Nea Mikhaniona

After 4 very pleasant nights in Nea Marmaris we were now into July and we set off for Thessaloniki almost 60 miles to the north west through the Portas Canal.

This shallow canal near the village of Potidhaias cuts the Kassandra peninsula off from the mainland it is over ½ a mile long and has a minimum width of 36m. A bridge spans the canal at a height of 17m. It is dredged to 2.5m but is subject to silting particularly at the Western entrance and the edges. Having assured ourselves with help from a local couple, Tanya & Thassos, who charter out two Elan Yachts in Nea Marmaris that we should be OK to transit it we set off early at 07:00.

OK for us that is! but  …

They forbid their charterer’s to go through it! lol. We discovered this talking to a Russian journalist on one of the yachts. She writes about animals and most recently about a Greek dog who has attended all of the political rallies in Athens.

She was taken with Lily and her story so she took some pictures and is going to do a piece on her for a Moscow publication and has promised to send us details.

Better brush up on my Russian…. Da?

James Bond: “ What do you want?”

Spectre:         “Vee vont you to die Meeesterr Bond”

We reached the entrance to the canal around 10:00 am. No matter how carefully you have confirmed the height restriction it’s almost always looks closer than it probably is.

Lily came up to see what all the fuss was about

On exiting the canal the wind was beginning to go south. We had full sail up to take advantage of it but it was unlikely we would reach Arretsou Marina, Thessaloniki before late so a suitable alternative was sought.

The western exit and view back to the bridge

This turned out to be Nea Mikhaniona, a fishing harbour in the large bay under Ak Megalo Emvolon (Big Cape Emvelon – for youse keepin up wi’ the Greek Speek).

As it’s a fishing harbour it’s not designed for yachts and the mooring bollards are head height and have to be lassoed. Unfortunately Louise’s rodeo skills have lapsed somewhat so it took a few attempts to successfully catch a bollard.

Yes….. Yet again the air was blue, lol.

Nea Mikhaniona Harbour peaceful at sunset

Peaceful as night fell , but that was before the fishermen arrived , not the professionals but the amatuer fishing rod guys who line the piers and chatter, all night , lol

However it would be a short hop of 12 miles to Marina Aretsou tomorrow morning.