Good bye Lavrio
Saturday 10th and we are ready to leave Lavrio. Not in too much of a hurry so we crank up the coffee maker while we are still on shore power. Not that we won't be able to use the machine once we leave as the generator will allow us that luxury.
1000 when we slipped the lines and waved goodbye to Andy and Jane off Matilda and followed John and Fiona (Catalyst 11) out of the harbour. I think there may have been a challange as to who catches the first tuna, because our 2 fishermen had their lines trailing out the back in no time. Gary even got out his big gear (a Panamanian purchase last time). Few showers but cleared to a sunny day.
5knt wind from the south made the trip a motoring one. We cleared Makronisi Island @ 1055 and passed Kea Island at 1224. We had intended to make Kea our first stop but because it was so close we decided to continue on to Ormis Fikiadha across from Ormis Apokriosis on the Island of Kithnos. No fish caught by either yacht.
We had been told about this place by some English blokes a few weeks ago. Two bays separated by a sand bar giving access to a small island called N. Ay Loukas. There are a couple of what we think are holiday homes, an old chapel, an old but operational well on the beach, some ancient ruins which include old stone walls and sheep, goats and some cows. On the big island just above the sand bar is a taverna which is not open but evidence of sprucing things up for the summer. Pity as the 2 bays were populated with several yachts and cruisers so they could have made a few dollars. A second anchorage on the other side of the sand bar on the big island has a hot spring. Being the weekend we didn't venture over.
A perfect day for exploring the small island and to experience the views from the top ( where the chapel is). Frist time the dinghy and outboard came together and the new crane worked a treat . Once on the beach we set off up the hill. We had to negotiate the stone wall which had no toe holds or ends and were over five foot high. Gary and Glen got a leg up and over, Liz getting a helping hand, but me and my short legs had them finding a piece of fencing to use as a ladder......couldn't trust it all the way but we were all over and finished the climb to the chapel. We followed a road (??) down to the gate on the beach and had just let our selves out when a twin cab came across the sand bar to go and clean the chapel. We decided to take a look at the bay on our stern, where there should have been another taverna. We walked around the road on the rocky edge to the sand, Glen gathering a bunch of wild flowers on the way. Evidence again of old stone fences and stone buildings in various stages of collapse. Maybe shepherds huts or just someones dream not happening. Sheep and goats everywhere so the old fences are still used. The would be taverna was not in good condition although the coca-cola vending machine (not in use) looked reasonably good. On the hill above there were a couple of houses again in stages of completion but not finished, with sheep on the roof of one. No visible sign of a road to them so not sure about access.
Happy hour on board Panormitis with John and Fiona, some dinner ( we had prepared earlier) and a calm night not on a marina.