Re-reading the last blog, I realised it read like a 'Horrors at Sea' article in a yacht clubs Monthly News Letter - sorry about that all you lovely caring Landlubbers, it really wasn't that dangerous. I shall endeavour to write a more positive blog this time. Here goes ...

Thursday 9th May
With our brand new dinghy tied securely to the deck we headed back across Volos Bay towards the more attractive looking Islands, just North of the Trikeri Peninsula, in search of the perfect anchorage.There was no wind and the sea was flat as a pancake, so on arriving at the larger of the two islands, all 4.5 square Km of it, we decided to come alongside the empty quay and have lunch in the pretty taverna, to try to help boost the economy a teeny bit. With an estimated population of only 15 full time islanders living here on Paleo Trikeri, I felt like a VIP arriving at a private island. The locals were friendly and the homemade Moussaka and Souvlaki a treat. There are no cars on the island and while we were sat eating, a ferry came across from the mainland delivering food and other supplies. These were weighed and shared out on the quay by the locals, ticking off their paper lists, chatting and laughing with each other, while working seamlessly together with heavier loads. The owner of the taverna had sack truck loads, so hopefully expecting more guests. Once all had been taken into the kitchen she proudly came back out to us, and presented us with a 'job done' smile and a bowl of cherries, which were truly scrumptious. What a sweetie. So, if any of you fancy a Greek retreat, check it out, it may be quaint and oldy wordly, but it has cottoned on to the joys of Air BNB.

The following day we headed of on the next part of our adventure - exploring the group of Islands known as the Sporades.

Our first anchorage, on the first island Skiathos, was straight out of the glossy magazines we browse in doctors and dentists waiting rooms.

We felt incredibly decadent as we were the only yacht anchored in the bay of Koukounaries on the South of the island. With it's azure clear water, immaculate combed sandy beach, with newly oiled teak sunbeds and glamorous sun worshipers, it looked like a place to be seen at. We decided to christen the dinghy and pootle ashore for a swim, it really was a 'pinch me' moment. Then as if the seduction of the place wasn't enough, we read that just behind the beach was a nature reserve, boasting a variety of wildlife and family of black swans.

The following morning we donned trainers and set out to the reserve. We followed the small river that started behind the fisherman's marina in the corner of the bay, through the woodland until the river opened up into a lake. Unfortunately we didn't spot any birds, so like David Bellamy we swooshed our way through the tall grass surrounding the lake and literally stumbled on a pair of magnificent Black swans. In the absence of any cygnets they appeared to have adopted a duck, or maybe it was the other way round, who knows?