By Sunday we had spent 5 nights in Epidhavros and nice the place was, it was time to move on. Once more we managed not to be on the boat at the time the ever so nice Port Policeman walked past asking skippers to go up to the office to register. I don't think we would have found their office anyway – as this one was hidden away never to be found only by the most intrepid explorer. We just happened to be on the quay talking to Karen from Pyxis as he walked past. “No – not a clue who is on that boat!”.
We set off early on Monday – around 9.30am – to make the 18 mile sail round to Methana. We were heading there as the forecast for the next two nights was F6-7 from the northwest and Poros, the next place we were aiming for is a bit open to that direction. Methana, we had heard was a busy place and an early arrival was needed. We motored for the first hour but then managed to get the sails up and working for a good 30 mins before the wind died. Really good sailing once again. Pyxis were again with us and we got into the yacht marina in Methana around 12 ish. As predicted it was packed with long term boats but we managed to both shoe horn ourselves in with the help of the harbour manager.
No wonder the place is popular for boats. The marina is €700 per year for a 12m boat!!!!!!!! ...or €5 per night. …..and it is really well protected. Water and lecky were also very cheap.
Methana is one of those weird Greek places. You either love it or hate it. It is a spa town with the remnants of a volcano bubbling it's sulphurous gasses into a couple of very smelly pools. We were berthed out of the wind from these pools it was no problem. Pyxis however were not quite so lucky. We had a good wander round town – had the obligatory “watch the world go by” session “with alcohol” to get our necessary practice in and then a chill out on the boat. The town is quite small although it does have a big ferry quay for the ferries that go back and forth to the Athens side. In the evening we went out with Karen and Richard for another very cheap meal (only €15 for the two of us – it's getting cheaper).
Tuesday was another day off as the forecast was F7 for Tuesday night so this was a safe place to be. Pam and I took a stroll up the coast to find a spa that we had been told about around 15 mins walk north from the marina. It was brilliant. A small (3 ft diameter) pool edged with concrete on the sea shore with a hot spring bubbling into it. The water was fresh and around 50 ish deg C. We sat on the edge and paddled our feet in it for at least and hour – and practised watching the world go by – we must be a good bet for this gold medal …...although there was no alcohol in sight....so we can't count this in our official practise hours. Once again the sun was shinning but there were dark clouds on the horizon!!
Now if anyone wants to find this spa, walk north along the prom from the marina, go past the last hotel and keep walking. You will see a tennis court ahead. Go past this, then the basket ball court, and then keep going 'till you get just past the church. A few yards ahead do a sharp right by the wonky lampost (honest) towards the sea and there it is. If you blink you will miss it!! I suspect in the summer you won't get near it for tourists. We had it to ourselves!! Not a sole in sight.
We wandered back to town and had a late lunch at a restaurant with an unpronounceable name (starting with the greek letter that looks like a trident and sounds like – psi). Any way I raise this as it could be the start of another worldwide competition. Yes – the “mankiest cat in the world competition”. Now don't get me wrong, I do like all these wild cats as they keep those things away that begin with an “R” and an “M” (that we are not allowed to mention). But in this restaurant we saw what had to be the mankiest moggy in the world. It was manky! As we can't pronounce the restaurant's name, it hitheto will be know as the manky cat restaurant (in the great June/Piper fashion – you know, the tablecloth restaurant, the music restaurant, the restaurant where you can't get served etc – it is an “in” joke). Anyway the the manky cat restaurant is now in the lead for the Mankiest cat in the world award. Believe me it was manky. Restaurant prices were very cheap but not quite up to the best bar in the world prices, but not far off.Did I say we saw a manky cat?
By the time we had finished eating, the wind had got up to 20knts, it had gone grey (shock horror!!!) and it had even got a bit cold. We therefore retreated to the boat and gave up our Olympic practise for the day. The plan tomorrow is to head down to Poros once the wind dies down a bit and then thereafter all this windy weather should have passed. It won't be an early start though. Poros is on only 5 miles away. We may even try and sail all the way! No port police to worry about here but I will need to find the nice man who will want to collect our marina fees.
By the way, is there anyone reading this know if "Marina" the dog in Messolonghi has had her puppies yet? She looked due to explode when we left a few weeks ago. More to follow tomorrow.
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