As none of us had yet visited Corfu town we decided that on the return trip to the island we would moor in the old harbour and that the girls would then return to their hotel by taxi in the evening.
We left Lakka late morning and again motored up to the town (head wind). We contacted “Laerke” who had been in the harbour for a few days and found out that we could raft to them. We arrived again in the late afternoon and rafted up. Once everything had settled down we wandered into the old town to check out the shops and to sightsee a little. The old town is full of shops selling leather good, furs and traditional goods made in Corfu. We even met a lady promoting local liquor dressed in a typical wedding costume – she must have been very hot as we were wilting under the heat in the small narrow streets. After dinner the girls came back to the boat to collect their luggage and took a taxi back to Dassio to finish their holiday. In the meantime a German boat had rafted up to us for the night.

As the trip to Lakka was not very long we set off after a leisurely breakfast and crossed the channel to Lakka Bay. It was mainly under engine but we did manage to get in a short period of sailing. There was a significant increase in the number of boats moored in the bay but we found a good anchorage and again enjoyed the water and the surroundings.

The next day we collected the girls and brought them out to the boat and set off for the mainland. Our plan was to visit Plateria with them and then, after a night in the harbour, to go across to Lakka as neither of them knew the bay. All went according to plan and after frequent cooling off stops on the way over we were safely moored in Plateria harbour in the late afternoon. Everyone went to the nearby beach to cool off again. After a dinner in a local restaurant we explored the small town.

The next morning we parted company with “Laerke” and headed North to Corfu so that we could find a good anchorage and check out the area where our Norwegian friends would be staying. Miracle of miracles we actually managed to sail for two and a half hours out of the seven hour journey. It took us up the East coast of the island past Corfu town and we eventually anchored in Kammeno Bay opposite Gouvia Marina.
Here we spent a quiet night and the next morning we rounded the head to anchor in Krevatsoyla Bay opposite Dassio. After a refreshing swim we took the dinghy into town to find the hotel where Bente and Tove would be staying and to get something to ear. Dassio is not a first choice for a holiday as it is made up entirely of hotels and bars with a few shops scattered in between. After finding the hotel we eventually found a little Greek tavern where we were served a really good homemade meal and we were able to wait until the arrival of the bus from the airport. The girls arrived around midnight and after a long chat and an agreement for them to spend the next day on the boat we got to bed in the early hours of the morning.
The girls came and spent the day on the boat with frequent swimming excursions to cool down and we planned to leave with them the next day on a short cruise. However our plans changed when we discovered that very strong NW winds were forecast for the next day. We checked when we got back to the boat after dinner and for once the forecast proved to be correct. At 7am we were up and moving the boat to the other side of the bay to be in the lee of the land and facing the NW winds. They blew all day and well into the night but the anchor held and we felt very safe.

Having replenished the stocks we left Lefkada quay and went through the North Entrance to Lefkada canal so that we could make our way North towards Corfu. A day of motoring has there was very little wind. “Laerke” would follow us as they still had unfinished business in Lefkada. We had a pleasant journey and arrived in Mongonisi Bay on the island of Paxos in the late afternoon. After several futile attempts to anchor in the bay (weed) we left the bay to anchor at its entrance in good holding with a line ashore. “Laerke” joined us and rafted for the evening.
The next morning we continued up the East coast of the island to anchor in the bay of Lakka – A place that must really be seen to be believed. A bay with crystal clear turquoise water that is surrounded by trees. Fortunately we had arrived early so were able to get a good anchorage as it is very popular.
After a very refreshing swim (for some reason although the bay is not very deep the water is quite cold in comparison to other places we have been) we took the dinghy in to explore the little village tucked away into the corner of the bay. Small streets that house little shops and restaurants and they were a joy to wonder round as the buildings are old and the greenery is well established.