Sequel leaves the Aegean

Tuesday 26 May

Left home at 4.15 a.m. for our flight from LHR to Athens, arrived back in Athens on schedule and elected to take the metro to Piraeus.  All went well until we got off at the stop before Piraeus thinking this was the one we needed for Zea Marina only to find we were still some way away. Ended up taking a taxi anyway but at a substantially reduced fare even if the journey did take us twice as long. Managed to drag the Captain (hereinafter known as Mr Bruce) to Carrefour to do a big shop having managed, rather cleverly I thought, to leave my credit card in my 'English' purse on board. Got back onto the boat for the rain to start and as it didn't look like it was going to stop we ate on board for the first time since we arrived on 02 May.

Wednesday 27 May

Up early to await the arrival of diesel engineers (it is they who call the Captain 'Mr Bruce') who had agreed to change oil and filters (a mini service), and the fuel tanker to fill up the boat.  Needless to say their watches are set on Greek time, at least 15 minutes behind ours. But all done and dusted by 12.30 p.m. and a great job done before we left for the Corinth Canal at 13.30 hrs. It took us almost five hours to get to the Corinth, passing huge tankers moored outside of Piraeus along the way but otherwise without incident.  Called up the Canal control tower when we were a couple of miles away as we had decided to see if we could go through immediately and spend the night on the west side of the Canal at Corinth Town itself rather than anchoring and waiting until Thursday morning. We were given the go ahead to moor alongside to pay the fees - 267 euros - and only had to wait about half an hour before being told to proceed.  Last time, coming the other way three years ago, we had to wait an hour and a half before we were allowed to go through. The canal is three miles long and at just over 7 knots it took us about half an hour to get through.  We managed to find a spot to tie up for the night on a large quay at Corinth Town all on our own to start with but fairly quickly joined by two or three sailing boats. By this time quite windy but put out plenty of fenders and tried to settle down for a quiet evening.  No chance - even tied up alongside we rocked and rolled all night and then, having planned to leave at 6 a.m., overslept.

Waiting for permission to go through the Corinth Canal
Note: the colour of the sky

Farewell to the Aegean Sea

The Corinth Canal

Thursday 28 May

Despite oversleeping managed to get away by 7 a.m. Still windy but sunny enough and sea state moderate - at least until after we had had coffee.  We sat with our legs in the sun discussing how lovely it was and how we would miss times like these when we no longer have the boat etc. etc. And then the weather changed - we were heading into the wind and within a short space of time had waves crashing right over the top of the boat and onto the back deck and we remembered why we think we have had enough. I am happy to say it didn't last too long - about an hour - Mr Bruce was planning to make a dash (ha!ha!) for Trizonia - the boat graveyard we visited previously and which I absolutely hated - as he didn't think we could take 5 hours of wave bashing, but then it did eventually calm down enough for us to relax again.  We celebrated with lunch made by Mr Bruce.  Actually I am fine  - its only when we have a beam sea that I feel unwell - but as Mr Bruce is never going to read this I so enjoy being waited on by him, first tea, then breakfast, coffee and lunch so far.  In the meantime I have checked my emails, done a couple of sudokus, checked my emails again, written my blog, nodded off for half an hour.  Such hard work.

We are heading for Patras and now (nearly 8 hours on) have in sight the bridge which links the Peloponnisos with the mainland at the western end of the Gulf of Corinth and this will take us into the Gulf of Patras. Tomorrow, all being well, we head for Lefkas, possibly another ten hour day.