Well, crazy times are with us.

The Covid 19 virus is raging across the globe and the whole world as gone into shutdown mode in an attempt to flatten the curve of infection.

In Greece that equates to no unnecessary travel except for only 6 possible reasons, the most pertinent for us are visiting the bank (ATM), Supermarket shopping or visiting the Pharmacy / Vet if required. You are required to send an SMS to a central number with your name, address, reason, date & time and you receive a txt message reply authorizing that particular outing. There are fines for those caught not complying. The system unfortunately doesn’t work on non Greek phones. We have to take a handwritten chit with the same information. As yet we have not been stopped.

I have to say Mr Mitsokatis has acted very quickly and so far it appears to be reaping benefits.

For us and everyone else that means finding ways of passing the days. I have been messing about with my camera and today Lily posed about on the scooter for a photo shoot.

We (that is Louise) takes her out on the lead as we are concerned about letting her roam free for two reasons. One, there are a group of cats (that we feed & house!) who see this as their territory and Two, although it is deathly quiet on the road outside, even before the lockdown, I found two dead cats with no trauma on separate occasions – so they may have been poisoned. She will just have to content herself until we get back to the marina. She’s not bad if we are both in the house but if one of us goes out she creates a bit, especially if it’s Louise.

Well, David Bailey eat your heart out, lol

Oi Paparazzi ! Can we be famous too ?

We decided to cancel Louise’s trip home and bring forward the launching of the boat to Monday 23^rd March so that we would have somewhere to stay when we are due to leave the house on 12^th April.

It would be a problem if we were not allowed to launch Camira and she was on the hard for an indefinite period. A small boat is challenging enough but up & down ladders with a cat!

It could be a good or bad decision as it turns out, who knows in these crazy times. Indeed the day after the launch the lockdown procedures came into force. Unnecessary land travel etc was prohibited for the foreseeable future, and all sea movements already banned due to the Turkish crisis were extended.

A positive “benefit” was that the villa we are renting was now available to us for a longer period as a result of holiday cancellations and as we were on good terms with the owners they offered us it at a further knockdown price just as long as we watered the garden & plants. We have taken it for April & May at the moment in the hope that some semblance of normality is restored later in the summer – but who knows – we could be here throughout the summer into the winter and next year before we are allowed to leave, in which case the boat could have remained out of the water.

This past winter saw an extensive maintenance schedule and only for my own record I have listed it below. Still some final things to do but the parts are currently stuck in Scotland.

Camira was looking good and in normal times we would have been making plans for this year’s cruise.

     

Sandblasted , primed & antifouled

The launch itself was a train crash with the crane operator bashing the backstay 4 times. I would not lift out here again, which is a shame as I have come to really like the Marina, Mytilini & Lesvos.

So this is it the last post of 2019-20:

8,600 miles and 6 years to date………

All the best and see you after in the continuing blogs of the intrepid threesome, lol

Captain Chaos, Louise and, of course, Lily xx

Appendix

    
√    Winterise outboard    
√    Engine –  renew engine mounts
√    Engine –  change fuel filters
√    Engine – flush / antifreeze
√    Engine – change oil & filter
√    Engine –  remove batteries & check VP seal
√    Engine – remove exhaust elbow & clean
√    Engine – refurb spare water pump
√    Engine – repair ignition wiring loom
√    Engine – new ignition panel
√    Renew heads toilet pipework
√    Renew heads sink pipework
√    Renew galley sink pipework
√    Service sea cocks
√    Remove & service diverter valve
√    Service Jabsco pumps x 2
√    Clean speed log impellor
√    Fit & test new Pilot Mini gas alarm
√    Fix pressure gas hobs &  remake all connections
√    Fix annoying leak in fresh water sytem
√    Clean keel nuts and paint bilges
√    Epoxy in NASA EX1 exhaust alarm monitor at hatch
√    Glue compresion post & galley headlining
√    Sandblast & epoxy keel
√    Fair up rudder, clean shaft, prop & p bracket
√    New cushion zips
√    Replace velcro on cushion arm
√    Varnish oars
√    Sand & varnish outboard bracket
√    New foam for upolstery
√    Polish hull & prop.
√    Fit new hull & shaft & engine annodes
√    Install new VHF speaker  

    Fit new aquasignal bow navigation lens
     Oil teak
     Repair toerail – alum powder & epoxy
     Engine – emergency start button
     Fit new compass bulb 
     Fit new fridge thermostat
     Fit wichard pad eye
     Fit decals for new ignition panel

We were aware of the developing virus situation but not the extent of the preventative measures that were to follow in due course.

These posts round up the days leading up to what would come to be known as the “Lock Down”.

At the end of February on a beautiful spring day we decided to visit the thermal baths just outside Mytilini on the Gulf of Gera.

There is the original indoor bath and a newer outdoor infinity pool version. Both have the same geothermally heated water. There are a number of these spas across Lesvos as a result of the volcanic history of the island. This is meant to be one of the better ones.

We paid for both which is a bit of a swizz at 3.00 Euros each for the indoor & 5.00 each for the outdoor one  You would think one price and you have to bring your own towels, shower gel etc.  – but hey ho (Apparently a common gripe on Trip Advisor we discovered later)

We had the place to ourselves initially and then only a few locals who used the indoor baths.

 

 

Very nice it was too. My legs I hasten to add. The views across the gulf were impressive, less so the temperature of the sea that had not yet heated up to the temperature we expect in high summer.

   

We both had a dip but it was good to get back into the infinity pool.

Louise loves a massage and as her birthday was approaching she treated herself to one while I had a coffee and checked my e-mails.

As we were about to leave the staff advised that the roads back into Mytilini could be blocked by the Police. There has been some civil unrest amongst the locals as a result of the refugee camps crisis. We found out later that tear gas had been used against the Greek residents demonstrating. A school in the camp had then been burnt down. I think things are getting to boiling point & not being helped by the continual daily influx of refugees from Afghanistan & Syria being picked up and taken to safety by the Greek Coastguard.

Luckily I knew a detour around the coast road which would bring us back into town from a different direction. It took us past Skala Loutra where there is a nice taverna we used when anchored off in the bay last summer. On arrival it was still shut for winter, however we also knew of a wee taverna up the hill in the village of Loutra which was our alternative choice. Very Greek, very nice & very cheap.

I am breaking off monetarily as Louise has just brought me a Greek salad for my lunch, serendipity or what?

Friday the 13th (ooooooh er!) is Louise’s birthday and we went to Refenes in Mytilini for lunch, and this, as it turns out, was to be our last meal out.

Now beginning to quieten down, even before restrictions. This was the harbourside on the afternoon of Louise’s birthday

 

We had to make do with Jigsaws and the now ready Limón cello, lol.

 

Although as I write this retrospectively at the end of April only the wee half full bottle is finished !!

The Limon cello police are very active hereabouts