Last year we sailed in the Aegean Islands. There, with the absence of airports the numerous ferries were the lifeblood of the Islands.

Here in the Ionian the islands are easily accessible by air, however there are still regular ferries arriving in Sami, Kefalonia from Italy and Patras in the Gulf of Corinth.

The gathering of people, cars and lorries are a sure sign of an impending arrival. The access road to the ferry runs along the harbour and so only a few feet from the moored yachts.

It is fascinating to watch the mixture of people arrive—local people,holiday makers and commercial drivers.

 

The large ferries arrive at great speed, appearing to be heading straight for the sea wall and about to hit it before veering dramatically in a ‘handbrake’ turn style, at the same time free dropping a huge anchor and swinging around into a position to reverse--- skimming the dock. This manuervere with a wind blowing onto the shore and a following sea makes the whole spectacle more remarkable.

 

The roll on, roll off door drops during this manuervere with a man walking out onto the lowering plate as the ferry backs onto the dock--- not a health and safety tick box in sight!!

Often before the plate hits the ground, waiting people and motorbikes spill out of the ship. I have seen a car driving off the plate door just as the monkey balls were thrown to the waiting locals who pulled the fine lines until the heavy bowlines reached the quay and were secured--- after the car was ashore.   The whole activity of exiting cars and lorries has a frenetic speed.

People rush off with parcels to waiting cars, others rush to hand over all sorts of merchandise in various packages---from small to furniture size.  The atmosphere becomes more frenzied as people and cars begin boarding whilst other are leaving. The inevitable shouting voices, car horns and port police whistles fill the air as the boarding cars reverse back off the ferry again to let off the ‘imprisoned’ arriving car. Articulated lorries drive up at speed, turning rapidly in between the mayhem and then reverse at alarming pace up the plate ramp and onto the ship ready for driving out at the next port---- a few feet either way and they would end up in the sea.

 

Families, friends are reunited, people hug, take suitcases, jump into cars and disappear into the dust of the traffic.  Finally the ferry leaves, lines are slipped from the dock, the ferry speeds away lifting the anchor, a man stands on the plate door until it is lifted and the sea is churned up as the ship heads away.

 

Each time a ferry leaves there are lone parcels left on the quay until someone comes to claim them.  Car tyres in plastic wrap, assorted boxes and the best yet, a full drum kit !!----finally accompanied by a lone child. Later, his Mom drove up to claim him and the drums.

 

Photos of-------

In this group of photos there is a photograph I really love. Two young children stood on the quay as the ferry left, just feeling the wind on their faces from the speeding ferry, totally absorbed in the moment---sadly my camera jammed for a second and a fraction later when it unjammed the little girl had turned to run to her parents. The shot of the two of them was magic, but lost in a instant ---- I zoomed in quickly and photographed the little boy before he turned .  The little girls arm/shadow is still in the shot and so its not a perfect photo, but I don’t believe in cropping and editing.  And so it’s not perfect ,but for me its a wonderful photograph which sums up those times in childhood when children unconsciously enjoy a moment, feeling the wind on his face--------we need to hold on to this as adults. x x

 

Ferry life ‘All change’

The boy feels the power of the wind from the speeding ferry.

The drum kit

A night arrival on the quay side near the yachts.

 

Love to all

Tina and Tony x x