None of us knows where we are going to winter this year so we are entertaining all possibilities.

As well as seeing other parts of the island we thought we could visit some possible locations for a winter layup.

Our 1^st stop was a boatyard just 9 km or so north of Chios town. It gets a good right up and personal recommendation and we were lucky to arrive when a boat was going back in the water by trolley all very capable looking.

The price is incredibly cheap for us euros 100 a month plus euros 300 for both in and out the water, slightly more for Nicolas euros 130 per month. The only problem is that it is a yard with no facilities and no shops, tavernas anything near it.

We met the new co owner’s manager and it turns out it’s the same guy who’s doing up the marina that wants to develop this yard too! The manager says the prices should be about the same as they are not in it for profit – just to benefit the island and its inhabitants.

From there we headed north to the port of Kardamyla for a morning coffee

followed by a drive around the north of the island

to Port Volissos

and ending up in Volissos village higher up for lunch.

Afternoon was the drive back down the west coast where we saw some spectacular beaches and then finally back to Chios town harbour

and finally the castle for, yes you guessed, aperitifs before dinner.

The town itself is a half hour walk away with all the shopping facilities of a big town, and has a harbour proper that you can take your boat to but the chop and swell makes it look unpleasant and possibly even dangerous. I wouldn’t want to leave the boat there unattended for any length of time. It’s also the setting off and arrival point of the big inter-island ferries who just add to the slop.

There is a large “My Market “just 10 minutes away so that’s not too bad if you need to stock up.

I’ll bet that fat bloke in the rain doesn’t eat all this green stuff eh ?

But of course we would wander all the way in, in the guise of doing some shopping and then after settle down for an aperitif or meze lunch.

It’s a hard life this wandering about I’ll have you know!

Now for said aperitifs in the castle

and then the long, hot, but pretty walk back in the sun and a dip in the marina off the back of the boat.

Little sleep and thunderstorms threatening we decided to leave Manadraki the next morning rather than stay as planned for one or two days more.

We were looking forward to meeting up with Nicolas again, anyway. He had been in Chios for about a week, having originally come from Kalamata in the Peloponnese.

So a little 10 mile jaunt across to Chios was the voyage of the day. Just like going to Rothesay.

We arrived to a totally different place from the last time.

By special regulations all of the boats had been ordered out as the place has been bought by a rich Chiot philanthropist who wants to do something for his island by developing a proper marina with shops, bars, chandlers etc.

There were a few boats in but all the old barges have gone and the little local Greek fishing boats have moved to the harbour next door.

We were told it’s alright to stay until the work starts in October, although it might be later as it’s tied up in bureaucracy at the moment.

It’s a fantastic location for a proper marina and I am sure would be very popular.

There is still no water or electricity but we saw this fat bloke taking advantage of a sudden downpower for his ablutions.

06:45 Departing Scala Loutra heading waypoint #2 on chart.

Lily knows the engine is about to start and heads for her”tent” under the boom.

07:45 Mainsail now up with 2^nd reef just in case. Log fixed but possibly a loose connection at the sender.

10:00 As expected the wind veered. Now motor sailing, swell picking up and is a lot bigger by 12:00 and on the beam to boot, a real pain, but still not enough wind to sail.

Eventually at 12:45 we can sail and it turns out to be a good sail in 18 kts of wind but an absolutely amateurish parking fiasco at the end in Mandraki harbour, chipped the aft corner, going along side, aaaargh!

Saw NATO warship coming out of Chios channel as we were going in.

Think log over reading a wee bit, will need to calibrate it later.

47.6 miles in nine & a half hours.

  

Mandraki very quiet, that is, until the one and only bar started belting out music till the early hours. Think there were 2 people in and probably staff.

At last we are off.

Rounded up Lily from her favourite spot in the grass, paid an excellent deal by the marina and headed for Scala Loutra. Wind from the south so a motor job, but only for 11 miles or so, the speed log is not working and a few minor tasks to complete.

It’s a calm night at the anchorage and a lovely sunset. Lily appears impressed with the new cushion set up, lol

    

Today we picked up our new cushions for the cockpit.

Dimitra & Pericles had done a fabulous job. The quality of workmanship is amazing.

Camira has gone through some changes since leaving Ardrossan. She is still not a Mediterranean boat but with the bimini, shades and now cushions – very comfortable indeed.

 Out with the old

and in with the new

Louise is delighted with them.

I wonder if she’ll be delighted with me when I spill red wine on them?

As we expected to be leaving soon it was time to say our goodbyes to Stratis, the Chandler, Stratis the rigger and one of our favourites , Zoe one of the security guards.

We had been in Mytilini two winters now and had never tried the little taverna just outside the gates. On the day the restrictions eased allowing you to eat outside we decided to try it. Typical it was fantastic & cheap!

Louise made up non slip pads for under the spray hood so that Lily doesn’t slide about in rough weather.

I made up beer mats from the leftovers but apparently “You don’t think your keeping them do you?” I’ve got them stashed away.

And of course it would be departure day looming without me having some issue , this year a chipped molar and filling. Luckily the dentist was on a motorboat directly opposite us and he squeezed me in to sort it all out.

There are only another two inhabited boats on our pontoon at the moment. A Moody belonging to Uve , a German and a Vauquiez belonging to Alberto, an Italian.

Uve eventually wants to head to Turkey and Alberto is quite settled using his boat as a caravan and “visiting nature” on his little 125cc Honda each day.

We were waiting for a delivery of maintenance parts from Scotland, some new cushions that were being made up locally and a final emergency electrical switch (that didn’t happen) despite having already paid for it. Grrrr! But small beer.

In addition Louise had had an MRI on her back and was getting a course of injections over the coming weeks. So we thought we would likely get away mid June.

As we still had the bike we arranged to meet Alberto in Loutra, a small hillside village about 23 km from Mytilini at a taverna we had been to umpteen times before, very Greek and very good. He was keen to try it.

At the taverna

It’s a very nice journey – think I’m going to miss the wee scooter

I include the above as a rare and ususually acceptable picture of us both together ! when we stopped on the way back to Mytilini in the afternoon.

What was Lily’s lavender patch has now been taken away and the guys have built a pond in the shape of Lesvos complete with the two major lagoons. Very good it is too. Albeit the land “tongues” are in fact the lagoons.