Today is the day!! We are finally sailing! During the night we could tell that the wind had really dropped off. There was very little movement of the boat. So we got up, had our teas and coffees, tidied things away and made ready to depart. That included filling up with water, and untying the multiple ropes, chains and springs Marcello had attached to keep the boat safe during last weeks gales. I did get up early to get a sunrise picture, check the state of the sea and say goodbye to the race track.
Departing from town quays is a lot (says he) simpler than pontoons it seems, apart from managing the anchor retrieval of which Theresa did a great job. Marcello controlled the boat out and we set off with barely a backwards glance at Zante. The sea was slightly choppy and the wind was pretty much head on so we had to motor. It was a 6 hour trip and the trouble with these islands is that you cannot book spaces on the quays. It is first come first serve.
As we approached Agia Effimia (as recommended by Sue’s friend Teresa …no h) , on Cephalonia, there were lots of boats racing to get the spaces. This just adds stress to what should be a relaxing sail. Marco phoned and radioed in to try to check if there was space and got a blunt “No!” From the other end. However, he knows that sometimes this is a lie so we went in anyway and lo and behold, there was space. We had to wait for a catamaran to go in first (horrible fat wide things) and then we were waved at and guided in by the stroppy gruff harbour master. Another great job by Theresa and Marco getting us in. The dock was pretty high so I clambered up it to get the electricity on and then Marco rigged up the passarelle (gang plank) which looked well dodgy.
Another boat was coming into the space next to us. The harbour master was being quite brusque with them and the young couple on board were not happy with their mooring set up, so they asked Marco if he was a sailor and he jumped on board and took their boat out again and re-moored it for them so they would feel safe. It turns out this was the first time they had ever done this manoeuvre ! Stressful.
Once we were all sorted we discussed what to do and decided to go to the sunken cave lake of Melissa Cave Lake. We went to the square? (Triangle) and got a taxi there and back for €30 entrance in the cave was €8 which included a boat ride. As you can see it was stunning and our boatman cum guide was very entertaining. As we were about to leave the pontoon a bride and groom arrived for photos adding to the occasion! The tour was about 15 minutes, so we went back up to the surface through the steep tunnel and our taxi was waiting for us and drove us directly back to the boat. Perfect, tourist attraction done in less than an hour.
We chilled on the boat for a while. Theresa emerged looking very smart for a walk into town. Even I felt a scruffy white t-shirt was less than appropriate, especially as Sue and Marco were both looking very smart. We walked around the town, past a bougainvilla tree which took 5 minutes and then wandered up to the edge of town to a lovely bar above a swimming beach. Marco and I had a local, Kefalonia unfiltered beer while Sue and Theresa had a glass of wine. After Sue got the bill corrected , they had charged us €9 for something (sitting at the table perhaps?) we sauntered down to the restaurant Theresa had researched online, which was all of 20ft from the boat. It was a third generation family business serving recipes handed down from Grandma, who was still propping up the counter at the apparent age of about 90! We had fantastic tzatziki and fava bean dips with pitta bread. Sue and Theresa had Lamb with lemon and oregano and Marco and I had Pastitsio (baked pasta thingy). Washed down with a litre of white wine that Marco sloshed around the table (physical inaptitude rather than inebriation ). Then time for bed after a brilliant day.
Super day hope they continue
I have just done a long email and it disappeared.
I am testing it with a short one.