24th September 2010
As it is only a short run to Pedi Bay we left late morning and motored up the East coast of the island checking other anchorage possibilities on the way. We anchored in Pedi Bay after an hour’s journey. As we were not too happy with our anchorage we seized the chance to move when another boat left. The next day we felt we were a little too close to shore so moved a little further out. We then rowed into shore and caught the bus into Simi town. That was a journey and Caryn will not be sitting in the front bus seats again! We drove up steep hills on a very narrow road (barely room for one car) and then to crown it all the drive into Simi was along the edge of the quay with not guardrails between the road and the sea!!! We left the bus and explored the town on foot. Again a pleasant town but the harbour did not appeal to us. We window shopped (sponges, leather goods of all kinds, embroidery and the usual tourist souvenirs) and again wandered round the back streets out of the milling crowds that the tripper boats from Rhodes had brought across for the day. After three hours of climbing streets and steps we quickly restored ourselves with a local beer before catching the bus back to Pedi. Here we were sitting it out whilst a strong SE blew up. For the first time this year we had an anchor watch as the bay had filled up considerably with boats and not all were well placed nor well anchored. A neighbouring Danish boat dragged twice and on his third attempt to re-anchor (at 03h00 in the morning) his gearbox broke down so he was very badly placed between us and another boat and he had to set out 3 anchors to hold himself free of everyone. Not the easiest of situations as the wind was very fickle and kept coming in gusts off the hills. Two catamarans also dragged in the early hours and had to change their anchorages.
The drama continued the next day when the Danish boat continued to drag and was eventually towed out of the bay by another Dane so that they could make their way to Turkey where the boat could be repaired. Not an easy journey as the wind was still blowing very strongly. We shall sit it out for another night and then make our way back to Nisyros where we shall pick up our post and wait for news of “Laerke” who are leaving Messolonghi and coming to join us.