Ionia Sea

Log - Apres Ski/Kiwi

Sept 5, 2016

Cruising in Greece could not be better. Flew into Perveza and took a bus to Vitika. Felt like we were back in Baja. From the country side and the half finished houses with iron rods sticking out of the roofs(so they never finish and pay no taxes) to the dry scrub oak land scape. Arrived at the beautiful harbour to Gus and Haley lounging on our yacht. Could not have been better.

Got all checked in and went to look for cash . The large cove/bay we are in has many little villages surrounding it so we went off in the boat to where we thought the closest ATM was and Gus and I got in the dingy and rowed ashore. Ice cream, unfortunately it was closed, but the Atm was open and got euros for the trip.

We found a taverna on the other side of the little bay called Elenas so dropped anchor in front of her and dingy'd in for dinner surrounded by jumping fish all around us. . Sunset was beautiful over the mountains and a slice of moon was high in the sky. Beautiful starry night.



The roosters woke us up early the next morning to a clear sky. The weather is threatening to turn nasty so we are headed for a good bay to hide out in for Tuesday and Wednesday. 

The water is amazing blue, the sailing is wondrous. Sailed south for most of the day while jumping off the boat and swimming from time to time. Saw a few jellyfish in the harbor but as we sailed out to the Ionia Sea they all disappeared.

One word to sum up the last week, turbulent. Vathi was a safe haven for the wicked low that set in over the Ionia Sea. We got some good holding ground and watched as wind blew side ways for hours. This was not going to go away so we read Histories by Herodutus, when that got too dry we read the Cursed Child (Harry Potter) until the wee hours of the night with the wind and rain pummelling us.

Wednesday we thought the low had past so we headed out for Koni. It was a nice day sail to Koni, Kirk and Gus snorkelled around the cove. We found some deep holding ground and settled in. Rocks on all sides. I was not all that excited after the previous night storm , Kirk promised me that it would take a hurricane to blow us on to the rocks. So we all were hoping the night would be nice and quite. The sky was clear with stars everywhere. The cove was settling down and seemed as if we would have a good sleep. I stayed up to watch and saw the stars slowly disappear, the clouds and lighting from over the mountain slowly make their way our direction.  The calm was not to be.  Poseidon   paid us a visit. 3:00 in the morning thunderbolts and all.  The first thing that happened was the neighbouring boat up anchored and started circling the harbour, then another boat joined his ranks in the circle of shame. We were hoping that this would not be our fate. If we could just get through the heavy winds and let it settle and not have to up anchor. But it would not stop and kept building. Then the winds started blowing us at hurricane force , imagine that, (Poseidon must of heard Kirk when he said it would have to be a hurricane to blow us on the rocks) on to the rocks.

 All hands on deck, Gale vigil at the anchor, Haley the communication Center, that means center of the boat yelling back and forth from helms person to anchor person. Gus and Kirk by helm ready to make a move as our anchor rode slowly stretched out, the rock shore looking more and more touchable. Haley and I on the for deck in rain jackets getting our midnight shower. The rain not hitting us from above by this was horizontal rain that stung at this point.  I heard the engine start the yelling from Kirk to Gus to Haley and I was on the anchor. The scary part was if the boat got broadside to the breeze when the anchor was on its way up because we had such a high free board this would of been disastrous. But fortune smiled on us, or one of the gods intervened and we up anchor safely.   But now the realization that we were condemned to the circle of shame, yes we too started circling the harbor with the other two boats until sunrise.  Now the challenge was to keep the bow into the wind long enough to get to the harbor where it was protected enough to turn around and do another circle. We managed this for hours. The sun finally came up after 4 coffees and I am not sure how many circles.

We looked at the cove next door but all too deep to get sleep. So we went back to Vathi and anchored for the day. Not to go anywhere until a clear weather report came in. We headed to Abelike on Meganisis on Friday. Found a cave to explore.


 Very civilized cove and cafe. Starry night and a sea breeze blew in but settled by 9. All was good.

We slowly sailed and swam our way back to Sail Ionia, there was no wind so we spent a lot of time jumping over board. Beautiful aquamarine, blue water of the Aegean, with the sun sparkling, life could not be better.  

 

September 11, 2016

Safe travels for all today . Haley is off to Purdue, and our new crew to show up soon. Then we shopped and boarded Kiwi are off to Porto Spilia on Kiwi the Cat.

All aboard Kiwi and we are off to Sparti. Weather to be picture perfect, what a relief. Beautiful cove with tiki cabana bar, village on top of the hill, and a taverna at the end of the quay. Life could not be better. 

