We’ve had a busy few days and surprisingly, met up with a few old and some new pals on the way.

We left Vathi on Wednesday morning, but not before we’d had a surprise visit from a girl we met two years back in Portugal.  We met Phil two years back  when she was sailing down the Portuguese coast with her hubby.  She’s now divorced and settled for the time being back in Scotland.  But what a surprise to bump into her yacht during her two week charter vacation in Greece?  T‘was good to catch up.

From Vathi we sailed north around Ithaca in light winds to get into Fiskardho on the northern tip of Keffallonia. 

Fiskardho is the only town in the region that survived a big local earthquake in 1953 (due to clay bed it is built on), so most of the quayside buildings are original.  Have to say it’s pretty as, but one could almost think one was on a Disneyland because of the almost too neat layout and lovely paint colours.  A must visit if you ever come this way.

Be warned, due to its attractiveness, it gets busy.  Suggest if you want a spot inside the almost circular town quay, get here before 1500.  We did, and experienced a newbie for us - picking up someone else’s anchor.  As we backed into the single slot free, somehow the chain balled up.  In the resultant delay before sorting it – our own anchor dragging slowly across the bottom, fouled the chain of an Italian yacht parked across from us.

But surprising easy to sort despite the assembled audience of 000’s watching from jetty restaurants, plus of course the excited shouts of the Italian skipper we’d tangled with.  Saying ‘tranquilo’ did not seem to do the trick.

But it seems crossed anchor lines are also the order of the day in Fiskardho as it is so small and basin like.  In fact we had two other yachts also pick up ours over the next 48 hours, and saw it happen several times to others.  Apart from the entertainment value – its not an issue.

So next day we met up with some pals from the UK who were out on a villa holiday, but staying south side.  Kim and Mark hired a car and we hired a scooter, and met up half way.  Gave us a chance to see more of Kefallonia - some great beaches here!

 for a light lunch and far too much drink at a beachside bar under the trees.  Great afternoon.

Liked Fiskardho enough to stop over a second night, and met another couple who until then I’d only know by a web name.  Lyn and Jim, otherwise known as Full Circle on the YBW.Com web site, came over to say hello.  A chat led to all going to same restaurant and link up, which in turn led to late night vino in the cockpit.  Great night.

Suffice to say, we awoke Thursday feeling a little bit jaded.  In fact, it took most of the day to loose the headache and have a meaningful conversation.  Lots of grunting that leg.

Spent the day bowling north under main and genoa.  The winds had filled in from the south west, maybe F3, so we took advantage and used them to leave at 0930 and make up time.

We’d tried to make contact with US pals from ‘Skallywag’ who we hoped we might meet up with also.  They returned to Levkas from the USA last weekend.  But no luck – sorry guys.  We slid past the lighthouse on the SW tip of Levkas Island and continued northward.

Despite the lack of conversation, it was a fair old distance for a day sail.  First off we planned to stop at Paxos, but once there, decided to continue using the breeze.  So eventually we covered around 80 miles, mostly under sail, to reach the headland on which Corfu town sits after dark.  The glide across the lagoon the final four miles to Gouvia Marina was nice.

So here we are.  Last and only time we visited Corfu was 30 years back – so its sure to have changed a bit.  Would like to re-visit some past remembered places.  Maybe hire some horses and ride the hills.  Walkings out for a bit – left lazerette hatch open when approaching Gouvia and stepped back into the dark hole.  Really hurt my ankle – but suspect it’s a sprain rather than a break.  Hope so anyway.

Planning maybe four / five days of R&R / sickie time and boat maintenance prior to leaving on an overnighter to avoid Albania en-route to Macedonia. 

We feel the marina is not cheap.  Costing 55 euros per night - but when you factor in the overall costs on parking up so far this trip – worth it just to have 220v fans running at night. 

Weather still very hot - 42 degrees Celsius today.  So apart from some water work cleaning decks etc this morning and covering most with shade covers etc, have spent the arvo in the marinas pool.  Plan to hire some transport and  get out to Corfu town tonight. 

Typing this under shade in marina bar using flaky wi-fi access.  If you visit here and need the same, forget connection on the boat.  Currently it is so  weak you need to be within 100 metres of the office for it to work – but they say they are working on it.  But no refund of the card payment made – even if you can’t get access.   

Lots to think about before we leave Greece for new lands. 

Like do we need an engine service? 

Or more importantly, do we need to re-varnish the flag pole?

Definitely know I need both Montenegro and Croatia courtesy flags.

Plus new chain markers to replace those lost.

Plus lots of other silly things to keep us all shipshape. 

Time to go now.  Hope to catch you soon – and please keep the comments coming as it does show us someone reads this dribble!

JOHN