Friday 23^rd July – Messolonghi (Tourlida & the Lagoon)

38:21.686N 21:25.020E

This morning we launched the dinghy, rigged the outboard and headed the 2½ miles down the canal to Tourlida, the tiny beach resort at the entrance to the canal.  We spent some time on the front where there was a bit more breeze to cool us in this heat. 

Around lunchtime we came back and took the left turn just before the marina where there is a small offshoot from the canal; this part of the canal goes up the back of the marina and into a lagoon area where there is a small community living in numerous small shacks-cum-houses built on stilts.

We went ashore on the island side, tying up to a derelict jetty, and ignored the feral dog that was barking at us, hackles raised and it got the message and left us alone.  We had landed near the narrow isthmus separating the lagoon from the sea.  Looking out to sea, the shallow salt flats were busy with birds, obviously a good bird-watching spot.  I saw a pretty little bird that I originally thought was an egret, but it had black wings; I looked it up on the internet and I think it was a black winged stilt (apologies to the ornithologists out there).

On the way back we had to scoot around the tiny hand-cranked chain-ferry that connects the island to the mainland, it is self-service and just big enough for a small car.

We arrived back at Pyxis to find that our industrious neighbours had gone sailing and we spent the afternoon trying to hide from the heat.  This evening it hasn’t got any cooler – a real scorcher, 30°C down below tonight!

Messolonghi:  Tourlida

Messolonghi:  Lagoon

© Pyxis 2010