Several folks have asked what the birds do all day long. We thought an explanation about our companionable and ever entertaining pets would give you a better understanding. Nate and Primo are Yellow Naped Amazon Parrots. Their day starts around 7 AM, about the time the Admiral rises. They will have preened themselves completely by […]
ENVOY CRUISING AROUND CEPHALONIA
Envoy is now cruising around Meganisi with our daughter Amy aboard.
I meant to include this picture of Di in the Corfu market in an earlier post. Although we’ve been mostly unsuccessful in our fishing endeavors there is an enormous annual fish catch in the Med of 800,000 tonnes.
Di in Corfu fish and produce market
Di in Corfu fish and produce market
Fish shops and markets are common place, supplied by an estimated 82,000 commercial fishing boats employing 314,000 people. Virtually every seaside village has its own tiny shallow harbour, generally consisting of a simple rock wall providing some shelter to its fishing boat fleet – mostly boats under 10 metres.
After leaving Lefkas Marina we head south through the canal, initially constructed by Corinthians in the 8thcentury BC. It’s always great to visit places for the first time and we anchor in a stunning bay at the island of Nisis Arkoudian. During the day there are five RHIBs anchored but we enjoy the solitude of being the only boat there at night.
From here it’s a short cruise over to Ithica Island, said to be the home of Odysseus in ancient times.
Many nice bays are too deep to anchor in, being over 40 metres and offshore the depth is hundreds of metres. We anchor in Ormos Skhoinos offshore from a local family’s holiday villa. They’ve had the same caretaker for over 50 years, who lives in a beautifully maintained wooden sailing boat alongside their jetty.
The family villa’s caretaker lives aboard this unusually painted boat
The family villa’s caretaker lives aboard this unusually painted boat
Envoy at anchor in Ormos Skhoinis
Further out in the bay a superyacht is anchored looking more like a floating childrens’ playground than a serious boat.
While a boat of this size would turn heads back in New Zealand, there are hundreds of boats like this in the Med and nobody really bats an eyelid.
Very close to this anchorage is a stunning unnamed bay with a rustic but ramshackle beach bar.
Sitting outside the bar is a very thin older man looking like a biblical prophet cleaning some recently caught squid that are covered in wasps. When Di and Amy commented on this he replied “wasps don’t worry me they are my friends.” We think this highly amusing as wasps have been an issue in some bays and both Di and Amy have been stung. Very few flies or mosquitoes though.
This ferry drives up onto the beach to disembark day trippers using a builder’s ladder
We move on to Cephalonia, the largest of seven main Ionian islands, although there are many dozen smaller islands. I’m sure I’ve mentioned previously that this island is also where the events took place on which the novel and movie Captain Corelli’s mandolin are based. That is in 1943 German soldiers massacred around 5,000 Italian soldiers of the Acqui Division who had surrendered and represented no threat to the Germans.
First we anchor in the harbour of Ay Eufimia, one of our favorite anchorages. Here is a great butcher’s shop where we are able to buy New Zealand lamb chops and top quality fillet steak at surprisingly reasonable prices.
One morning we walk inland up a gorgeous valley to an old Turkish village called Drakopoulata.
The lush valley leading inland from Ay Eufimia
The lush valley leading inland from Ay Eufimia
During the 1920s Turks living in Greece were sent home as were Greeks living in Turkey and now the village remains largely ruined.
This old building contains rusty remains of olive presses
Cruising down to Ormos Katelios we put our trolling lure in the water for the first time this year and catch a small tuna. It’s far too small to eat but at least it proves the lure works.
This is an interesting anchorage as it’s quite shallow with many areas of underwater rocks and requires great care. The locals have marked some of the reefs and rocks with buoys which is a big help.
Looking down on Ormos Katelios
Looking down on Ormos Katelios
From here we’re heading to Cephalonia’s capital – Argostoli.
James Watt Dock Marina
We had an excellent month-long stay at James Watt Dock Marina in Greenock, Scotland near Glasgow. The marina was convenient for making train trips to explore Glasgow, Edinburgh and the West Highlands, and was a secure place for Dirona while we returned to Seattle for a couple of weeks. We also took a few deliveries…
This city makes me insatiable for education and culture!
I LOVE this city and I never want to leave! This afternoon I entered the auditorium in the bowels of the Smithsonian Museum of American Art for a piano concert. I sat beside a lady who was a delight with whom to chat before the concert began. She’s from Sweden, lived in the Virgin Islands for 30 years, and recently moved to D.C. She doesn’t have a car; doesn’t want a car; and loves to walk or cycle everywhere she goes with an occasional Metro thrown in. She pays $85/year for the BikeShare program and just raved about it, it’s easy, availability, and convenience.
As I rode my bike home tonight, I became amused and kinda chuckled all alone and by myself! For blocks, a bus drove right beside me. It’d stop to pick up or let passengers off and I’d pass. Soon, it’d pass me again and at the next corner, I’d pass it. We leap-frogged all the way down to my point to turn so even though it was “even Stephen”, I think I won. I didn’t pollute, use fuel, and got a tiny bit of exercise. Guess I’m just easily entertained!
At intermission a lady from Beijing sat down on the other side of me and after the concert was over, she and I chatted at least 30 minutes. They used to live here but moved to the Philippines for 15 years for her husband’s job, and now they’re back. We shared ideas and experiences and when we said goodbye, it was with a hug as if we’d known each other for ever.
Since we’ve been here I feel like a dry sponge. I can’t see enough; go enough; cycle enough; hike enough; do enough; or learn enough. The energy of this city and the stimulation it offers is something that I will crave forever.
