Vlikho Bay, Levkas - Iris Hotel, Nidri, Levkas

Pyxis
Karen & Richard
Tue 25 Aug 2009 22:58

Tuesday 25th August – Vlikho Bay, Levkas – Iris Hotel, Nidri, Levkas

38:41.922N 20:42.474E

 

First thing this morning we took the dinghy down the port side of Pyxis to check for any damage in the cold light of day; luckily the only apparent damage is to a couple of parts of the blue stripe half way down the hull – hopefully more fiddly than expensive to repair.  It looks like the top of a fender has scraped away at the stripe, which only goes to show how low the other boat’s fenders were. 

 

After breakfast we were on the move as Johann reported that there was space on the ‘Dutch pontoon’ as it is popularly known.  It is a pontoon attached to the Iris Hotel which is let to one of the large yacht charter companies here.  During the week when their boats are out on charter it is available to other yachties to use.  It has tailed mooring lines, electricity and water and includes use of the hotel facilities which include free wi-fi access and a beautiful pool area.  Ian on Northern Lights had mentioned this pontoon to us and it is used by a number of liveaboards periodically when they need to give their batteries some juice, top up on water and stock up on supplies in town.  At only €10 per day, it is a bargain.

 

Cape went off first to suss it out and once alongside they called us and off we went.  Within half an hour we were both tucked up nicely with electricity flowing into our batteries and a fuel tanker arriving with diesel for us (kindly arranged by Johann).  All this before 11am!

 

The staff are very friendly and we are wedged between two charter boats that are unoccupied.  We think we may stay a couple of days to do a few jobs whilst our batteries sate themselves.  This place we can highly recommend.

 

Richard started investigating why the generator is not working; so far the prognosis is not looking good.

 

Early afternoon, clouds came over and the sky darkened and we could hear the distant rumble of thunder.  Very soon we had a thunderstorm directly overhead and heavy rain as the lightning flashed and the thunder crashed.  It is a very long time since we have had rain and we were even forced to put the sides down on the cockpit enclosure.  Still it is good for Pyxis to have a wash.

 

Late afternoon, the sky was clear and the sun was out again and we sat by the pool, reading and swimming to cool off – it is like being at a hotel here – well, I suppose that’s because it is a hotel.  Nice.

 

After dinner we joined Sarah, David, Johann and Christine aboard Cape for a drink.  In the distance, there was another thunderstorm passing by with the occasional flash of lightning in the night sky, but fortunately it did not come our way.

 

Nidri:  Thunderstorm

 

© Pyxis 2009