Bye-bye to the Aegean

EQ has finally done it, headed out of the Aegean and into Ionian waters. It wasn’t easy, especially with our Greek friend Dino telling us we need to stay in Greece, particularly the Aegean, for at least 3 years to really understand the Greek islands and way of life. There certainly is a lure and pull on the heart strings to stay, but we finally got excited about a particular plan which overshadowed the enticement to stay, not to mention a decent weather window to head west. So we got ourselves to the Corinth Canal and successfully got through, no dramas, no worries. More on that in a minute.

I spent a couple of months in Finike doing a haul-out and replacing halyards, dock lines, sheets, etc. and a number of small projects to get EQ ready for another long journey, that is if we could escape the allure of the Aegean. Just in case as it were. Finike was a great place for EQ to hold up for the winter while I was off down under working at the NZ and OZ Vipassana centres, not to mention taking some time away from the trials and tribulations of life aboard EQ, which was a long season last year, like a 7026nm journey from Thailand.

Apollo's Temple, Didim

So, now in a much better heart and soul space, and more fenders to deal with charter boats J, we ventured out for the third time crossing the Aegean. We had some pretty good runs and nice stops along the way. I first worked my way up the Turkish (“the Emerald”) coast again, which was a good time for reflection and solitude. I always wanted to come to this coast for as long as I can remember, so was good to take some time and enjoy it again, the slow and easy way. Stopping in Fethiye for a full Humum (Turkish bath) endeavour was certainly a welcome stop. At Didim, I managed to get up to Apollo’s temple, an amazing old Ruin.

Pythagoras, Samos

Along the way I got an email from an ole friend from NZ (Elspeth) saying she was in Samos working for “Doctors without Borders” helping out at the refugee camp. She had no idea what hemisphere I was in, but I just happen to be 100 miles from there heading that way. So, that was an awesome surprise and loved catching up with her for a few days, waiting for my new crew to arrive. J



Interior by car, Samos Island

And so EQ’s new crew, Kim, did finally arrive, big smiles all around. I think EQ was even smiling as she likes a feminine touch. We stayed in Pythagoras a few days, rented a car and saw a good bit of the island. Samos is a lovely island and we hope to get back someday (more of that Aegean magic pulling on those heart strings).

Ermoupoli, Syros

But we finally did break away, caught a northerly down to Amorgos, and then a southerly up to Paros and then Syros. Syros was fantastic as always. We managed to catch a “Tango” performance in the old theatre of the main town, which was amazing. An excellent Argentine Tango performance (8 couples and 3 musicians) in Spanish in an 1800’s old Greek theatre was fully a Syros special event. J We loved it.
 

Poros

But sadly, it was time to make way again, which says a lot for the enthusiasm for the plan to head west, particularly after having a great dinner with Dino and Elli the night before.

So, what is this plan, you ask? J Sailing into Venice of course, what else could possible pull us away from Syros? J But it was necessary to make a stop in Poros once more, a delightful village on the water, where we had a lovely dinner on the waterfront with a warm breeze to say goodbye with. So, from there on, EQ is in new waters and a wonderful new Journey of the Heart and Sail in the making. 




Corinth Canal

The Corinth Canal is quite the journey in itself, not to be missed. The canal is 3.2 nm long and maybe 50 feet wide. There’s no turning around or stopping in there, you just keep pushing on. We were in a convoy of 5 yachts and a big tourist boat behind. The walls are steep and we lost GPS signal, but you can’t get lost. You can bang into the old walls though if you’re not paying attention looking at all the old stone work. Luckily it wasn’t windy and we had the 2 knot current running with us.




The Charm of the Aegean...

Now we are off to Galaxidi in the morning, but that’ll be another story.

 So, that’s the news from EQ, where the winds are fair, the seas following and the crew content. J

With Equanimity and Joy…