38 50.539N 024 32.246E S Linaria, Skyros, Greece

Pipedream
Wed 29 Jun 2011 05:50
We made the anchorage on the island of Skyros about two days ago. The harbor looked pretty small for us so we anchored in a cove about a mile away. After taking the dingy in we met an Austrian couple tied up to the wall and they convinced us to come in. So we ended up first going side too and then took the Austrian's place at 6 AM the next morning after they left.

The sail in was pretty bumpy as the sea has not calmed down after the several days of blow. We were able to sail most of the way with the cruising spinnaker at around 6 kts but with a very noticeable rolling motion. The raw water pump was leaking at a pipe fitting. We went into the big town, Skiros, and I was able to find a plumbing supply place where they only had brass fittings and picked up a couple of extra fittings just in case. About 20 Euros for a part I could have gotten at my friendly ACE hardware for 50 cents. I told Mary I now know what Scotty from Star Trek felt like when he was transported to another place and time with no spare parts.

We spent the rest of the day site seeing... monastery, fortress, lots of artsy shops. Last night I took the pump off and fixed the fitting and hope I have the leak stopped - not a deal breaker. On the way in I also notice the Genoa roller furler is spinning free on the head stay... not good. I am taking that apart today. I get to play with my erector set wherever I go!

We met the mayor of a US Virginia town here at dinner last night and she commented on the riots in Athens and a short economic discussion followed. I want to preface this by saying I really like Greece and if I lived here full time I likely would not want to see it change; however, the MBA in finance sees a system where people retire at 50 or 52 on 80% pay. It looks like there are quite a few old folks around. The shops open at around 10:00 AM and close at 2:00 for siesta and then usually open again at 5:00 PM until around 9:00 PM. (everything and are closed all day on Sunday) The Friday we were around at the last island only about 1/3 of the shops re-opened for the later shift. It is tourist season here like Christmas at the mall back home. Unlike Turkey, there is very little new construction going on. It's a great way of life at least in the islands, but how can it be sustainable? If no one is working where will the money come from to keep paying retirees ? Everyone in New York will just have to work until 70 because the folks in Florida retire at 50... ? Political science lab 101. Gee, I retired at 60 - could it really happen to the US?

All for now... I have to get to work fixing the furler, again.