Our lovely friends David & Marcia recommemded we come to Ay Nikolas at the northern end of the island and try to secure Costas' buoy for a stop over. It is a great recommendation. We have already spent 2 nights here on the way to the Pelopponese and now on our return passage we wanted to visit again.

The harbour has the Port Authority and two families who "manage" the harbour walls. It is all free of charge and you don't have to go to their Taverna but it's only fair.

I emailed Costas and asked him if we coukd take his buoy again and would the winds be ok. He said no leave it a day or two as there is a big "chop" in the harbour and it is not nice as there are strong Easterlies, but he would contact us the next day with an update on the wind and sea state. He emailed us twice to give us an update and we ended up staying in Zante an extra night. Then he said "come, your buoy is waiting for you"... the weather forecast showed us this was a good day to go there too.

We called him up (mobile 00 30 697 994 3254) upon approach and he asked two of his mates to come out and help us attach to the mooring line and buoy infront of his restaurant.

That night it was Greek night (every night?) at his Taverna and so off we went in Dennis, did some shopping, had an appertif in a local bar and went for dinner and the dancing. Please note we do not take part in the dancing activities but are just observers. Eventually it was time to get back into Dennis and arrive on board Njord for a good night's sleep.

Costas will organise water, fuel and showers at his family's hotel, if you need it.

When we left he emailed to say he hoped we had a good time and to keep in touch. We will.