Wednesday 06 June
Ay Efemia, Cephalonia
We left Fiskardo this morning by 10 a.m. after a little provisioning and having decided that one night was more than enough. We headed south between the coasts of Cephalonia and Ithaca towards Ay Efimia which took a little over an hour and then another 50 minutes to finally moor the boat, stern to again with the anchor, in a force 5 north westerly wind on our starboard side. I practised twice this time dropping the anchor and pulled it up once before we got it right and then my job is to run up and down the boat like a demented ferret to throw lines to the people (quite a few of them by this time) on the quay. I am not quite sure what the Captain was doing (other than steering, of course) but the Harbourmaster called him at one stage to come and help his wife - it made my day! The Captain took it very well. The wind has continued to blow all day and is now whistling down the hills towards us. We have been entertained though by an FB boat (about 30M) trying to do what we had done earlier and with a professional skipper and so far he has not succeeded. The Captain is beginning to think he did rather well. We have decided to stay here for two nights as the wind is not forecast to drop until Friday and tomorrow we are going to visit Sami round the otherside of the bay, famous, of course, for being the filmset of Captain Corelli's Mandolin. Needless to say there are quite a few tavernas with that name - there is one here in fact. Despite the wind, the sun is shining. We tried Cephaloni meat pie for our dinner over looking the Bay of Sami with the most spectacular views of the Ionian islands and had our own earthquake on the way back to the boat.

 

Ay Efemia

Saturday 09 June
Patras

We visited Sami on Thursday as planned but were very disappointed as it did not seem to be as we remembered - slightly sad and run down - and we were back on the boat in no time at all and spent another afternoon doing very little but reading yet another book. Fortunately a very friendly First Mate on the boat next door gave me a couple she had read - unfortunately one was one of those No. 1 Detective Agencies.

Left Ay Efimia on Friday morning early for a six hour crossing to Messolonghi on the mainland. We have been thoroughly spoilt by the lovely Ionian islands and the friendly people so Messolonghi was a little disappointing - to say the least - and extremely hot. I checked the forecast for the coming week and was slightly dismayed to read that there would be little wind and a top temperature every day of 35 degrees - I have just read about the 'near hurricanes' at home so I am not complaining - but it is swelteringly hot - where is that wind when you need it?

Messolonghi

 

We are now in Patras as, although we had decided to stay two nights at Messolonghi despite its awfulness, the Captain had a horrible night listening to a disco that went on until 4 a.m. in a taverna across the bay. We are not certain whether it will be any less noisy as it is Greece's third city and although already the marina is more promising and we have found the Carrefour, we are surrounded by three cafes with horrible music - in fact we are sitting in one now drinking 'frappe' and trying to look cool with a lot of Greek youngsters enjoying early Saturday evening - although I think they may have been here most of the day.

 

 

 

Sequel in Patras

 

Going back into the water

 

 

Thursday 24 May
Syracusa - still

At last back on the boat and although the Captain isnt convinced the shipyard did much to solve our problems we are going to carry on to Roccella Ionica on the mainland early tomorrow for a crossing of about 12 hours. We had six nights in a lovely hotel, converted barns which were a farm originally and I dont think we have stayed anywhere where the staff have been so friendly and helpful.So we are very ready to go again. We had an interesting return to the water (and in fact the lift out too) as for the first time ever, and Sequel is now very experienced at being taken in and out, we remained on the boat - strictly against any health and safety regulations. Usually we have to scramble off at the last moment before coming out and vice versa going in - I have to be sure to be wearing shorts otherwise it is very undignified.

 

Kaol Ishka Hotel

 

And after six days on land Sequel is yet again covered in fecking (thank you Mrs Brown) Libyan dust/sand - amazing how it travels so far. So Lady Muck has been busy inside and has also managed to produce a number of very colourful vinklekleins to hang out to dry and the Captain is busy with his hose! We had great fun shopping in the market for provisions this morning and my Italian is coming on very well - seems a bit of a shame that I am going to have to start learning Greek next. But very excited now about next part of the adventure and we hope to cross from mainland Italy to Lefkas on Saturday - about 26 hours.