Friday 21^st – Ídhra (Hydra) – Ermioni (Hermioni)

37:23.160N 23:14.963E

Last night the promised northerlies didn’t arrive and we had a quiet night in the harbour (albeit worrying about the anchor).

Note to travellers: Ídhra is not for late risers!  At 6am sharp, the church bells are switched on announcing 6am.  Six bells you think, no worries, I’ll just go back to sleep.  This is just the warm up; come 7am all hell breaks loose at the bell tower and you are treated to a much extended version.  Not that it mattered; we were all up anyway as a passing thundercloud gave vent and sent rain slashing down like stair rods onto the cabin roof; we barely heard the 8am rant.

By 9am the rain was moving off and the sky brightening.  I donned my wellies to tackle the anchor.  Up it came, no problems.  All my lost sleep for nothing, we hadn’t fouled it on the ferry’s chain – thank goodness!

We set off for the short and overcast trip here to Ermioni.  There was only a little wind and it was astern so it was a case of motoring, a chance to recharge the batteries at least.  When we arrived we decided to berth stern-to the east side of the pier, a more difficult manoeuvre but much more sheltered.  Once in, we helped in another UK flagged boat before welcoming Pam and Andy, who arrived from Póros around lunchtime.

This afternoon there has been a mix of sun, cloud, rain and thunder – it is actually a little chilly (OK, relatively speaking).  A few more boats have arrived and the hydrofoil has been in and out. 

Having got the ladder out at Ídhra to clamber ashore, we decided to rig the passerelle here rather than making do with our usual short plank, so departing may take a bit longer as we dismantle it again.

Late afternoon we went for a short explore around town before a rain shower sent us back to the boat, and later Pam and Andy popped over for a drink.

This evening we have eaten aboard to lightning rather than candlelight as a torrential thunderstorm is raging directly overhead; very impressive.

We will go out exploring again tomorrow when hopefully things have dried out a bit.

Ídhra: What a difference a day makes

Ermioni

© Pyxis 2010