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Date Filed |
10/10/2009 |
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Location |
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Lat/Long |
38:50N |
20:43E |
We are currently in
On tuesday (22nd September) we caught the
hydrofoil (commonly called flying dolphins) to Pireas,
the port for
Then it was time to ‘do’ the sites.
We started with the Acropolis, it dominates the view from almost anywhere in
Athens, but the Parthenon (the chocolate box view) on top of the hill, was very
busy & part was shrouded in scaffolding for renovation – nice that it is
being looked after, but a shame for the visitors, but there is no ‘right time’
for that sort of project. Then it was down into the City via more of the sites,
including the brand new
Then it was on round the
Agora, a very large site with lots of interest, & to the house of the
winds, why would we be interested in that? And finally back to Pireas on the Metro (still free) & a Flying Dolphin to
Wednesday 23rd
September we did a quick provisioning run to the local supermarket, then it was a late morning departure, part motor, part genny alone for the short hop to Palia
Epidavros, on the
Next day (24th
September) we took the dinghy across the bay to the little town & found a taxi
to take us to Epidavros, about ½hrs drive away. There
we looked round the huge (14000 seat) ancient theatre, with acoustics so good
you can hear people talking centre stage, when sitting in ‘the gods’. The large
surrounding area is being excavated, renovated & generally opened up, so we
spent an hour there then got back in our taxi & returned to the boat.
It all worked so smoothly
that by 12.30pm we were hauling anchor, to motor in light & fickle winds,
northwards, past numerous fish farms, to anchor at tea time at Palion Kalamakion at the East end
of the Corinth Canal. 20.6 nm.
We went ashore to suss the
entrance to the Canal & looked at the submerging bridge – there is one at
each end of the canal for local traffic, & they work by dropping down below
the level of the canal.
Friday 25th
September we left the anchorage just before 9am & were on the waiting quay
by 10 past. After the paperwork was sorted & fees paid we waited until
about 9.40am when the convoy (a tug pulling a small ship, followed by a yacht)
from the other end came through the final sinking bridge, then it was our turn,
& we were totally alone as we traversed the deep (80m in places) 3.2 nm
long canal. There are several bridges over the high part & people were
peering down as we went underneath them, as the sides carved in the rock are
sheer & dramatic.
So mid morning we came out
into the
Then it was a mix of motoring
& sailing until tea time when we arrived at Galaxidhi
harbour on the N side of the
Saturday 26th
September we hired a small car for a trip up high into the hills to see the
sacred site of
When we arrived we found a
plus, access was free as it was a World heritage Day, the minus was that the
higher part of the site was off limits for ‘technical’ reasons, we don’t know
what they were! Anyrate we duly explored what was
still a very large site, which is set very dramatically in a cleft in the
mountains, with fir clad valleys below. Its museum contains some most
impressive statues.
We drove on towards Mt Parnassos (2457m) & explored the ski resort town of
Sunday (27th
September) was fairly breezy so we settled for a day of chores & round tuits. We watched without envy as the Yacht Club group went
off, most clad in oilies. Some of the boats were
fairly small & we knew they could expect a nasty beat. We thought our anchor might have dragged, so
we relaid it, & with the wind increasing took a
line to the boat upwind of us, who had already taken a line to the quay. Later
in the day we took a stroll round some bits of the town we had not already explored
& round to the far side of the harbour.
Monday 28th
September we made a prompt departure from Galaxidhi, motorsailing until we cleared the bay & turned with the
wind on the beam. Then it was fast sailing with the boat surfing at 8-10 knts. We put a reef in briefly when the wind started
gusting force 6+ close to a towering headland. Early afternoon & just east
of Patras we came to the new (2004) Rion – Andirrion suspension
bridge. It is a very futuristic structure with 4 pillars & 3 channels for
shipping, & one must radio for permission to transit the bridge.
Surprisingly ferries still ply between N & S shores – they are apparently
cheaper than the bridge tolls – so one is also watching for crossing traffic.
Safely through & now in
the
The harbour area of Mesolonghi was very quiet, probably in part due to the end
of season time of year. There is a marina, partially developed a bit further
out, but a lot of the facilities are still incomplete.
Tuesday 29th
September we got the bikes out & I set out to find someone who could decoke my ear, which had been playing up for a couple of
weeks. I was lucky, especially as Mesolonghi turned
out to be a much bigger town than I expected, to find some very helpful English
speakers, who directed me to the hospital north of town, complete with note in greek for the hospital. So I was
sorted & back on the boat in about an hour, & all done for free!
Then a
provisioning run, followed by a cycle ride out alongside the channel through
the salt pans & lagoons, to the little hamlet of Tourlidha
where the channel meets the sea.
There were herons &
egrets & people fishing, houses on stilts & we lunched on the local
seafood before returning to Mesolonghi.
Wednesday 30th
September. A prompt departure, but a mixture of sailing &
motoring when the wind went light. Mid afternoon we arrived at Vathi, Ithica & anchored
stern to quay. 39 nm.
The harbour got very busy as
there were several flotillas arriving simultaneously, & space was at a
premium so some of the smaller boats were really being ‘shoehorned’ in by the
lead crews. Quite hard work for them, though it was good business for the shops
& restaurants that evening.