Susie sets sail

So i don't forget

the old British weather we've had some heavy rain/snow/thunder and wind over the past few days just to make me feel at home. Although the snow was on the higher peaks of the mountain range its freezing tempretures filtered down to us at sea level. What with that and the wind chill factor I had to dig out my scarf, hat and gloves.

Monday was a wash out however; Pam and Keith had the use of a car on Tuesday and with finer weather forecast it was a great opportunity to climb into the mountains armed with cameras to take some pics of the waterfall which should be at its peak.

As it happened it had peaked too much and we were unable to get to the top of the falls as the path was flooded. Instead we had to make do with the lesser falls lower down.

I've been hoping for ages to experiment on freezing water so to speak with my Camera. Armed with my little note book with carefully written instruction I set up my tripod. I started fiddling with my f stops and shutter speed until eventually I captured the desired effect.

With the high cliffs sheltering us  the light wasn't good for pgotograpy. Although I’ve worked out the correct setting, none of my pics were good enough to upload. Feeling deflated and still wanting to get some good shots in we drove further up the mountain until we found a viewing spot. Again tripods out and we were off, this time we had the perfect view.

What do you think?

Isn't the view to die for.

Such a shame the tree spoils it, reminder to oneself for future expeditions.... take along a chainsaw.

Oh how I wish I had a wide angled lens too still, I took several panoramic shots and can stitch them together in Photo shop.

It's not all play here, I’d decided to join Pam in the step class at the marina gym in the evening. Sixty minutes of pain and strain, my coordination seems to be a thing of the past, still, I kept going.

I think while we have a gym on the doorstep and for those wet and windy days I’ll join for a month and make good use of it.

Today, Wednesday it was the usual stretch and tone and the 6.5 mile bike ride around the lagoon. I can actually feel myself getting fitter and like a mad woman starting to enjoy it too, god i sound boring.

I do other things too but i'm on an 'onshore mission'. I always thought sailing would keep me fit but sitting in the cockpit on the same tack does not burn off calories or build muscle. Now the windlass has been fixed we don't even get to haul the anchor.

It’s a glorious sunny day today but still chilly in the shade. Four of us cycled today and with the chit chat as we went around it was no time before i was back on the boat, collapsed and wishing the kettle would hurry up.

Last night while sitting and reading on my Kindle i had a feeling i was being watched, as i looked up a pair of eyes were looking back at me from a small window right opposite. It did make me jump but as the peeping tom  had whiskers and a pink nose i soon realised Peanut, the adopted marina cat had come for a snoop.

I'm the only occupied boat on this pontoon and some distance awway from anyone so was surprised to see her. Of course i had to give her something to eat so a little fish in tomato sauce, and a piece of cheese i dug out of the bin had her purring away. I've not seen her today so this was probably just a nose about.

She usually sits in the bar either in the sun or on someone's lap who sits for long enough, she isn't fussy. She likes nothing more than to pinch crisps left unatended or drink from your glass, wine, beer, anything will do.

The live aboards clubbed together to have her spayed, I bet she was chuffed about that......

It’s Keiths birthday today so he and Pam have invited me to join them for a birthday meal, great, real food, no soup tonight and no cooking, what a treat.

Free time = none

This is supposed to be a relaxed lifestyle, if I find out who said that they will be keel hauled. Winter aboard means mainly being static so you have to find things to do. My time has been getting into this fitness regime, as we’ll probably be off around April I intend to give it wellie till then. Cycling, stretch and tone classes have taken a lot of time out of my relaxing time, but I do take my camera on long bike rides and walks so i'm able to indulge my hobby.

We’ve had bowling nights, curry nights, movie nights and just social nights. I've had to keep a timetable/diary to keep up. Everyone here is so friendly and obviously had their orders from Carol to keep an eye on me.

I sweet friend thought I deserved a treat and sent me a new toy, something I’d really wanted too. When it comes to spending money on frivolous things for myself  I can never justify it. So on the 20th of January a package arrived and I eagerly opened it and there it was, sleek, black wafer thin and all mine, it's name was Kindle3G.

It's my very own ebook reader. I love reading but getting the book you want to read is very difficult out here. Book swaps are good but you end up reading stuff you wouldn't ordinarily choose. Then there is the space, I have two small book shelves mostly filled with my art and photography book collection so there isn't much room for novels.

My Kindle didn't have an easy journey as it was kidnapped by customs who wanted me to sign an affidavit to confirm I was who I was!!!!! Anyway I acted blonde (sorry Liz just a term nothing personal) and eventually a passport number and fathers name was enough for the Greek customs to release it.

I'm just thrilled with it, having registered on my Amazon account I was ready to roll and  I chose my first book, Three cups of tea by Greg Mortenson, hmmmm not exactly what I expected but it's a light read so won’t take long to finish. I can choose a book from the kindle store far cheaper than the paper copy.  All I have to do then is press buy and before I go back to the home page it's there to read. I've also realised you can read the first chapter of a book before buying; i should have done that with Three cups of tea but never mind.

There are also free books you can down load mainly the classics. Magazines and news papers are also available. So I’m all set up and although it's not the same as having the paper copy in your hand I get to read what I want. I can always buy my favs once I get home but I will always have the electronic copy. So if you have any recommendations please let me know.

Thanks P, I’m very grateful for your thoughtful generosity.

