The Ionian August 2013 Volume 4. Issue 5 www.theionian.com COMPLIMENTARY/∆ΩΡΕΑΝ Please recycle: give to a friend or neighbour when finished.
High as a Kite Page 8
The Art of Celebrating Life and Dealing with Loss Page 5
Around Ithaka Paddle Challenge
Destination: Kefalonia
Page 6
Page 11
Swallowing the Anchor Our First Yacht
Page 15
Page 10
The Legend of Kalamosaurus Page 12
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The Ionian Contact us: Website: Email: Founding Publisher: Publisher: Managing Editor: Advisory Board: Layout: Printing: Advertising: Subscriptions:
www.theionian.com admin@theionian.com Justin Smith Barbara Molin Barbara Molin Yannis Dimopoulos Ryan Smith Barbara Molin Graphic Arts Barbara Molin Barbara Molin
You can read or download The Ionian free on our website at: www.theionian.com, or pick it up from our advertisers. The Ionian is published monthly approximately on the last day before each month. Publication is for informational purposes only. Although The Ionian has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, the publisher cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions it may contain. The opinions expressed by the contributors are not necessarily held by the publisher. Published in Canada. Cover Photo: Tom Charlton kite surfing. Photo by www.active-photos.com To purchase any of our photographs or to submit your own for a cover shot consideration email us at: editor@theionian.com
A little bit of magic ... Sometimes it would be useful to be a magician and be able to turn the clock back a few years, or even a few minutes if not seconds. As was in the case of a father and son who recently died in a scooter accident leaving the whole village in mourning and the rest of us wondering about the meaning of life and the existence of a higher power. And so, this month we focus on the ups and downs of life. Some ups are as high as flying a kite as we see in The Ionian interview of Tom Charlton and several other kite surfers in High as a Kite, on page 8. Then there is the high of finally achieving a long held dream. Bill Andrews writes about his and his wife Sue’s dream finally coming true at the age of 69 in, Our First Yacht on page 10. On the other hand then there is the closing of one door and perhaps opening of another as Les Ellson and his wife Anne say good bye to their friends in the Ionian and their yacht in Swallowing the Anchor on page 15. Yet we go on. Two other stories are about achieving of goals: Around Ithaka Paddle Challenge by John Bunker on page 6 and Destination: Kefalonia by Ann Rowe on page 11. Barbara de Machula deals sensitively with the difficult task of writing about The Art of Celebrating Life and Dealing with Loss on page 5. And finally a bit of magic in The Legend of Kalamosaurus by Robin Lamb on page 12. Thank you goes to Active Photos (www.active-photos.com) for a cover shot of Tom Charlton. Stay safe and enjoy reading... ~~~_/) Barbara Molin
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The Art of Celebrating Life and Dealing with Loss by Barbara de Machula but the first time I heard about it and how incredible it was to play a string quartet s I sit here by my computer, after again after nine years! It nearly brought tears to my eyes when I started to play the some days of frantic search for my lost Haydn minuet with three other talented billing book, I feel somewhat numb. Life sometimes throws unexpected curve young musicians, and when I got the cello balls at you, and it seems this time a few ouzos and deep, deep soul searching is the only answer. Who knows what lies deep in our brain cells, hidden from everyday thoughts? My good friend, Mike, introduced the concept of a lady's bag being a concrete mixer, as we women always seem to misplace our needed stuff deep in hidden side pockets of our eternal companion, the handbag. We make this circular movement with our hands to try to scoop out the lost item, therefore the concrete mixer idea. For the last few days, or weeks, I have been doing just that in our attic room, where the inventory of my old office is stored in boxes. The book keeper demands all assets, the little blue books that seem the holy grail. The few bills I write must be processed and documented, as well as the bills I pay to keep my