29th June

Once again, for a few days we have the boat to ourselves. Time to head south to Preveza and beyond. We liked Platarias so went there along with a Neilson flotilla.

28th June

We woke up to grey skies and rain, yet again. By the time we motored to Gouvia it had brightened up. We said our sad farewells to Sue and Roger, watered up, did the washing and settled down to watch the footie. In the meantime the wind picked up creating white horses outside the marina and whistling through the rigging.

27th June

Apart from the thump thump of the music the night was quiet. The football last night, Argentina vs Nigeria was enthralling. Mid morning we moved a couple of miles up the coast to a small bay. After lunch it started raining and poured all afternoon while we watched a Hitchcock movie. There was one other boat in the bay, a large Oyster. The skipper looked familiar so I rowed over to say hi. It was Keith Myerson and his wife. He was an anaesthetist I knew. Later we went over to have a drink with them. We went to bed enthralled by the elimination of Germany from the World Cup.

26th June

It was the hottest day of the year in the UK. Here it rained all night and into the morning. In exchange for the promise of eating in their restaurant we moved onto a small pontoon. We dominated the harbour but at least we could now walk ashore. After lunch we had a long walk in preparation for a double bout of footie separated by a meal.


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25th June

Today we thought we'd go 6 mikes along the mainland coast. Shortly after we left a huge dark grey cloud descended on the mainland stretching down to the sea. It was accompanied by wind, for once from the ideal direction. We decided to go a bit further up the coast to try and avoid the rain and take advantage of the wind. Our next possible destination was enveloped in a dense cloud. A few miles to the west Corfu had much better weather. We therefore decided to keep going back to the island particularly as, for once, we were having a good sail.

Apart from a small shower we made it to Corfu. Later we got our downpour but we were already at anchor. Not the weather we anticipated.

24th June

Ever hopeful we got the sails ready. We needn't have bothered. It was 14 mikes to motor across to Mourtos-Sivota on the mainland. The main aim was to get there in time to watch the footie. It was a glorious victory against that football powerhouse, Panama. The harbour filled up and for once a breeze arose causing us to create washing machine noises as we bob off the quayside.

22nd June

This morning we motored the length of Paxos and crossed to Antipaxos. The main attraction is a sandy beach with light blue water. It was stunning but also overrun with motor yachts and day trip boats. We anchored for lunch and then made our way back to a bay on the southern tip of Paxos where we moored for the night.

21st June

Last night was quite rolly with water slapping against the underneath of the hull. There was no wind so we motored south to Paxos. A slight breeze allowed us to raise the sails although we made almost no progress it was good to be drifting silently. As we approached the anchorage of Lakka several other boats were also making their way in. Lucinda made me motor at full speed to get there before then. As it was there was space and we anchored with a couple of lines back to the rocks in the farthest corner of the anchorage. We rowed to the village in the early evening. On the way a passing dinghy gave us a tow. After he delivered us he couldn't restart his engine and the last we saw was him swimming back into the bay towing his dinghy. The meal was fine and we watched the last 20 minutes of Croatia taking Argentina apart.


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20th June

No wind at all, once again, as we headed south to Petriti one more time. Once there we anchored, lazed around, swam and chilled.

19th June

England's first match and a fluky win, in my opinion. Still WC underway. I watched it in a bar with 8 big screen TVs stuffed with Englishmen.

This morning we slowly motored the 7 mikes back to Gouvia to wait for Rogers and Sue.i it gave us a chance to restock and get some washing done. Off to Zorba's again.

18th June

Walking again. This time I recorded the stats, 8.8km in just under 2 hours. It's hot and windless. The dredger is back at work in the far corner of the harbour. The horrid big white motorboat is still here. At least it's not thumping out big bass music that it did all yesterday afternoon, reverberating through the water. After lunch we headed back to Corfu. It was sunny where we were as we headed towards ominous black clouds ahead. We could see lightning over Albania but we avoided any rain on way to Corfu.

