Crew: Bruce & Pat Walker and Dale & Kathy Vincent
June 9, Walkers arrived and helped with the cleaning, etc. until naptime.
June 10, More nonsense with customs as the Greeks chose to ignore EU importation policy and VAT taxes on "yachts in transit." They had the new wind generator and we did not. Sheila is more unhappy, but she is still polite so the yacht will not be seized. A rare torrential downpour erupts while Sheila and crew try to provision the boat. The only connection the Vincents could work out was renting a car in Ionnia and driving to Preveza. They complained they had driven through a "taverna free zone." They arrived in one piece but very hungry. We immediately dined at the favorite taverna.
June 11, After paying off the bandits in Customs, juryrigging a through hull, and recharging the fridge, we depart for Lefkas. By some miracle we just make the 4:00 pm bridge opening, which closed practically on our transom. At 6:30 we arrived at Nidri to meet Mick of Mickey & Nicky Sailmakers to pick up the Dodger and Bimini. Later we dined at Nikos Taverna.
June 12, We motored to Frikes, Ithaca. The harbor is heavily weeded. The cute Dutch boys moored next to us advised us their anchor was not holding until they changed anchors. We replaced our 65 LB CQR with the 25 LB Danforth. We went ashore to check out the restaurants, shop, and see the pretty mermaid statue in the harbor. We settled on a taverna with a waterside table available. Our host was a South African/Greek. Despite the copious amount of wine, we think the name of the taverna was Odysseus. Had a long political discussion with him. He was very bright and interesting. Went back to the boat and had many after dinner drinks and enjoyed a lot of joke-telling.
June 13, Sheila got up early enough to catch the bread truck. Off to Fiscardo, Cephallonia, which was the only town in the area to survive intact the earthquake of ’53. After lunch we decided to spend the night in this beautiful little town.
June 14, From Fiscardo to Kavanielos. Due to the heavy wind it was full. After a close encounter with a sand bar, we anchored off the beach of Katelios. The wind subsided. Spend a lovely evening on board under a canopy of stars.
June 15, Pat and Mike drove the dinghy to town to obtain provisions. Then off to Zakinthos. On the way we stopped to lunch on the boat at a popular beautiful little "smugglers’ cove." There was a picturesque wreck covered with tourists on the beach. We cruised along the coast looking at the caves to the fairly large town of Zakinthos. Surprised to see two other US-flag boats. A very friendly American couple motored over to advise us we were in the unmarked ferry turn-around zone. After a nice chat with them we moved. Fifteen minutes later a gigantic ferry maneuvered through the very spot we had been anchored. Much cheering among the boats involved.