It was time to move and start our approach to Nidri. We left Argostoli late morning with the intention of sailing up the West coast of Cephalonia to anchor off a small place called Asso. Luck was with us and we had the right wind so we sailed up the coast and for the first time our sailing hours exceeded our engine hours for the day. However around 17h00 the wind dropped and as we were near a bay called Atheras we decided to anchor there for the night. Bliss after the busy harbour and the sightseers. No other boat, a few fishermen going about their business and the goats on the hills. We were able to take a leisurely swim in clear blue water.

Here we start the next stage of our adventure This is a busy tourist town (mainly English) with lots of bars and shops and pedestrians walking along the harbour front, so it is a little like being in a goldfish bowl as the boat is examined and commented on and even used as a background for the “folks back home” despite the fact that we are on board!!! The shops are well equipped and everything that is needed can be found to hand.

The Authorities are also very helpful. We went to register and a uniformed coast guard told us that as it was Friday and the tax office (where one of the payments has to be made) was closed until Monday he had not seen us and we should wait until we arrived in the next island to register. We wholly agreed and took ourselves off to explore the town and sort out the eternal problem of a phone card from yet another country and to get hold of internet to catch up on emails. We also treated ourselves to a Greek lunch for the costly sum of 18.00 euros for 2 including drinks!!!!!!!

We have now officially registered the boat in Greek waters and it took us just 3 hours and visiting 3 different offices.  

Yesterday afternoon we experienced an unexpected Easterly wind that gave us gusts of 35knots in the harbour so there was fun and games with anchor chains and extra springs to ensure that everybody was safely moored and not in any danger.

We shall stay here until we get our plans clear as we still have two weeks before we need to be in Nidri for the celebration.