Well at last another episode in the great meander around Greece. We have had a distinct lack of internet conections - well good ones anyway as we have spent the bulk of the last 10 days at anchor in some deserted places. If you have been keeping up with the plot, we decided to potter in Greece rather than head off at speed to Turkey. First step in the potter was to head up as far as Navplion in the Argolic gulf (the east bit of the Peloponese).
We left Ermioni on the Monday(about10 days ago!!!) and sailed and motored round to Koiladhia and anchored in the bay there. We didn't go ashore as we arrived late afternoon after trying to sail - albeit slowly. We passed the island of Spetsai and given the number of huge motor boats going in and out it must be a 1/10 location. Koiladhia (from now on known as K1 - as there are a lot of places beginning with a K round here) was a nice sheltered anchorage and a good stop apart from loosing one of Pam's shoes - don't ask!
The following day we sailed a bit more and did the 20 miles to Navplion. We just got in ahead of a cruise liner and went to anchor "stern to" on the quay the doom and gloom book says the yachts must use. As I got to the quay the nice police man told us we couldnt park there as the cruise liner was parking there and we must go on the commercial quay where I thought the cruise liner would go. With this 200m high cruise liner a couple of boat lengths from our stern (well it looked like that) - you have never seen Pam get an anchor up that quick. We then went sideyways on to the other quay - the only yatch in the place. It did fill up later.
Navplion is a bit of a mixed bag. Lovely old town but so touristy with prices to match and with raw sewarage being pumped into the harbour. We stayed 3 nights - mainly as Pyxis arrived and we went with them on the last day up to Mycenae on the bus. Great trip and lots to see. Better than Delphi I reckon. On Friday we had to leave - the smell was just too much. I give this place a 1/10 based on the smell and the rip off prices. €5 for a beer was a bit steep. You could get it for half the price if you chose your restaurant carefully but it's the principle.
We left on the Friday and headed the 15 miles to an anchorage in K2 (that's Khaidhari). A really nice place 8/10 and perfect to go for a dive and remove the plastic bag that had decided we were it's long lost parents and had attached itself to our prop. It really didnt want to let go. I was down for 15 minutes before I finally cut it all away.
We than sailed back to K1 and had another night there - this time saying farewell to Pyxis who were heading south down to Crete. We then sailed back to the east and anchored in the big bay to the south west of Ermioni. The following day (Monday) we headed back to Poros and spent another windy day on the north pontoon. Once again everyone was dragging anchors although ours held despite a Dutch plonker on a 50ft Bavaria laying his anchor over ours and then aiming to get into a small gap between us and the next boat in a 20knt cross wind - and failing. He didnt make it and lay right across the front of us. We were the only two boats on the pontoon so why he didnt try and go either side of us is anyones guess. Plonker first class.
Tuesday we had had enough of the wind - despite Pam trying the snail restaurant again and headed off up to Epidavros were we are now sitting. We anchored on Tuesday night in the bay but came onto the quay on Wednesday when it emptied. Plan is to head back through the canal this weekend and aim for Galaxidi.
Not a lot to report on the various competitions. The odd manky moggie has been seen but nothing to spur a rethink. All the bars have been too touristy so nothing to add there then. We have got "watching the world go by" down to a fine art and can almost do it in our sleep now.
I will try and post again in the next couple of days as we have now got a decent internet connection - for a day or two at least.