small enterprise going. I dread the time of the bookkeeping because I seem to have trouble keeping things in lessons from the most incredible teacher good order. that you can wish for, with a great sense of And once again, this time, when my humour and spirit that even makes a friends were swimming in the sea, eating ice-cream and enjoying themselves, I was boring scale exciting and happy. I counted my blessings, the cello lessons a prisoner of my chaos in the hot attic. I my parents gave me until I was a grumpy never found the book in the end‌. teenager and windsurfing became more However, I had my good times a week important to me than playing cello, but before, for sure, enjoying a wonderful now I am so grateful for their patience classical music seminar in Lefkas. This was the seventh time the seminar was held, with me and the young cello pupils I have
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are worth the same efforts so that one day they will enjoy playing and making music for the rest of their lives. I lost my chamber music for years, and found it again in the seminar. Blessing! I lost my bookkeeping books, and didn't find them. Loss‌ After my visit to the bookkeeper, we celebrated with a cold drink because it seemed that the lost book could be replaced and I was liberated from the hot attic concrete mixer. But then the phone rang, and I received terrible news. A father and son were killed in a road accident. Suddenly all my little worries and challenges are put into perspective. Why is it, we need these sad lessons to get wisdom about life? My happiness when we played together with 15 cellos, my sadness over the loss of this dear man and his boy. I want to dedicate everything good and beautiful to honour them, and my good times will be even better because I know there is another side to life we have to deal with sometimes. My thoughts go out to his family, who will carry the loss of their husband and son, and all those who lost their dear ones to life in any way. I will try to learn not to be upset by little insignificant things that life throws at me. Not to be angry with people that I think hurt me, because nothing I have in my life will compare with the grief a mother will have for her child and her husband that were taken from her in one second. Easy-life Palairos by the blue sea will not be the same for a long, long time after this morning and I will search for comfort by playing the chamber music I found again. In loving memory of Costas and his boy Vasilis.
August 2013 www.theionian.com The Ionian 5
Around Ithaka Paddle Challenge
water’s edge. These rocks have not been rounded by eons of Atlantic storms like those of Western Europe, and indeed hardly appear to be affected by water erosion at all. We reached the bay of Ag Andreou, the southernmost point of Ithaca in the early evening, anchored, secured the stern line ashore and waited for the other support boats. Finally we were all rafted up and a relaxing evening ensued under a bright moon. The next morning we watched goats drinking from the brackish rock pools, a mixture of dew and sea water, along the water’s edge. There was a definite ‘pecking’ By John Bunker order with the alpha male headbutting anyone out of line. Taking the Gap; Skhoinos Point (Big Vathy Bay); Joan and Jeanette Alan joined the ladies and set off paddling early to get some distance done before the heat of the day. Vassiliki to Piso Aetou noon ferry on Joan had the rhythm, Jeanette not far Sunday 16 June 2013. Next came solo hat makes two young at heart and behind but Alan was too tall for the boat sailor Geoff and, after a terrific stern vibrant ladies want to paddle a canoe and had undersized anchor tangle, Bob and around the Island of Ithaca? I’ll leave that paddles; it made for an Alan on “Galatea”. We one to you. awkward motion, but he had winds of different That they were going to do the paddle was strengths and directions, laboured on. beyond question, they had achieved Lefkas but all managed to sail The three paddlers in 2010, Skorpios in 2011 then Meganissi passed Ag Ioannis, and the or motor-sail from in 2012; so the question was “who is going Vassiliki into and down lonely light house to support us”? keeper’s home, and on to the Ithaca Channel. The word went out