Amongst the cycling and walking I went out with Pam and Keith last Sunday for a walk, Keith is a hobby photographer too. We took a few good shots. My best one was of the sun going down with the snow capped mountains in the background.

 

I have my paints out and have a project going, playing my fav songs on the cd player and painting is very soothing and gives me time to think about family, friends and the coming year. Andrea Bocelli has different effects depending how I feel at the time but I do love his music and voice even though I haven't a clue what he's saying. The Italian language really does it for me even though I don’t understand a word of it. At the moment I have Eva Cassidy playing Fields of gold. It's one of those if day’s weather wise, blue skies with large white and grey clouds full of rain and every now and then they empty onto my hatch, it sound like a gang of penguin’s tap dancing up there. The wind is too strong for a bike ride just yet but maybe it'll drop later.

I sea oranges.

On the stroke of January 6th, the "twelve days" of Christmas (Epiphany) officially come to an end. This day, takes on a special meaning in Greece. Here, there is a special ceremony of blessing the waters and the vessels that sail and work on them.

Strings or oranges line the streets for people to buy who haven't already brought your own.

The modern celebration takes the form of a priest hurling a large crucifix into the waters while blessing the briny. Young men brave the cold sea and compete to retrieve it. The cross is attached to a nice, safe long rope or ribbon, just in case this year's crop of divers sinks attempting to get the cross safely back to shore. As they stood there in a row some looking brave, others looking as though they were just about to be hurled to the lions I stood poised with my camera wanting to get a shot of them diving in.

Damn I should have set the camera to multi pics, one shot of bodies in mid flight

Ouch looks like a few belly flops here.

The next PIC a bunch of brave cold men splashing about like sharks during a frenzied attack. Still you get the idea.

Children, old folk men and woman dangle clumps of oranges into the blessed sea. I was told these are then hung on boats and in homes for the year and supposed to bring good luck.

Greece has lots of good luck trinkets in the shops. I have one in my cabin that Carol bought me, a sail boat tied with red ribbons.

A band accompanied the group of priests to the blessing spot but what made this seem strange was that they were also escorted by machine gun totting soldiers. The priests donned colourful capes and hats and of course the obligatory beards gave them a sort of holy aura.

            

Hmm it all looks very solemn

After the diving for the cross event, local fishermen bring their boats to be blessed by the priest.

Apparently after the ceremony folks go home to another Christmas feast but Carol and I went for a nice coffee with croissants instead. As I supped my frothy hot coffee and consumed my very nice croissants I knew I had to take the bit between the teeth and go for my bike ride. Yesterday I just did a short walk so today a concerted effort was needed.  As soon as I got back to the boat I grabbed Fanny, my camera and the GPS and set off.

I’d planned a pit stop just past the windmills today however a photograph opportunity presented itself and I couldn’t let it pass. My old mate Don was cantering towards me sat astride his trusty steed and just about to do battle with a rather forlorn windmill.

The cycling is getting easier mainly due to the fact I day dream most of the way around however, I must buy a new gel seat the numbness and other sensations are not enjoyable.

We mad Brits.

 

As the Christmas day swim was cancelled the New Year day swim took place at 12.30 pm. With a marina full of Brits you would have expected a good turnout but perhaps the Brits aren’t as mad as I thought. Only three donned their cosies and took the leap of death. Carol who usually just goes for it took a few mins to immerse herself but she did it.

 

Ellie the dog also took her very first few doggy paddle strokes. Of course someone had to hold the towels and take the pics so I reluctantly volunteered to miss out on the swim.

January 3^rd and we took the decorations down and had a good boat cleanup. It’s a beautiful day, warm and sunny so when the Dyson ran out of power we decided to go for a bike ride.

Yesterday was blustery and showery and just the excuse I needed NOT to go for my bike ride but don’t despair, today I did ten miles. I'm dead pleased with myself, even my nether regions are getting used to the saddle.

We passed through the olive groves again, I had to check out the turkeys but alas only about a quarter were there. Of course I shouted out calimeara (phonetically spelt). It means good day in Greek and of course they replied in unison. Gobble gobble.

More lambs seem to be around this time sitting huddled up together under the olive trees.

I had one or two pit stops en route usually after a hill knowing the best bit was to come, freewheeling. There is one stretch where if you give a few really hard pedals you can freewheel for someway and gather up speed till you almost wobble off.

Fanny does have a steering problem, she tends to go for pot holes and believe me there are plenty of them around, I think the Greeks build them in.

I took another pic of one of the many miniture Irises...

Slightly over exposed but a nice subject.

There are some lovely holiday Villas on our bike ride many of them facing the sea and the long sandy beaches.  I expect from Easter we will start to see the holiday makers arriving.

I’ve had my water colour paints out a few times but I don’t seem to be doing very well, I’ve yet to do something I’d be proud to show off. Water colour for me seems to be a bit of a mystery. If I can do well with oils and acrylics then why can’t I master water colour? I won’t give up, ‘self improvement’ being this year’s motto means if at first you don’t succeed try, try again.

Carol has ordered me a pedometer from the tinternet, my aim will be to do a minimum of 10,000 steps a day. I'm hoping when Carol returns to Greece after her almost three month pilgrimage to the UK I will be well on my way to a fitter trimmer me and able to keep up with her and new pup on extended walks.