Patras to Trizonia
09 August 2012 | Trizonia
Dan 33 degrees C, 1009mb partly cloudy skies
Today was a full but fulfilling day and I'm writing this while watching the sun set over the island of Trizonia where we are at anchor for the night.
I was up by 7 to begin projects. Drove to the Vodaphone store in Patras to top off our broadband data SIM card for another 5GB (cost 40 euro) before returning the rental car. Forgot to fill the tank and was charged 55 euro for 1/2 tank. (Gas here is nearly $8.00 USD per gallon at the pump and that doesn't include the rental car agency surcharge... ouch!) Then back to the boat while we took advantage of the free water to hose down the deck and clean the teak. I bought rope at the chandlery to make a new jib sheet (ours has become almost stiff as wire due to the heavy loads) and will practice my new skill of making an eye splice before replacing the old sheet. Then it was time to settle up at the marina office (berthing prices are quite reasonable at Patras Marina) and have our Transit Log stamped by the Port Police. I had to interrupt the agent from her afternoon beer but she didn't seem to mind and we had a nice chat while she performed the obligatory document stamping routine. (Those of you in the US who think rubber stamps are a thing of the past haven't dealt with European officialdom. We even have an official Boat Stamp for Interlude because stamped documents like our Crew List are held in higher regard with the stamp affixed. Go figure....)
By 3pm we were underway and went back under the Rion-Andirrion bridge for the third and final time. It was just a two hour trip to Trizonia (motoring again...grrrr) and all three of us went for a quick swim after setting the anchor. We're swinging in the main bay with 10-12 knots of wind blowing tonight..the afternoon winds have usually settled by now so this is a bit unusual. We'd like to go ashore to explore and watch the US women's soccer team play tonight but I may stay on board just in case the anchor opts not to hold.
Stay tuned for more details on Trizonia tomorrow.