Our Greek Captain leading the way we were severed a wonderful dinner tapa after tapa at Porto Spilia eating the most delicious food . Great conversation , good company and Greek food, fabulous. Spent a peaceful night at the cove and explored the train the next day. Hiked to the top of the hill and a little village over looking the beautiful cove. Then over to the cobanas for a swim, paddle board and lunch on the beach. There are tavernas everywhere you turn.

Off to Athenii Cove , backed up Med style to the quay. Yanni took us on a death march to dinner, up and over the hill and dale passed a couple other coves and taverna to Vathi for dinner. Then a death march in the dark back. Discussions ranged from the Big Bang, to quantum entanglement, very educational made the march a bit more manageable.

We all had a good night sleep then lounged at the cafe within a stones throw for breakfast and coffee. The wind does not start up until mid day so we headed for the next island over.  As we sailed over to the island the wind died. Only one thing left to do abandon ship. 


All hands jumped off the bow and was swallowed between the pontoons and floated out the transom for a nice cool break. Kirk decided to swim with his phone so now he is really on vacation, no checking anything for him. Nice break. 

We arrived at Katos to try and find yayan, a donkey Sally meet on the last trip but alas he was not there. So we had dinner in town another wonderful Greek  tapa extravaganza.

We had anchored Med style but could not come to the quay because of the shallowness so we strung up the dingy to tether back and forth. Gus managed to step on a urchin spine and luckily we had a nurse aboard and captain Yanni who successfully withdrew the spin. And Gus was back in business. He was coming in quite handy at everything. The crowd loved him. From checking the anchor, I mean diving down to make sure it was set to rescuing anything given the float test. Very popular guy.

We got up early the next morning and headed for One House Cove. Beautiful blue Aqua water and great swimming. Had a fruit, cheese, bread stick lunch as we sailed to Kioni.  Now this next cove was our menace last week and I would say of not returned but since it was Sally and Yanni favorite could not be avoided. We got in early enough to get a central position on the quay. Perfect docking and Gus checked the anchor and was dug in nicely. We spent three days here and did everything from hiking to the Sausage Beach or Cemetery Cove to hiking up to the wind mills, zip sledding behind the Dingy and great shops and tavernas. Just a beautiful village. Much better ratings now I did not have to spend the night circling in hurricane force winds in the harbour. 

Cemetary Cove had fairy houses built all over the cove. 

We had beautiful sunrises that came up right between the two points at the middle of the cove. and sparkling moon rise above the windmills. 

We visited Sally's office which was a cute cafe that over looked the harbor and had a nice breeze in the late afternoon and morning. 

SA we headed up the Magennsis Straights  dolphins joined us on the journey to the caves. AS we stopped at the sea caves for a swim the paddle boards and snorkels came out as there was no wind and we could anchor in front of them. Kirk managed to flip himself out of the dinghy and not get hurt. Good news for the nurse. But she did still come in handy when the skipper cut his toe and bleed all over the deck but Becky handled it like a pro and the whole crew pitched in to swab the decks.

We finished our trip in Vathi at Maganisi. Great food, showers and loads of mosquitos. It was ST Shophies day so both Sophie's got to eat chocolate moose. And awards were given out for the more spectacular   incidents the crew had accomplished.

 Kirk - One hit romantic wonder  , dinghy technique              
Sophie - Coco pop most improved paddle board award    Noodle commander       

    Willingness to try or think about trying new things. 

Becky - Most  Glamorous Nurse and Poo Tank operator, useful crew member, 

Daniela - Master and commander of the Anchor communications Award.      This person has manny accolades that I can not even begin to name, but for this trip what stands out as her most helpful quality, earned her the, 

Sophia - Total Sussed award.                                        
            Balanced with the best of both worlds, work and play

Ian - Most determined to learn the paddle board with the Best style falling off  . 

Gus - Super Hero.                                    

SAlly. -infinite career coaching wisdom award , including many medicinal tips and therapy suggestions, classy, down to earth, great women,
Yanni - Bloody Skipper of the Year Award.     Yannis 

   10 years - starting from beginning, braving the elements and took sailing on. 

    Learned to sail, willingness to take suggestions which has made him brilliant, 

Many things this man has earned on this cruise - Midnight death March, tour director, Greek coordinator, fun director,  bloody foredeck , 

Wonderful evening with seafood all around, clams, mussels, sea bass and or course Greek salad and fries. No meal would be complete without those two items.

We talked into the night trying to make it never end. 

The next morning we awoke with threatening skies. The sun peaked out for a minute and gave us enough time to power to the harbor and unload in Vilego.

One by one, two by two we all said our good byes and headed for the airport. 


Great sailing, good friends with our captain and hero made for the perfect cruise.