and interest grew and Pera Pigadi Bay. This Islet Tudor Rose and the fell. Finally the team was: is universally known to ferry arrived at Piso Joan Beaver: Paddler; Jeanette Forrest: yachties as “Rat Island”. Aetou within minutes of Paddler; Alan Slayford: Two days out of We had a clear blue sea, each other. The girls Entertainment at four, Paddler; Jim Holland: Support vessel offloaded their canoes zero wind and a beautiful Pigadhi Beach BBQ “Argo Navis”; Bob Burton: Skippered beach. The water was very and set off southwards in Ketch Support vessel “Galatea”; Geoff clean but there were a near perfect conditions. Stockman: Skipper Support vessel Argo Navis, Jim at the wheel, stayed close- number of scary jelly fish and some “Tamazan”; John and Rose Bunker: discomfort from wasps. Deciding on an by as guard boat. Support vessel “Tudor Rose.” It is fascinating to follow a coastline a few early stop we rafted up again, stern lines Tudor Rose, with Jim, John and Rose left metres out, at very slow speed, instead of tied to the rocks and search parties went out first, towing “Argo Navis” sailing from to collect wood for a BBQ. the usual rush to get somewhere, and find Vassiliki, Lefkas Island to Piso Aetou Bay time to contemplate the rock formations. A very good evening was had by all; on the west side of Ithaca. The lady Rosie played the guitar, the temperature Jagged vertical rocks, like craggy molars, paddlers, complete with canoes, took the deeply pitted, lined our course all along the cooling down from the hottest day of the year to date. The stars were so bright that shadows The three paddlers near “Domino rocks” appeared; the sea was millpond still and there was a silence, not a sound to be heard. Early morning brought a severe swell, probably caused by passing ferries or cruise liners, as we were exposed to the main Patras traffic. Keels and skegs bumped on the rocky bottom getting skippers out of bed to adjust anchors and stern lines in double quick time. Tuesday and another early start for the paddlers in ideal conditions, a mirror sea, northwards along the coast. The coast became ever more interesting as we approached the Skhoinos headland, the turning point for (Big) Vathi Bay. We
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ahead again, Jeanette following but Alan was struggling; he vowed to come back with bigger paddles, “two dustbin lids and a broomstick”, next time. It was only midmorning when we got into Kioni, the planned stopover for that night, and Geoff went in to find us a place to park. He came out saying the place was absolutely packed with yachts, “like grubs in a jam jar”. So, we Moored up together near "Rat Island": Tudor Rose, went on to Frikes, not the Tamazan and Galatea town quay but to the South the chart the next natural stopover was East corner of the Frikes Bay. Another beach with pine trees, a hot afternoon, and Polis Bay, much too far for a single day. a wasp attack at dusk, and, quite suddenly, So, the ladies decided to do a short extra we had a big blow swirling in every distance to a point on the North Eastern direction; my wind indicator and flag in coast of Ithaca. They set off without Alan, who was ‘indisposed’, early on Thursday opposition. There was a big wash from morning. shipping; we were exposed to the north Paddling for a couple of hours took us with no shelter at all. We had now exceeded our expectations round the headland (Another Headland) of for the first part of the paddle and could Nikolaou, to a delightful small beach at have packed up for home; but looking at Voukendri. We anchored up together for a final coffee break before shipping the ladies and the canoes on board and heading back under motor for Vassiliki. We found space for the three yachts and Argo Navis against the inner Vassiliki wall, offloaded our goods and headed to the “Dolphin” for much needed sustenance and liquids. The plan is to complete the circumnavigation of Ithaca sometime in mid September. Well done to Joan and Jeanette, this is the fourth year in succession that they have achieved their goals. Well done to Alan who paddled for the very first time, in difficult circumstances. The guard boats, Rose, Geoff, Bob, Alan, Jeanette, Jim and Joan well done us for being there in support, what a pleasure!
