27/07/2012, Corfu Town
Friday
With a bit of wind forecast and rapidly running out of water, we left Corfu town and headed for Kalami. The plan was to go via Gouvia marina, top up the fuel tank and, incidentally of course, the water tanks as well. Although Basil Fawlty's sister was happy for us to refuel, she switched off the water hose mid flow to hurry us out of the way for the big mobo and his thirsty tanks. Bet he gets enough water to wash his windows. Thankfully, the excellent White House tavern at Kalami let us fill our jerry cans and top up a bit at a time.
Kalami is one of our favourite anchorages. A beautiful, deep water bay with a blue flag beach, four tavernas, two bars and a few shops (the best bread rolls in Greece), it is also somewhere those in the know come back to for their summer holiday year after year. We'd have been happy to linger there ourselves until the weather settled into something suitable for Kassiopi.
Our plans were thwarted again when I got the occasional whiff of something unpleasant. Naturally, I initially blamed Neil - well, he has developed some rather scuzzy habits this summer - then his towel, crispy and unwashed (a bit like its owner). When neither of them proved to be the source, of that particular pong at least, it finally dawned on me I was smelling gas.
Inspection of the gas bottle revealed a perished rubber hose making cooking that night impossible :) and a return trip to the gas shop in Corfu town a necessity. So here we are again. And very nice it is, too.
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24/07/2012, Corfu Town
Tuesday
There's a hole in my sheet. Worn tissue paper thin, unwashed and decidedly smelly it, never-the-less, remains in situ. For over three years now it has been laundered first thing in the morning, dried in the sun and wind then returned to the bed at night. It has given noble service.
Of course, we should have done something about it sooner. One to wash and one to wear is hardly extravagant. But, you see, it's custom made, fitted to the peculiar shape of a forecabin. Wider at one end than a King Size, narrower than a crib at the other it is beyond my needlework skills (the most loathed subject on the school timetable - well, after PE) to replace myself. Most live-aboards would be pretty disgusted at my ineptitude, most women my age I should think.
So there the holey sheet remains. I will attempt to wash it, most delicately, by hand, when we have a ready supply of water and are enough away from neighbours for the spectacle of it hanging from the Genoa to spare my blushes. Oh, the embarrassment.
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23/07/2012, Corfu Town
Monday
I'm not opposed to the idea of nudism (see "The Nature of Naturism" July 2011). In fact, it makes a lot of sense and quite appeals. I certainly understand why anyone would want to strip off their sweat-soaked clothes and let the breeze dry their skin. Yachties definitely seem to feel the inclination and, perhaps because they have already rid themselves of many of society's conventions, act on the impulse.
Most are reasonably discrete about it. Neighbouring crews may get a quick flash on the bathing ladder or when cockpits (?) drift together but, as a general rule, most keep it under the sunshade or in the sea. I say 'yachties' but what I really mean is Northern Europeans in the Mediterranean - those whose own climates are not usually conducive to removing wet weather gear. Those used to hot summers tend not to indulge. The Italians, for example, might well wear the tightest of budgie smugglers / topless thongs but they don't seem to go the whole hog.
For some reason it seems to be the men who are more forward about letting it all hang out. I blame communal toileting. I don't think I'm a prude and I'm certainly not offended or alarmed by the sight of male genitalia (it's hard to think of a career choice other than prostitution or G.U. surgeon who regularly has to 'deal' with more willies than a nurse) but, come on guys, sometimes it just isn't appropriate.
If you're in an isolated bay, well, ok. If you're in the harbour of a busy Greek town, overlooked by hotels and apartments, with tripper boats weaving between the yachts, could you keep it under wraps? Yes, I'm talking to you - the guy on the British boat parading around the coach roof. Yes, we've all seen it and having a good stretch doesn't improve the sight. Oh,no. Please don't bend down....
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21/07/2012, Corfu Town
Saturday
The plan today was to sample the delights of Benitses. Somehow we didn't think we'd be successful as we approached the unfinished marina. At this time of day (11.30am) surely somebody should be leaving? We should have known, really. With lazy lines fitted and no charge, of course it was going to be filled wall-to-wall with non-moving live-aboards.
On to Corfu Town about five miles away and an excellent anchorage close to the Citadel and a short dinghy ride into town. We didn't want to stay at hot, noisy, hot, crowded, hot Benitses after all.
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20/07/2012, Petreti, Corfu
Friday
Yesterday I tweeted that I'd got 18 mosquito bites. I felt pretty hard done by, I can tell you. Today I have 18 bites on ONE LEG! I got to 29 before becoming thoroughly disheartened and stopped counting. I'm rubbing that much antihistamine cream into my body (to hell with recommended doses) I'd suggest everybody buy shares in Anthisan immediately.
What is really annoying me is that the little b*****ds can't seem to take one bite and have a good suck. Oh no. It's obvious from the proximity that it was a single blighter that inflicted the 9 bites on one side of my left foot and maybe another that has gone for three individual toes on my right. The rate they're swelling up, well, it's a good job I don't have to wear shoes. Let's look on the bright side.
I may have been moaning a bit the last couple of days as Neil suggested we moved 500 yards away and maybe catch a bit more breeze and be out of flying range of the little varmints. Or it may have had something to do with the single, solitary bite he got. Well, it is in a VERY sensitive place.
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20/07/2012, Petreti, Corfu
We're back in Corfu!
Finally got a signal strong enough to post the video of Parga: available at http://youtu.be/t4xD347zA3g
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