22^nd November 2010

We are enjoying fantastic weather although we had some strong winds and rain last week. However the deck is still waterproof.

We have had a busy time since the last update. We took the ferry into Kos town to collect Caryn’s new glasses. It was just a short trip as the ferry docked at 09h15 and left again at 12h00. This is paraticular to the Saturday crossing. The next time we shall go to Kardamena and take the hire car with us so that we can do a large shop.

In addition Caryn added another year but she was spoilt. A new laptop was ordered and, on the trip to Kos, a new camera was also bought. She has been busy trying it out in and about the island. The new leds were also ordered through internet. The new computer has been safely delivered and she is now writing the update on it.

Svein also ordered the wood to start the seating project and has been busy making the table.

The retaurant Aphrodite has closed down for the winter but we still see Nikos who constantly plies us with things from his farm all of which are very welcome.

Caryn and Carmen from Charisma have been busy picking herbs. They have found thyme and oregano and have dried large quantities. Capers are also to be found and we were introduced to a salad made with their leaves when we went to dine with Mike from Eagle’s Nest.

We have also been to Nikia to participate in the celebration of the church’s saint. This involved a lunch where we were served salad, beans and fish with a greek speciality make of garlic, bread and almonds. The latter is very potent.

Caryn is either cycling or walking every day and has even threatened to go swimming again as the water is rumoured to be about 22 degrees!!!!!

At the festivities in Nikia we were approached by the Coastguard chief who has asked us to visit his office on 1^st December. We do not know what it means as Svein had already been into see him on our arrival. He had told him of our intention to stay the winter but he did not seem interested. Now he is so we will have to wait and see. We are now three boats in Pali harbour: a German “Charisma” with Peter and Carmen on board, an Italian “Nervana” with Gorgio and his wife and ourselves. Boats on passage are still stopping but only stay one or two days just the time to visit the volcano.

2^nd November 2010

We have been here a week now and have managed to hire a car (between 3 boats), do a major shop and order new glasses for Caryn from the optician in Kos town. The weather has been of summer standard and we have been sitting out on deck until the sun goes down. Laerke sailed over with Svein and they shall leave tomorrow for Leros and we shall sail back to Pali. We shall probably divide our time between the two islands over the winter as we have free mooring, water and electricity in both harbours.

We shall try and keep you updated on the events over the winter so that you all know what progress we are making on our winter projects.

20^th October 2010

The ferry trip to Kardamena on Kos was uneventful but the same cannot be said of the flights to the UK. The outgoing flight was delayed (as the company had its license revoked) but they laid on another flight. The end result was that Caryn arrived at her mothers house at midnight having left Pali at 07h00.

The stay was fairly uneventful but enabled her to see her mother’s doctor and get her eyes tested. The main problem was the cold and the rain as the temperatures were nothing like those that had bee left behind in Greece. The return journey was even more harassing and took 36 hours from the time she left the flat to her arrival back on the boat. As the ferry did not coincide with her arrival Svein brought the boat over to Kardamena.

27^th September 2010

We hoisted the anchor early and headed out of the bay heading for Nisyros. We headed up the east coast of the island and then rounded the head and keeping Turkey to starboard we motored all day as there was a head wind (as usual). We anchored in Pali harbour mid afternoon.

We renewed acquaintances with the different people we had met and made new friends in particular Anna who is a master as embroidery and sewing.

Nils and Ellen on Laerke have still not arrived as they have encountered heavy winds around Amorgos and before arriving in Nisyros they will visit Leros and make their winter arrangements in the new harbour there.

We have explored the town of Mandraki and found the different shops that we will need including a chandler where Svein did a super deal on new anchoring ropes. We spent an afternoon splicing and making them ready for use. He also repaired the frame for the deck hatch in the saloon. He is also preparing the work that he wants to do in the winter particularly a sitting area on deck round the mizzen mast. The drawings look good so we can only hope that the finished product will also be as good and practical.

We had the opportunity of testing the work that Svein has done to waterproof the boat when we had some heavy winds and rain over a few days. Eureka the boat is now dry which is a great relief as we no longer need our art deco decoration of empty water bottles to catch the drips!!!!!!!

The harbour in Pali has been very busy with up to 40 boats on occasions and the social life has been quite hectic. Some Norwegian charter boats came through and Svein was able to help them with computer problems and we enjoyed some very pleasant dinners as a result. It is amazing to see the number of boats and nationalities that have found the harbour.

After surfing internet Caryn found some very cheap flights to the UK so she planned to go over for a week in mid October. Svein hired a car to drive her to the ferry and we also took the time to explore the island a little further including a visit to a fantastic castle that has been restored and overlooks Mandraki.

20^th October 2010

The ferry trip to Kardamena on Kos was uneventful but the same cannot be said of the flights to the UK. The outgoing flight was delayed (as the company had its license revoked) but they laid on another flight. The end result was that Caryn arrived at her mothers house at midnight having left Pali at 07h00.

The stay was fairly uneventful but enabled her to see her mother’s doctor and get her eyes tested. The main problem was the cold and the rain as the temperatures were nothing like those that had bee left behind in Greece. The return journey was even more harassing and took 36 hours from the time she left the flat to her arrival back on the boat. As the ferry did not coincide with her arrival Svein brought the boat over to Kardamena.

2^nd November 2010

We have been here a week now and have managed to hire a car (between 3 boats), do a major shop and order new glasses for Caryn from the optician in Kos town. The weather has been of summer standard and we have been sitting out on deck until the sun goes down. Laerke sailed over with Svein and they shall leave tomorrow for Leros and we shall sail back to Pali. We shall probably divide our time between the two islands over the winter as we have free mooring, water and electricity in both harbours.

We shall try and keep you updated on the events over the winter so that you all know what progress we are making on our winter projects.

  24^th 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.