stopped and asked the paddlers to back track for a photo shoot in front a ‘falling domino’ rock formation. We rafted up, tied to a tree, at the extreme eastern end of Skhoinos Bay, at a small beach with shady trees. A wonderful scent of pine wafted over the boats as we relaxed into the afternoon. Jim took most of us into Vathi for some essential supplies, Joan and Rose staying behind, on watch. We had a couple of rounds of the most expensive beer in the Ionian, at a waterfront tavern. It made us realise that we are spoilt by our ‘local’ in Vassiliki. It was a very hot afternoon and, back at the boats, all we could do was jump into the water and laze on deck. The sea temperature was quite cold, so quick dips after a visual jellyfish patrol was the order of the day. We had planned to return to Vathi for an evening out but in the early evening a wind blew up and the sea became too rough for the small boats, so we had dinner back on board. On Wednesday we decided to make the crossing direct to Cape Ilias and not to go all the way round the Vathi Bay. The wind had died and the sea was again just perfect for the three paddlers. Joan pulled out
August 2013 www.theionian.com The Ionian 7
High as a Kite Interview with Tom Charlton
there is wind in both summer and winter , and we are lucky here in Lefkas as the ou can see them from a distance conditions are good because there is a regular thermal onshore wind. while driving past the village of Aghios I am now trying to go professional and Nikolaos beween Aktio and Lefkas or follow the world tour which is called the Agios Yiannis on Lefkada Island. Kites! PKRA (Professional Kiteboard Riders Dozens of them high in the air with a surfer underneath skimming the surface of Association). My first step has been this the sea and even taking off into the air. In year and I went to Sicily and next is Germany. I am sponsored by Paroskite and 2012, the number of kitesurfers has been Best kites, which helps with the expenses estimated at 1.5 million persons worldwide. So, when I had an opportunity of equipment and travel. to interview one of the sport’s local rising Robyn, I hear that you are also kiting. stars, Tom Charlton and his family, I I am in awe - it looks like the kind of jumped at it. sport that requires a lot of strength. Can you touch on some aspects of kiting that Tom, tell me how you got started in are related to being a woman and/or not kite boarding? necessarily as physically strong and I used to watch people kite boarding at agile as your 17 year old son. Agios Yiannis in Lefkas and this interested I have spent many hours watching kiting me, so I signed up for some lessons with my Dad and brother, I was 12 yrs old and so I thought I may as well have a go, I am still in the learning stages and am enjoying have now been kiting for five years. I it. It is a fast growing sport and many found it a bit tricky in the beginning to women kite but I would say it is still a learn but once I was up and away on the predominately male sport. I don’t think board I became addicted to it. Very soon Angelo Kavadas who has been you have to be exceptionally strong but to be reasonably fit does help. I don’t think I involved in the sport since its early days, will be doing acrobatics like Tom! believed that I had the potential to be a good rider became my trainer and mentor Joe, are you the one who first got your so that he is able to pass on his extensive family into this sport? knowledge and contacts. I spend all my spare time kiting when I started the sport as I was looking for a
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leisure activity outside work I could do with the family and as we all enjoy the outdoors and water sports, this seemed the obvious sport at the time and now I am addicted! Your other son, also took lessons, does he kite as well? James, who is now 22 leanr't to kite when he was 17 and then went off to Australia for a year where he had other interests. Since his return he has not taken it up again, only so much time in a day!! What about safety? I mean we're talking about jumping and flying at very high speeds… Tom: It was once called an extreme sport but now with modern equipment I would say it is no more dangerous than any other active sport. Tell me about the benefits of kiting: physical, social, personal. It seems like a very fun way of keeping fit. Is there more? Tom: It is a great way to keep fit and healthy and it is in the fresh air, the winter can be a bit cold but with a full wetsuit it is fine. Unfortunately there are not many kids my age here in Lefkas who do this sport but I think that will change as people
watch the sport. I have met many people from all over the world as it is quite a social sport. So what would be your advice to someone who wanted to get started in kiting?
Tell me about the kite club. Tom: The local Kiteclub was founded in 2011 by the local kite community so we can promote the sport locally. We have a website which is www.kiteclublefkada.org and we are also on Facebook.
Tom: I would say if anyone wanted to start, they should take lessons and learn the Photos credits: safety issues and the basics of flying and www.active-photos.com controlling a kite and then it is up to you to practice.
