39:13.0N 20.29.1E

 

1 October more rain and thunderstorms as begin the trek South for winter layup

Depart Platarias 0945

Arrive Two Rock Bay 1630 24nm

Sun and white “English summer” fluffy clouds to start, thunderstorm developing to N, many heavy showers catch us, clears 1800. Wind fills in f3/4 from NNW 1500

 

Wake late. Get bread and grapes. Peaches/nectarines etc not so tasty now, but the grapes are magnificent – so sweet. Nibbling loads. Have to reverse over kedge to break out of mud. Lessons learnt: 1 don’t go for the easiest berth, go for the more sheltered one 2 be prepared for unexpected wind from any direction 3 don’t leave boat if squally – anchor may creep/warp will stretch 4 worth the hard work laying/retrieving heavy(ish)  kedge with more chain than most just in case ...  Little wind; what there is on nose so motor. Don’t bother to hoist main. Back down long spectacular bay; turn S, like the swallows, for winter. Nice fluffy clouds where we are. Good job bimini stowed yesterday as need sun`s rays for warmth. Enough to go topless. Grey and black system developing to N. Later lightening streaking down to sea and thunder starts. Still well to N and drifting SE. Should miss us. See waterspout well to N. Thin and curving to E. Rain clouds close in,  and catch us. Jane below. Skip dons fleece and sailing jacket, and later lifejacket as swell coming in from NW and squalls generally from astern, but variable due to mountains and thunder storm effects. Get genny out when can, but have to keep rolling up in lulls. Could do with “umbrella” bimini now.  Hug coast diverting to reccy  bays E of Parga. Kiriakis (deep water and spoilt by hotel), Ioannou (bleak) and Fanaria (V rolly. One other liveaboard already anchored – worth another visit when calm . There’s a river to explore in duck next time.) By now NW f4 and good waves. Genny working well. Main still lashed up, not deployed. Arrive horseshoe shaped Two Rock Bay. Lift keel on way in as 2m bar; deeper inside. Get right into NE corner for minimum swell. Anchor in 9ft. Still some swell! Quick swim (skip only). Take odometer reading and note have just gone thro 5000nm since fitted Lowrance chartplotter. Probably done quite a bit more as seems to count backwards from time to time. No other boats here – just a few campervans, and a herd of goats with bells.  Later see what looks like a flock of sheep  (no bells"!) Don’t think it’s the goats again. Clouds hug inland mountains but gone elsewhere. Gets chilly but stay out till sun sets 1900.  Quite windy in here. Dies 2100. Swell eases later too.Night time grating of chain on bowsprit strut. Annoying.