A little town in Sicily

 Stern to quay mooring - lunch with Scilian red

 The street of Candlesticks

 Sicilian beer after an eight hour sail

 

Looking for candlesticks

 Mount Etna Sicily.



Photo for Megan - Happy Birthday! Slept like logs in the shadow of this beauty.

A Sicilian tuk tuk - the only way to reprovision

 Whizzing along the backstreets of Siracuza. Wind zipping our hair. Sharing a plank on the back of a Sicilian taxi (!) with two others is a wonderful test of nerve and humour. It's basically a motorbike with a bench seat for passengers. No matter Thailand or Sicily, it's a rite of passage for sure. Giovanni wove us through rush hour traffic, swerving to avoid major potholes, pedestrians, dogs and lamposts. Cornering is best, roundabouts a close second. We arrived in style at Lidl's, filled the 'boot' with food, collected laundry on the way back to port, had a thoroughly great time. Giovanni accepted the cold beer and took  this photograph of us. It was a wild ride - we'd do it all again in a flash :)

'Kites rise highest against the wind - not with it' Winston Churchill.

Sailing for three days and two nights from Greece. First twenty four hours in F6 wind, sailing into the waves for a proper Mediterranean bathime. Our plucky little yacht taking it all on her nose, sailing well. A Force 6 wind is approximately 25 knots of wind - on land approximately 28 mph - or when you can hear wind whistling in the trees or in power lines OR when using an umbrella becomes difficult :)  I could have done with an umbrella LOL Sailing at night is fabulous btw.

Goodbye Greece you are amazing!

Goodbye Greece It's been amazing!

I could live in Greece. No matter where we've travelled, inland, up a mountain, along the coast, the landscapes and Greek 'Kefi' have been outstanding, not to mention the Greek hospitality which is second to none in this World. Then crystal clear waters and the bluest skies ever. Little wonder artists come in their droves and stay. I've met many Greeks and they are suffering. It is not true that they are lazy. Most of the family men we've met work two jobs to make ends meet and still are generous beyond belief - particularly in spirit - nothing is too much trouble even if you're a xeno! It's wonderful to watch hordes of teenagers walking along TALKING to one another - not glued to ipads or whatever device is commonplace elsewhere. They are blessed kids indeed :O)

There are still meadows full of wildflowers and squillions of fireflies every night. In Greece I rediscovered how tomatoes and lemons should taste. We've eaten the healthiest diet. Greek yoghurt with local honey and walnuts is the best breakfast ever. A pre-digestive of Ouzo, a glass of Robola or a glass of Metaxa, we've raised our glasses to them all.

Now add their History ( Ancient and Modern) No-one has truly conquered her for long.
Greeks are loud, they can become quite rude,  but they are genuine, passionate, easy going, warm, creative, interesting people that you would love to have as friends. Greeks seem to live every day as if it is their last and that’s why I would love to join them!

 Here we are moored stern to in Preveza. Reminded me of Fowey about fifty years ago. Fishing boats, people know one another, people greet one another and pace of life is slooooooow.

WE'RE OFF TO SEA AGAIN - HOPE YOU CAN JOIN US

Been a year since we last sailed - seems far too long away from our lovely boat and a lifestyle we've come to love.
I'd like to say a bit about my experience of sailing and I hope it inspires you to go out on the water yourself. Or if you've given up your salty ways, to join the armchair sailors following this Blog. All are welcome...
I've discovered a new kind of magic at sea. Not all of it can be written down or even spoken of. Sitting in a cockpit alone, especially just before dawn or just after dusk, is fantastic. You get to see the stars, the moon, the Milky Way, satellites and shooting stars as you have never seen them before. Dolphins trail phosphorescence - like fairytale torpedos swimming alongside the boat, clicking and singing at us through the hull. Then below us many thousand metres of depth and probably strange and unknown creatures. At times it seems nothing is around you yet our tiny yacht makes its way across an ocean or a sea. It has been and continues to be a unique and privileged feeling, to simultaneously have a massive and tiny space all to ourselves. We've had dolpins doing arial displays over our bow. Wild sea birds have resed on our deck, sometimes for days. Butterflies and migrating insects have landed on our sails to refuel and rest and we've wondered with wonder how these fragile and beautiful things come so far. At night we've left trails of flourescent plankton in our wake and flying fish land on us. Sunfish looking like giant bin lids have winked at us from the sea off Portugal. I often feel that sailboats are like us ( or vice versa) they need to keep moving from the moment they are cast off until they are moored up or at least secured. I've learnt to depend on my companions - a lesson needed - and appreciate them. I've learned that I am resourceful and courageous and I have felt truly alive.
I know many of my friends believe sailing is outside their comfort zone but I'd urge them to try it. Our beautiful planet is 7/10ths covered in water. You will be amazed and humbled in equal measure. It will change you :)