the kite photographer for the family, which includes 17-year old Baptiste and 11-year old Cyprien. They also that is involved in kite surfing. The have a guesthouse where they offer Bourdoulous family moved from France to Agios Nikolaos on mainland bed and breakfast to the kitesurfers Greece, five years ago. Yves is a kite who come to Agios Nikolaos. Baptiste and Cyprien are excellent kitesurfers surfing instructor and his wife, Chris and share their experience with the visitors and friends. Agios Nikolaos bay is situated 10 km north of Lefkas, and according to Christine is one of better spots for training freestylers in Greece, due to its flat water lagoon. Tom Charlton regularly goes there to show his talent. Baptiste and Cyprien, also train on this spot and they like riding
Here is another example of a family
Tom Charlton in action www.active-photos.com
with Tom. Photos of Baptiste and Cyprien below courtesy of www.kitesurfingagiosnikolaos.com
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Our First Yacht by Bill Andrews
were in yards that had shut for the holiday but we walked to Vliho to look at a ketch, a Taos ou're going to Greece for a week to buy 41, that was on our list and whose owners we had contacted the previous evening. Although a yacht?" Our friends were shocked. beautiful, we knew it wasn't the boat for us. "Well we bought a car in a day," was our Previous experience had shown us that we reply. needed to be able to sail in the shade. "But you're 69!" We'd arranged to meet Mike again on Tuesday "So?" morning and he took us over in the company After spending wonderful holidays on a vehicle to Aktio to view further vessels. We had friend's boat in the Ionian for the past three a bit of fun in the first yard looking for a yacht years and much agonising, my wife and I had that wasn't there. Eventually we discovered it decided to buy a yacht. We'd done the research had been launched on the Internet and had printed out a list of 15 a few days earlier boats that were advertised on Appollo Duck and the yard's website that we thought might suit our records hadn't been requirements. Now we were on the first plane altered. out of the UK to Preveza on Sunday May 5th My wife Sue, 2013. who is more We knew what we wanted from a boat and had cheeky than I am, a few contacts from our previous visits to the had asked the yard area, so were confident that we could achieve for a list of boats our objective. Fortunately most of the boats on for sale and Mike the Greek market are concentrated in a small agreed to area round Lefkas and Preveza. accompany us Two brokers had advertised their boats for while we viewed sale, Williams and Smithells and Ionian Boat one of these that Assistance and I emailed them both asking for appealed to us appointments. Although 6th of May was a even though it public holiday, one broker from IBA, agreed to wasn't on his meet us at 9am - phew! our feet had barely books. "I just want touched the ground. Unfortunately the other to make sure we broker was so busy he could only offer us an find the right boat appointment on Friday which was only two days for you," he said. before our flight home. The next viewing Friends met up with us on the first evening and was not looked through the printouts of the boats that straightforward either as there were two we'd brought with us and offered to help out Tagudos for sale opposite each other and we where they could. collected the key to the wrong one first before Next morning Mike Dyea from IBA was realising there were two. waiting for us and took us by tender to the first By the time we had viewed both of these it was three boats we were interested in, two of which after 1400 lunchtime. As we ate, Mike managed looked too tired for us but the third we were to locate the missing boat which was moored on quite taken with, a 37' O'Day moored close to a pontoon in Lefkas Marina. This was not on their office in Nidri. our list as my Internet search had been for Unfortunately the other boats on their books yachts over 34' and this was a Moody 336, just
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too short to fall into the net. The owners were aboard and kindly showed us all around what was obviously their pride and joy. The yacht was immaculate and well equipped and the layout perfect so we knew immediately we had found what we were looking for, so smiles all round. We made an offer on our return to IBA's office and Mike promised to keep us informed of developments. Sue and I were in a state of shock - we'd made an offer after only two days in Greece and having viewed only seven boats! Next morning no response to our offer which made us apprehensive so we caught the bus back to Lefkas to search the owners out. After all if we couldn't strike a deal we might have to resume our search. "Sorry we haven't been in touch, the marina management asked us to change mooring and we've been preoccupied.," they told us once we found them. Fortunately we were able to agree terms and were shown over the boat and its equipment in more detail than the day before. Both parties were in shock, them having agreed to sell the boat they had loved for 12 years, us because we were about to change our lives from a humdrum existence in the UK to fulfil a long held dream. It was the end of an era for them and the start of an era for us. Friends met up with us later and all four of us walked discretely over to look at our new possession. Next day, we went back to Nidri where we went through the formalities with Mike and made a list of the improvements we wished to make as we'd bought under budget. So far everything had gone unbelievably smoothly. On our return to the UK we organised our finances and contacted the insurance company used by the current owners, who had given us their policy number. We chose them because we wanted to save money by not having a survey. This cost, with lifting out, was around £1,500 and since the boat had obviously been well maintained we were prepared to risk buying as seen. Shortly afterwards a bill of sale arrived by registered post. We signed it (witnessed by a notary at a cost of £100) and sent it back. Formalities almost over Three weeks later we were back in Lefkas on our newly purchased yacht and the previous owner was showing us around again, in more detail than we could really take in at a sitting. Next day we sailed down to Nidri with some expert sailors and were taught how to slab reef and other technical aspects that we might have struggled with. In IBA's office we completed an online form on the Small Ships Register to change owners (cost £25) and all the formalities were done. We love our new yacht and the beautiful Ionian Sea and look forward to many happy months' sailing.
