Sometime between noon yesterday and the same time today, somebody flicked the switch. The wind that was cold and biting from time to time is now mellow and starting to follow the usual patters throughout the day. The sun now feels warm and it looks like summer has begun.
Today we left Poros. There were many boats on the town quay and at least one had laid its anchor chain across ours. But we were in no hurry and we let them leave before us, thereby avoiding any repetition of the Porto Heli incident. Lori felt that everyone was watching us as we left. Most of the boats on the quay were charters which means that they are a little smaller than us and have about three times as many people on them. So sometimes we can show how two people can maneuver a 48-foot boat off a quay without words, signals (or shouting). Sometimes we do it right but on other days …. Sigh. So much to learn and practice.
We are not sure where we are going to go. It seems too soon to head back through the Corinth canal to more familiar waters. Especially so now that the weather has changed. So we went into a holding pattern today and motored for a couple of hours in pretty much a flat calm to the southwest corner of Angistri. It is described as a charming spot with a few beautiful sheltered coves. We would wholeheartedly agree.
We are alone in a big cove sheltered by an offshore island. Around us is a little wood of pine trees with ancient (we presume) walls and terraces. The water is 15 meters deep but you can see all the way to the bottom. We have anchored and taken a couple of lines ashore for the night. If we are fortunate, we will have this gorgeous bay to ourselves.
It is probably a sign of our growing maturity. The town quays and marinas have their place but sometimes close proximity to many total strangers who are not able to take their summer adventures quite as easily as we can is a little wearing. With the addition of our solar panels and water-maker to the installed generator, we can go pretty much where we please and be as off or on the grid as we choose. Provisions are our only concern but Ruairi showed us how to stock up for a long period at sea before we left for Malta. It works well.
Tonight will be a planning night. But for now the only sign of other people and other places on the planet are the tiny lights of Epidavros eight miles away across the calm water.