunderstorms recently, but fortunately not for us! (this time). Although plenty of thunder and lightning in the distance. Now we are back to clear, more pleasant conditions. The only other yacht sharing 'our' beautiful bay is a smart modern dark blue Beneteau 50, flying an Australian flag ....S/Y 'Sea Dreams'. We feel very privileged to have met Rosemary and Rob Peterswald from Hobart ...a delightful talented couple, authors of gorgeous cruising, food and wine 'coffee table' books, all with outstanding photographs taken by the authors. Naturally, as one does, we have spent many enjoyable long evenings sharing our endless sailing and life experiences! (food and wine included of course!) I think that Rosemary and I have explored every track on the island, sometimes getting completely lost before finding finally fresh clear waters in which to cool off! Try to find 'From the Sea' (sailing Tasmania) and 'Beyond the Shore' (sailing the East coast of Australia). Also, 'Sea Dreams' in the Western Mediterranean, and 'Sea Dreams' in the Adriatic....you will not be disappointed! www.ballynastraghbooks.com.au 'Sea Dreams' in Greece and Turkey will be published in the near future....a definite must! John and Nicky, our lovely English friends from the island have been frequent visitors recently, as well as daughter Jo and friend Gemma, two young superb blonde beauties from London.... Time to move on >>>> the SPORADES, then down via the PELOPONNESE >>> southern Sicily where we will winter in the Marina at Ragusa. However, the mighty Meltemi is blowing down thru the Aegean, Force 7/8 and some areas 9! .............!! |
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June 2019
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