We had a change of plan and, as Svein found some jobs to do, we decided to stay an extra day in Leros. He started working early in the morning and reinstalled the navigation screen in the cockpit, installed the AIS antenna and moved the navigation compass.

By 5pm Svein had finished and earned a dinner. We headed into town and met up with Pauline and Godon (Crazy Dream) and also Lars and Maria (Swing) with whom we had wintered in Kos.

We headed back to the boat a little later than originally planned and prepared to leave the next morning. We left the quay to stop in the bay to hoist the dinghy when Svein discovered that he had left a bicycle on the quay. We headed back in and the marineros handed it to us over the pulpit so once again we headed out. On the way down Svein hooked up the hammock and tried it out.

After a fairly bumpy ride under engine (with a little bit of motor sailing) we reached one of our favourite anchorages on the island of Pserimos. We anchored in the clear water with a few other boats and had a good swim. Initially we intended to stay only one night but as we were in no hurry we extended this stay. This enabled us to test our self-sufficiency as far as power was concerned. Svein used the day to connect the AIS antenna and we again enjoyed several leisurely swims in the clear water. We had a few uncomfortable hours when the Kos tripper boats visited blasting heavy music but it did not last long and the anchorage returned to its peaceful sleepy state.

We were joined in the evening by some super yachts that anchored at the entrance to the bay.

The next morning we hoisted the anchor and sailed past the super yachts on our way to Kos. After a short trip we anchored in the bay in front of the marina. We took the dinghy ashore and visited the marina and organised a berth in the harbour for a couple of days, arranged a hire car for the next day, changed Caryn’s telephone subscription to Wind and then ended up in our favourite Thai restaurant for a meal. After an excellent meal and hearing all the news from Kos we wandered through the town so that Caryn could organise a mani/pedi appointment. We then returned to the boat and had a bumpy ride out in the dinghy.

The next morning we moved into the harbour and  went and  collected the hire car so that we could complete all the tasks we had set ourselves for the day. Firstly a visit to the stainless steel shop to order the bits for the ladder Svein will make to enable us to climb into the boat on the side and no longer use the bathing platform which is very dangerous in choppy seas. Then the obligatory visit to Lidl to stock up on beer (we only had 2 left on board). We also visited the material shop to see if we could find anything we liked for the cockpit enclosure. We returned to the boat to store the  purchases and we were lucky in that we were able to take the car inside so did not have so far to walk.

Once everything stored away we returned to the stainless steel shop to pick up the pieces and we continued on to Kardamena to check our the harbour there and to see friends who we had wintered with in Kos. We returned to the boat and Svein took a short trip to the material shop but was not lucky enough to find the boss so the purchase has been put off until a later date. He also discovered that there was a problem with one of the pieces for the ladder so arranged that we returned the hire car later so that he had time to sort the problem out.

This he managed to do the next day and he then got the bicycle out and visited the chandler and filter shops to buy new rope and replace our stock of oil  and water filters. Caryn took advantage of the mains electricity and did the necessary washing. Once all the task were completed we wandered into town to eat at another favourite restaurant and after a delicious meal. Caryn went to her appointment whilst Svein returned to the boat to practice on his accordion. The wind was strong and an even bigger blast is expected tomorrow.

After a good night’s sleep there was nothing specific planned for the day so Svein decided to clean out the back deck locker as well as fix the anchor chain locker so that the chain does not bunch up.  He managed to complete both projects.

Our  plans are a little hazy at the moment as we seem to be following the Rhodes Regatta which means that our usual haunts are not available. We shall try to get to Symi and Rhodes to meet up with Per and Elly (Sybaris). We hope to be able to build the ladder in Rhodes. We shall then return to Kos to await the arrival of Caryn’s sister.