2017
2017 Back onboard for another season
The cabin floor and steps were in urgent need of re-varnishing which was no small job especially when you’re living aboard – after a lot of work it’s looking good but of course needs more coats.
We had a break from the boat and hired a car and went to Zagori for a few days it’s an absolutely stunning area, we took a small hike through a very picturesque area culminating at the top of Vikos gorge which is listed as the deepest gorge in the world by the Guinness Book of Records; it was breath taking.
We were warned it would be very cold (the previous week it had snowed) so layers were packed and of course it was in fact very hot so the one pair of shorts each had to suffice. We stayed in a delightful apartment styled very traditionally and enjoyed our supper in local tavernas with roaring fires as the evenings were very cold.
On the return journey we visited Zalongo, where there is a very poignant 
monument to mark the mass suicide (in 1803) of women from Souli and their children. Rather than submit to Ali Pasha, about 60 women decided to turn towards the cliff’s edge together with their infants and children and jump to their deaths rather than surrender. According to folklore they did this one after the other while dancing and singing.
Launch Day and quick trip over the water to Preveza marina for our ruby wedding anniversary and the opera (well a live MET performance on the big screen with subtitles).
Off to Vonitsa for a shakedown cruise we had a torrential rain storm while we were there but had a nice stay. Sea temp in Varco bay was only 17-18 degrees (end of May) but it warmed for our next stop in Nidri, on to a pontoon so the fridge mechanic could have a look, deemed beyond economic repair, after what seemed an age and some very dubious behaviour from the company doing the work we eventually left with a new fridge compressor (well not completely new as it turned out!) enough said!
Sailed around and stayed at Spartochṓri on
Megannisi topped up with water for a small charge and walked up the huge hill to the village… worth it for the view!
Now with the fridge working ok we made our way down to Zante to see Shez and Rich for a week – great fun and even caught a barracuda which was very tasty, Rich bought an inflatable donut which provided a lot of floating around and fun.
After they left, we had a couple of days with Lyns and Matt seeing beautiful areas we’d not seen before.
There’s been several wild fires on Zante this year the smoke from this one blocked out the sun and covered the boat in ash.
Making our way back north we called in to Agios Nicholas & met a performing group and band called the Smoking Time Jazz Club who were sailing around the Ionian in 2 small yachts, the sax player was absolutely brilliant and great fun, he tried a mind mould to transfer some ability to Leighton (alas not surfaced yet) a very talented group of individuals made a very fun night.
We continued north to Kioni and walked over to Frikes for lunch, it’s good to walk but oh hills… the hills! 
Before we left, we paid for water again as we headed for an unknown area to us on the mainland – Astakos, need not have worried about topping up, water and electric available.
Stocked up and went to the uninhabited island Petala and nearly left after the 1st night – the boat was full and I mean full of tiny flying insects – we think due to a brisk wind which abruptly stopped which brought them and us being the only boat around, zoomed in on our lights. 
Luckily we never had them again – enjoyed watching a pair of vultures flying in the morning and returning at dusk, the pilot book said vulture feathers had been found in a cave half way up the side of the island but the next day they put on a great acrobatic display for which ravens are known for, but we’re still going to call it vulture bay..
Back to Astakos and met Clive and Mel on Moonshadow – good to catch up, it was Clive who first introduced Leighton to the sax so it was great for him to jam with Clive and get tips!
North again to Kastos where the holding is a little tenuous but no wind forecast so ok, yep 0100hrs horrendous thunderstorm of 40 kts, some left after dragging their anchors (well quite a few did) ours moved a little but as we were backed onto the little mole we started the engine and motored forward which takes off some of the strain from the anchor and we were ok, uncomfortable but ok, at 0200hrs our neighbour suggested it was time for a sax solo! Lol.
While we were there we met a chap who remembered going to Leighton’s fathers boatyard in Falmouth as a child – small world.
A short hop over to the packed harbour of Kalamos where we tried going for a bike ride, 1st attempt not so good…..
2nd attempt was much improved, our friends Tony & Ann said this was an easy level ride! hummm
We cycled to the other side of the island only to find the taverna where we planned lunch closed, the ferry from Kalamos turned up so we enquired if he was going back to Kalamos the skipper said not straight away but going to the mainland port of Mytikas first, then 2
hours later returning to Kalamos, could he carry the bikes? “yep no problem” so bikes put onboard and off we go for a very lovely lunch in Mytikas the ferry picked up supplies there which really filled up the boat, just enough room left for us. Ferry returned to Kalamos and dropped us off 50yds from the boat, perfect planning.. 🙂
A cold wet n windy week in September kept us tucked away nicely in Kalamos, when the weather improved we moved north again to Palaeros for the first time and enjoyed a delicious Indian meal, for Al’s birthday it was back to Nidri Al’s favourite taverna Mama Mia’s for a gorgeous meal and a lively Greek night the next evening – there were three birthday girls and they all had cake the owner making a lovely fuss of them.
A cold October ushers back the duvet again!!
Returned to the same boatyard with layup jobs to be done for a few days, the last night we stayed at the Margarona Hotel overlooking the boatyard with a meal at Hassan’s taverna which made a lovely end of yet, another lovely season.