39:09.93N 23:36.90E Skopelos Island

Ariel of Hamble
Jim and Valerie SHURVELL
Mon 5 Aug 2013 09:41

Thursday, 1st August, 2013.

 

We had a quite good night in the bay and the wind did not come during the night as forecasted so we were happy to leave Ariel in the bay on her 50 metres of chain and anchor and take the bus into Skiathos town.  The bus took about 30 minutes all along the coast and stopping at 22 stops.  The scenery was beautiful and we enjoyed the general busyness of everyone jumping on and off. 

 

Skiathos town is full of lots of souvenir shops and restaurants all surrounding the busy port with the ferries coming and going.  We did find the open air theatre and the open air cinema which show Mamma Mia three times a week.  We wandered around the shops and stopped for wifi and a drink before we headed back to Koukounaries beach.  We passed some very nice gated properties overlooking the bay and we were told Goldie Hawn can often be seen in the Salt and Pepper restaurant not far from the gated properties.  I did look both times we passed the place but definitely a no show on Thursday.

 

Back at Koukounaires beach there is an inland lake and a nature reserve behind the pine trees on the beach.  There are goats, sheep and eight swans and a few ducks.  We saw three black swans and five white.  We decided we would not walk into the reserve for fear of mosquitoes!

 

With a lovely afternoon a head of us we decided we would move onto the island of Skopelos once back at Ariel.  We motored as there was very little wind although Jim had the main up and did try at one time to turn off the engine but it did not last long as there was just not enough wind.  We covered 11.9 miles before we pulled into the very small port of Loutraki on the North West coast.  There was no room on the portable pontoon which is put in place for summer visitors so we anchored in the harbour. I did get up 3 times just to check we were safe and we were in exactly the same spot.  After watching boats being blown away in the wind at Koukounaires beach it makes you a little jumpy. 

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