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Preveza

The alarm clock everyone needs. 
Big Daddy checked us out before he let the girls come out to play!

After our brief but interesting Albanian interlude, we spent a few quiet weeks exploring the northern Ionians, which are even nicer outside of busy August.  We found some lovely, tranquil anchorages, weathered a few decent blows (our anchor held on all occasions thankfully - there were often lots that didn’t!) and decided it was worth the effort to have slowed down to see a little more of the west coast of Greece. 

Ahhh...the serenity!  Fishing in "Mullet Bay"

The general set of the wind is afternoon north westerlies with the occasional southerly (note: no Meltemi!).  At least once a week, we’ve weathered a storm of some sort and another must be brewing now because it’s suddenly become so hot and humid.  We’ve learned to take weather forecasts with a grain of salt deciding that we can be sure of choosing a lee shore if we med moor.  From this time, no further mention shall be made of med mooring.  It’s a useful practice, only if preparing for divorce.
 

Lakka on Paxos...just like the Bahamas Banks

 

Walking the old town Lakka

The islands are beautifully green, anchorages plentiful and water generally clear.  Still not much in the way of sea life near the shore though.  Whilst snorkelling, the most interesting object we’ve seen has been our anchor.  Along the mainland we found some isolated and peaceful stops.  All alarm clocks should be replaced by the tinkling of goat bells.  One small cove we christened Mullet Bay – the cheeky devils leapt with wild enthusiasm all around us.  We decided they were escapees from a nearby fish farm.  Even the Cap’n was tempted to put in a line.  Don’t worry; they’re all safe – except now they leap with contemptuous little smiles on their faces….  And the fridge is full of bait, still!

Lefkas Canal

Mainland views from Lefkas

After arriving back in Preveza and hatching our haul-out plan (my goodness is it that time of the year already!) we pushed back for another week of cruising and headed down to Lefkas and other smaller islands in the big “lake”.  The Italian cruising set in their smart sailboats had been replaced by convoys of charterers and a bevy of character boats – the real cruising fraternity.  We felt at home at last – where had they all been hiding?  A few seem to have lost their luggage on the flight over and had only their tans to keep them warm.  Well and good if you’ve got a trim six-pack (or are an Elle double) and have time for bow bunny duties.  Not so good if bending over to attend to deck chores – a bit frightening for the kiddies.  Still, life’s an education….

Early morning in what we thought was an isolated anchorage
Port Leone, Kalamos

So we just looked the other way

We’re now sitting in Preveza Marina cleaning up WJ3 and getting her ready for haul out early next week.  Part of that plan includes a quick side trip to Meteora to see the mountain top monasteries (report to follow) and a little more inland Greece by car.  After that, our TWB phase begins - travelling without boat.  We’ll catch a bus to Athens, fly to Vienna then train to Budapest to join our Intrepid Eastern Europe tour.  If Count Dracula doesn’t get us, we’ll fly home from Istanbul; so a few days for a long goodbye to the exotic eastern med.  And time to find another carpet?  Oops, the Cap’n just fainted!

Old windmills (now taverna) on Kastos

Tiny disused monastery under the pines, Kalamos