We weighed anchor and proceeded to make our way to Mesolonghi to wait for them. Our luck was not with us and we motored all day with a head wind. However the trip was interesting and we saw very varied countryside coming into the Gulf of Patras.
We had thoughts of Port Napoleon on our approach to Mesolonghi as we were surrounded by very flat land with salt marshes and the entrance to the harbour is via a long canal. There was however a very big difference in that the canal is bordered by old fishermen’s houses on stilts that have now been converted into holiday homes. It was very colourful and each home had its own quay. We reached the harbour that is partly Dutch owned and moored alongside.
The harbour has been under construction for many years and is still not complete. For the moment there are pontoons but no electricity or water and the buildings are not ready so there are no facilities. However the staff are very helpful and there are quite a few boats moored. The fact that we do not have to pay anything for the moment also helps!
We have met up with people we saw in Argostoli and Astakos as well as finding a boat that we had seen in Port Napoleon last year. If and when the harbour is finished it will be a very good one where people will be able to winter before deciding on their next port of call.
We walked into town to explore – a very long way – and when we got back to the harbour the first thing that Svein did was to repair the punctures on our bikes! Next time we will be cycling into town. At least we can say that we are getting plenty of exercise. We have also had a small thunderstorm and some slight rain which did everyone a lot of good as the humidity level is very high here. However the sun is now out and the temperature is getting back to normal.
Mesolonghi is a university town that comes alive in the winter and is definitely not known as a tourist town although some Greeks come here for their holidays. It is a pleasant town to wander around and has a wide variety of shops that cater for the locals. The surrounding countryside is also interesting and in the canal the locals go frequently to cover themselves in the mud that has therapeutic values for rheumatisms. We also tried the local bathing spot although it was more like taking a warm bath in muddy water so were far happier with the swimming pool that we were able to use in one of the local hotels.
Since we have arrived in the harbour we have already seen some changes: two showers were opened and some electricity outputs have been installed and connected. It would seem that they are getting there slowly but surely. There are certainly boats taking contracts for the winter.

After our neighbour, who was rafted to us, had departed we also left the quay to make our way over to Ithaca island where we were due to meet up with Laerke again. The day started out well and we were able to motor to the head of the bay and drop our anchor in Marathia Bay to go for a swim and wait for the wind to blow up. This duly happened so we were able to leave the anchorage under sail without starting the engine. We set curse for Ithaca but were unlucky with the wind direction and had to hold a very close tack (something C’est la Vie does not like) in every strengthening winds. We rolled in the genoa and took 2 reefs on the main and battled through the stiffening sea to reach Kioni on Ithaca. As we were approaching we got a call from Laerke to tell us that the harbour was full of charter boats and there was no room. We then started to go South to find an anchorage for the night. We eventually anchored in Kaminia Cove but there the story did not end.
Just as we were finishing dinner on Laerke we saw the two boats approaching each other in such a way that Svein was able to hop on board ours. We were both drifting so we again weighed our anchors and started off to find another anchorage. We came into Pigadhi bay in the dark. When you are sailing in the dark you suddenly realise how few boats use anchor lights at night!!!! Again we were not very lucky but I managed to get back on board and we then started trying to anchor. After several attempts we eventually managed to get a line ashore so we were sure that we were safe for the rest of the night which by this time was getting very short!!!!!
We woke next morning to crystal clear water and lovely surroundings which made the hassle from the previous night worth the while. In the meantime Laeke had returned to Nidri to collect the spare part but when Svein went to install it – it was incomplete. A piece had been left behind so they weighed anchor and returned to Nidri again to collect it.

We waited to leave Kastos until the wind had blown up and then made our way across to the mainland. We managed to sail for 2 hours today and in the afternoon we reached the town of Astakos at the end of the bay. Not a tourist town but not one to be recommended either. We decided to treat ourselves to a dinner out but the restaurant we chose was not a wise choice. The prices announced outside did not match the prices on the menu and in the end we walked out in disgust after we had waited over an hour for Svein to be served a dish that had been recommended by the owner of the place. He ended up eating a Pita Gyros!!!!!!!

We agreed to meet up with them at another point and so whilst Laerke went back to sort out their problem in Nidri we made our way down to Kastos island to wait for them. The best about today is that we have been able to sail for nearly 4 hours.
We had visited this island when we had been out on the charter boat with the family and really wanted to go back there. However by the time we arrived the small harbour was full of Italians so we anchored outside the harbour in clear water. After dinner we took the dinghy into the quay and wandered around the small hamlet.