10 September 2017 – Touring the Vietnam Memorial – Washington, DC
The country of Vietnam and its war has always been a great curiosity to me because our children’s father served there the second year of our marriage and the first year of our oldest son’s life. Despite the entrance to the memorial reading “Vietnam War”, it’s now called the “American War”.
I joined a tour group led by a docent who was very well versed on the war and the people of that country. Our group was small but there were 5 who’d been to Vietnam as tourists.
This sculpture, depicting three female nurses caring for a fallen soldier, calling to mind the courage and sacrifice of all the women who served. Around the memorial are 8 trees—a living tribute to the 8 servicewomen killed in action while in Vietnam and whose names appear on The Wall. 265,000 women served during the war and since they were prevented from being in combat, they served in health care, communications, intelligence, and administrative positions. This memorial honors not only those women who served but is also for the families who lost loved ones. It provides a visual that their family members who were suffering and dying, were being provided comfort, care, and a human touch.
Our docent pointed out an obscure plaque embedded in the pavers that he said generally goes unnoticed. It memorializes those who died prematurely years after the war had ended making it clear that the toll the war had taken on those who served had not ended. Many of the deaths were related to their service because of Agent Orange and other carcinogenic factors. Others endured the consequences of PTSD. The inscription in the black granite reads, “In memory of the men and women who served in Vietnam War and later died as a result of their service. We honor and remember their sacrifice.”
The artist who created The Faces of Honor, said, “They wear it on their uniform and carry the equipment of war; they are young. The contrast between the innocence of their youth and the weapons of war underscores the poignancy of their sacrifice. There is about them the physical contact and sense of unity that bespeaks the bond of love and sacrifice that is the name of men at war…. Their strength and their vulnerability are both evident.”
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial stands as a symbol of America’s honor and recognition of the men and women who served and sacrificed their lives in the Vietnam War. There are more than 58,000 names inscribed on the black granite walls of those who gave their lives or remain missing. The idea for the park was conceived by Maya Lin, a 21 year old student of architecture. There were many designers whose submissions were considered so this was quite an honor for that young lady and what a jump-start for her career. This is one of the most moving monuments in the nation’s capital.
The Vietnam Veterans Memorial stands as a symbol of America’s honor and recognition of the men and women who served and sacrificed their lives in the Vietnam War. There are more than 58,000 names inscribed on the black granite walls of those who gave their lives or remain missing. The idea for the park was conceived by Maya Lin, a 21 year old student of architecture. There were many designers whose submissions were considered so this was quite an honor for that young lady and what a jump-start for her career. This is one of the most moving monuments in the nation’s capital.
Bill and Laura Bender
Gangplank Marina
Washington, DC
Solomons Island and Irma
Yep, another beautiful Sunday morning after a somewhat sleepless night.
There’s a loss for words when trying to describe the feeling while looking out the salon window. Out there, the reality is the beginning of another beautiful day in Solomons’ tranquil little harbor. Meanwhile, at home, in Jupiter, our house is being pounded and our friends, who have stayed put, are confronting Hurricane Irma that’s bearing down on South Florida. (See live video of the effects of Irma here: NPBM)
Below, in the video that’s streaming from a front window at home, as I write this, not much is happening. It looks just like last year’s Hurricane Mathew that passed by without doing much damage.
Hope it stays that way.
Guilt is certainly not the descriptor that comes to mind, though anxiety is definitely in the mix. Conflicted doesn’t seem to fit either.
Is there a word that combines fortunate and grateful? If so, that’s it.
And then I turn and look out the salon window again —
Yes, anxious, fortunate, and grateful all apply. — God willing, we can add “Lucky” later.
Our thoughts are with everyone in the path of Irma. For those who stayed in Florida, please be safe. For those of us away, who have property in Florida — it’s just stuff.
Adios,
Nordhavn 57-26 Istaboa
Solomons Island and Irma
Yep, another beautiful Sunday morning after a somewhat sleepless night.
There’s a loss for words when trying to describe the feeling while looking out the salon window. Out there, the reality is the beginning of another beautiful day within the protected shores of Solomons tranquil little harbor. Meanwhile, at home, in Jupiter, our house is being pounded and our friends, who have stayed put, are confronting Hurricane Irma that’s forecast to be bearing down on South Florida. (See live video of the effects of Irma here: NPBM)
Below, in the video that’s streaming from a front window at Spearfish, as I write this, not much is happening. It looks just like last year’s Hurricane Mathew that passed by without doing much damage.
Hope it stays that way.
Guilty is certainly not the descriptor that comes to mind, though anxious is definitely in the mix. Conflicted doesn’t seem to fit either.
Is there a word that combines fortunate and grateful? If so, that’s it.
And then I turn and look out the salon window again —
Yes, anxious, fortunate, and grateful applies.
Our thoughts are with everyone in the path of Irma. For those who stayed, please be safe. For those of us with property in Florida — it’s just stuff.
Adios,
Nordhavn 57-26 Istaboa
It’s Time To Go
After 5+ weeks here in our beloved Castine, it is time to go. We have monitored the storms, checked the weather, and Red Head is prepped for passage. We’ll safely eke our way south, moving whenever we can.Goodbye Castine. Goodbye dear friends. We love …
Back the Trent-Severn
Campfire at Kirkfield Lock We left Swift Rapids on Tuesday the 29th of August, for a leisurely pace back through the Trent-Severn Waterway over the period of a week, stopping at some of the places we stopped on the trip west, with the difference that our stopoververs were overnight, moving on the next […]
2017-08 Prepping for a San Francisco Southbound Cruise
A quiet cruising summer aboard Wild Blue is about to change.
Boat cruising activity aboard Wild Blue has been in a slump over 2017’s summer. We’ve made just three cruises to the California Delta including a short cruise to Half Moon Bay. O…