In the meantime we were getting used to the idea of having Tanner as a son in law. We're delighted for Emily and Tanner. I also hope England do well tonight, no where near as important of course- just saying.

17th June

We're now on a boat-based walking holiday. After breakfast we walked completely round the island. Lots of ups and downs, a deserted beach, cool shaded paths. I deserved an ice cream when we returned. Then I went to watch the footie. The bar owner changed channels at half time because he wanted to watch basketball.

16th June

Today we started retracing our course back over the top of Corfu. We could hear the rumble of thunder in the distance but it remained clear where we were. This time we went into the harbour at Erikoussa. It was the weekend and the dredger was not working. We could have water and power at no charge as the harbour is not yet completely commissioned. The lazy lines are not in place but we had the thread our way through little plastic bottles floating attached to where the lazy lines will be connected.

15th June

So much for planning. Our intention was to go south along the west coast of Corfu to Paxos. The forecast was for a high chance of rain and also lightening. Rain is not pleasant while underway, but lightening can be frightening. So we stayed put. This gave us the opportunity to take a 5k walk into the hills overlooking the town. We did get a spectacular view of Imagine in the distance looking huge in the tiny harbour. Shortly after lunch the predicted rain arrived and Lucinda and I both fell asleep. We ate in a restaurant and I watched the my first World Cup match.

14th June

After breakfast we walked almost to the other end of the island. Most of the other boats had already left. We headed over to the island of Mathraki but decided not to stop. We therefore continued to Palaiokastrita, the only reasonable shelter on the west of Corfu. This is a big tourist centre with a small harbour crammed with little motor boats. We squeezed ourselves into the only possible space. The bay is surrounded by high wooded hills with dramatic vistas.

13th June

After breakfast we headed out to walk to the lighthouse. We never found it but discovered a deserted beach instead. It was eight miles west to Othoni. On with the engine again. Tonight we are moored side on to a pontoon so can step ashore and it should not be too rolly. It was a short walk to the village to eat.

12th June

Corfu was invisible in the early morning blanketed by mist. As it cleared we set off to walk round Erikoussa. We got thoroughly lost but after 2 hours found ourselves back at the harbour. Later we swam, read and had H&C aboard for drinks.

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11th June

Today we set off to go north. Our destination was the island of Mathraki. There isn't much information about it so we thought we'd look for ourselves. The inner harbour was too shallow and the outer harbour deserted. We managed to stern to on our anchor. It was a bit precarious with even the slight swell threatening to dash us against the rough harbour wall. There wasn't much ashore that we could see so after a brief look round we pushed off 6 mikes to the island of Erikoussa. Here we discovered Lykkevind at anchor with our friends H&C. This gave us the opportunity to catch up with drinks on board and supper together in the village.

10th June

This morning we visited Butrint. This is, justifiably, the number one tourist site in Albania. It is an ancient port city on a spit of land between a large lake and the sea. There are Greek remains, and Roman, and then traces of those who came after. On the way back we went to the castle overlooking Sarande. The views were fantastic looking inland and also over the sea towards Corfu. After lunch and the departure formalities we headed out into Greek waters to find a sheltered bay for the night.

9th June

Today was our opportunity to start exploring Albania. We met our driver/guide Florian and set off to Gjirokastra, apparently the number 2 tourist site in the country. On the way we saw the ruins of an old monastery. The highlight of Gjirokastra is a castle. Ali Pasha had something to do with it. It sits above a quaint old town and is reached through a typical avenue of tourist tat shops. Around us were lush hills streaked with low cloud. We went for lunch at an unpretentious roadside Albanian cafe. Home grown veg, honey, yoghurt and chips were served. We bought a small plastic bottle of the honey. We then visited the Blue Eye, named after the upwelling of an underground water source. I felt we had done enough and was pleased to be back on the boat. After a snooze we hit the town for a meal. After the bouncing around of yesterday caused by strong southerly winds it was good to be gently bobbing at our mooring.

