23rd to 30th September, 2011.
During the last week we had family members to stay for a
week. We met up in Gouvia Marina on
Friday evening after their safe journey from Cornwall via Bristol airport. They
very kindly brought the Cornish flag with them so we could fly it next to our
Cruising Association one. The weather after the storm has been back to its
usual sunny start and cloudless skies which we hoped would stay for at least
another week while our visitors were with us.
We could not have asked for better weather as we were able to spend a
night in Kalami Bay and have dinner at the White House. Margaret was not too sure of the dinghy trip
but we managed beautifully. Next morning
we were able to swim after breakfast before we set off for Platarias on the
mainland which we spotted from the car when we picked Graham up from
Igoumenitsa. On the way we stopped for lunch and swam again as the day was very
hot.
Platarias is a popular detour for yachts heading up and down
from Corfu to Preveza and the Levkas canal. The improved harbour and little
village make it a very wonderful place to stop.
There is a very small sandy beach with shallow water for swimming. The tavernas and summer shops are around the
quay. One of the charter companies uses
the quay as a turnaround base.
We left Platarias and sailed across to Lakka for the roast
lamb! The next day we walked up and down
hills to Longos which is between Lakka and Gaios. The smell of the countryside was wonderful
and hardly any cars passed us on the way. Longos is a small harbour and yachts
are not permitted to berth inside where all the space is reserved for local and
tripper boats. We had lunch on the quay
before catching the bus to Gaios for an afternoon stroll and ice-creams. The quay at Gaios is now quiet and only a few
boats were pulling up on the quay. The
atmosphere is now less frantic and many of the shops have closed for the
winter.
The next day we crossed back to the mainland and pulled into
one of the bays around Mourtis where we were able to swim in pale blue water
and have lunch before moving to the town and to our surprise we were able to
choose a space on the harbour wall. When
we were here last it was alive with people and we had trouble walking along the
quay. The walk to the beach is very
pleasant and the view around the quay and town is very pretty.
We left the following afternoon after lunch and sailed up to
Corfu town where we anchored near the marina.
After a lovely dinner we took the dinghy back to Ariel. Although it was very late now Jim decided it
would be better to move to Gouvia Bay as he did not think our guests would
enjoy the night swell from the ferries.
We finally set the anchor around one o’clock and although we had enjoyed
the night journey and the lights of the Corfu town and the forts lit up it was
time for bed. We had hoped to see the “World” cruise liner as it is due in
Corfu any time but it was a no show.
The next day Margaret, Angie and Nicki were happy to swim,
sun bathe and enjoy the beautiful scenery looking across to Corfu town before
they had to head off to the airport for the late evening flight. We had seen dolphins, King Fishers and
millions of tiny fish on our journey this week.
The weather has been perfect and we have managed to sail over 100 miles
and use the motor occasionally.
The next morning was sunshine as usual and we had to make
some miles in order to meet Frank and Sue in Preveza on Sunday evening. We stopped at Lakka as it is beginning to
become one our favourite places. The bay
was nearly empty and the quay only had four boats tied up. We had a lovely
dinner at a new taverna to us and thoroughly enjoyed our meal.
Jim went for fresh bread the next morning before we set off
for Preveza. We managed to sail most of
the 38 miles in light winds until we were 10 miles from Preveza when thunder
and lightning was causing the wind to blow and the sea to churn up. We managed to outrun the storm after we had
reefed ready and arrived in Preveza around seven o’clock just ahead of Frank
and Sue coming from the airport.
