Originally we had planned to head the long way back via Sigri, but we changed our minds and sailed back the shorter route – the way we came – with a view to anchoring half way back in Ormos Palios.

Thank goodness we did. When I reversed the engine on anchoring there was a clacking that I initially thought was a loose shaft anode, but diving in to have a look determined that wasn’t the problem?

The Commodore again pinpointed the issue “Could it be an engine mount?”

Yes it was. One of the support brackets had sheared completely.

We put a block under the engine sump to support it & the shaft turned freely enough to allow us to motor the next 15 miles down to Mytilini Marina.

Kerching ……..more expense this winter! Ah well.

    

Beautiful anchorage at Ormos Palios

 

Lily keeping an eye on proceedings

The next morning was possibly the final swim of the season. Louise it has to be pointed out followed the Nicolas fashion of baring her bum to the full moon then jumping in skinny dipping at midnight the previous night. French pagans !

At 16:30 we safely moored up in our old berth on C pontoon.

It wasnt too bad so having arranged an engineer & orderd up parts we may just venture out a wee distance if all remains calm – We’ll see.

Monday 7^th October

We awoke to an unusually overcast day. Both the Police launch and the Greek coastguard boats had gone out. There is a lot of activity currently as the level of migrants coming from Turkey escalates.

 

Having located Lily from her expedition & secured her behind her new prison gate, we set off up through the town to the Fortress.

  

Lily on her morning explorations in the rocks.

     

The climb up

The Fortress was founded during the Byzantine period over the ruins of the ancient fortification. Subsequently occupied by Venetians, Catalans, Genoese and the Ottomans from 1462 until Greek independence.

 

A balcony with a view !

 

We found a proper old Ouzeri where we stopped for an ouzo meze lunch for the princely sum of 3.00 Euros each.

 

Paul & Lorraine arrived a few days later

 

We stayed until the 13th October when we started to head back to Mytilini.

Sunday 6^th October

Well sailing again.

We are heading 30 miles up the east coast of Lesvos and along the north to Molivos or Mithimna.

Along the way we passed inside Nsidhes Tomaria  (The island marked No. 1)  in Ormos Makris Giallos. There are many rocks fringing this bay but it was a calm day and safe enough to pass through,even so it was impossible to see some of the dangers marked on the chart.

Past Ormos Limin (No.2) a good anchorage but only in a NW, and Ormos Sikamenea (No.3) and then finally rounding Ak (Cape) Molivos to the bay and harbour of the same name.

 Views of the north coast

   The approach & harbour

We managed to squeeze in between a motor boat & a Polish Police launch. We were the only yacht there.

The lyric poet Arion (625BC) who was saved from drowning by a music loving dolphin was born here. Presumably his spirit survives as the town has developed into something of an artists’ retreat.

The town is a maze of cobbled passages winding in and out of medieval fortifications. Stone and timber houses with small wooden balconies look over the cliffs to the bay and harbour below.