8th June

The night was OK but a slight swell had us rocking. After we got up we retrieved the kedge and swung with the breeze. The first day boat arrived at 10 am off loading its cargo of swimmers. After lunch we sailed the 6 miles across to Sarande on Albania. I had previously contacted an agent and she was there with her husband to meet us and deal with the formalities. We are moored in a small concrete basin along with 4 or 5 other boats. By early evening a strong wind from the south was blowing into the bay. We were in a small basin in the lee of a large motorboat. Even so our fenders were bouncing in the rough concrete wall. We walked the promenade and had a supper of traditional Albanian fare.

7th June

We were by ourselves once again. We headed back further north on Corfu. We considered going into Kassiopi but when we looked there was no space. We retraced our course and found a bay a mile away. A couple of boats were in the best anchoring spots. By late afternoon they had all gone and we re-anchored taking a long line backwards on the kedge anchor. It's a massive 20kg replacement to our previous kedge that had a habit of dragging when we most needed it to hold. As night fell we were all alone in this small bay opposite Sarande in Albania.

6th June

It was time for our guests to leave. After breakfast we motored back to Port Mandraki. They manoeuvred their luggage down the long wooden boarding plank. We walked with them to the Taxi rank and bade them farewell.

5th June

It was time to go back to Corfu. We planned to anchor in a bay north of Corfu town. Unusually by the time we reached our destination the wind was blowing strongly from the south. Most of the likely anchorages were unsuitable and, after poking our bows into a couple of bays, we went further north to Ay Stefanos. We'd been here before. This time we tucked ourselves close to the south shore and took two long lines back to a mile to stop us swinging. A few other boats were uneasily bobbing in the bay. We had a walk and then ate at a restaurant by the beach. By nightfall the wind dropped and a few other boats had arrived and all was peaceful overnight.

5th June

For Kennan and Melanie's last night we decided to head back to Corfu. The wind started off light but then built from the south. The first couple of bays were not suitable because of the unusual wind direction. Eventually we went into Ay Stefanos and made ourselves reasonably comfortable by tucking into the Lee of the shore and taking a couple of lines to the mole. We could then settle back and see how the other boats managed. Later we went for a walk along the coast. By the evening the wind had died away and we had our last meal together by the beach.

4th June

Breakfast was eaten underway as we motored North and towards the mainland. The sea was choppy and what little wind there was blew from the north. We reached Platarias just after 11 am. This is a big charter base. As we arrived the flotillas set off. Three groups of 12 boats plus lead skippers provided amusement as they upped anchors. The crowded quays looked very empty once they had left. Most of the crew spent the day on the beach. A small flotilla and a handful of other yachts came in before we went to the restaurant behind Imagine for supper.

3rd June

It was party time on the quay until 3 am. There are advantages in being deaf. An early morning walk set us up for breakfast. Lakka is 4 miles North on the tip of Paxos. We anchored in the corner of the delightful bay. By the evening the wind had increased and outside the bay there were numerous white horses. Inside 40 boats had sought shelter. Before eating on board we had time to walk round the bay and have a drink in the village.

2nd June

We woke up to catch a magnificent sunrise and the fishing boats returning after a night at work. There was a light breeze from the wrong direction as we motored south to Paxos. There was a large cruise liner anchored off the town of Gaios. There was plenty of space on the town quay. After an ice cream we strolled round town. In the evening we took a taxi to a restaurant on the west coast and watched the sunset as we ate.

1st June

What light wind there was blew from the south as we headed further south to Petriti, a small harbour with a couple of restaurants on Corfu. It was great place for a snooze, a swim and a drink ashore before going back to the boat to eat.

31st May

Following a rather rolly night at anchor we motored into Gouvia. One trip to the supermarket and washing done before Kennan and Melanie turned up following a week walking in Corfu. Together we did another mega shop and had time for a swim in the pool before going to Zorba's to eat. We were joined by Chris and Carolyn off Splice.