Destination: Kefalonia By Ann Rowe
After three years of living aboard Pipit, their Bavaria 36, whilst
making their way from the UK to the Ionian, Andy MacKellar and Ann Rowe faced just one more open sea passage before reaching their destination.
On the 8th of June, we left Siracusa, Sicily heading for Argostoli, Kefalonia. The sea was no more than slight, but with less wind than originally forecast it was to be a largely uneventful motor-sail. As the sun set on our first day, we could see Mount Etna in the distance astern, quite spectacular and a reminder of how imposing it is, as it was some 60 miles away. The calm of the first night was rudely interrupted just before midnight when the gas alarm went off as I was coming to the end of my first off-watch snooze. Andy came below in a flash and having confirmed that the gas was off at the tap, went to the other most likely source of gas - the domestic batteries. One of these was too hot to touch and was clearly gassing vigorously - not good! Fortunately it was an easy job to disconnect the offending battery and continue on our way. When the gas alarm was fitted three years ago, I never imagined it would alert us to a boiling battery! During the second day and night, the sea was even calmer but so was the wind, so the engine stayed on. As dawn broke on Monday morning we could see Kefalonia, some 60 miles distant, and just as the sun rose above the horizon we were greeted by a lovely Ionian dolphin reception committee. We had had brief visits from seemingly shy dolphins enroute, but these stayed with us for quite a while, darting about our bows - absolutely delightful. At about breakfast time we actually had a bit of useful breeze, so the engine went off and we drifted peacefully along at about 3.5 knots in sunshine and flat seas - a reminder of why we were making this passage! Pleasant as that was, if we had continued at that speed, it would have meant a third night at sea, and an arrival in Argostoli in the dark, so after an hour or two the engine went back on. Our second Ionian greeting was far less welcome and came in the form of a nasty thunderstorm with 35 knot winds, pelting rain and the subsequent nasty sea building up just three miles off our
landfall waypoint. Not what we wanted at the end of a two-night passage, but it lasted only about an hour and by the second hour the seas had calmed a bit, so we were soon able to head into Argostoli. A worry at this stage was the amount of diesel we had left because we had had to motor-sail for almost the entire passage with a less than clean bottom and the consequent reduction in speed, the gauge was getting perilously low and we were worried about the pitching we were doing in the short and steep seas and the possibility of stirring up any muck at the bottom of the fuel tank. After 54 hours at sea, we tied up to the quay in Argostoli, relieved, excited and a little emotional. Three years, 22 days and nearly 4500 nautical miles after leaving our home port of Plymouth, we had finally achieved our goal and were now in our new home waters - well almost - we were still on the outside of Kefalonia. We delayed our celebration meal ashore, opting instead to square the boat away, have an easy dinner of leftover chilli and an early night of very
sound sleep. In the morning we completed formalities with the Port Police and spent a further two nights at the quay at Argostoli, allowing us easy access to the town for shopping, filling with water and investigating mobile internet dongles. We enjoyed a typical Greek meal at the Captain's Table, along with ice cold Mythos beer and very acceptable Greek wine, and the following morning, we motored to the Port Police quay to fill up with diesel. Sure enough we had only 20 litres left, so as it turns out the gauge is pretty accurate. We then anchored off the quay from where there is a much better view of the town and surrounding mountains. We saw a number of enormous loggerhead sea turtles whilst at anchor - perhaps 2 feet in length. The next morning we headed out and encountered slightly confused seas for the first few hours out of Argostoli, but as we rounded the southeast corner of Kefalonia, the seas flattened and we had a lovely sail all the way to the anchorage at Pera Pighadi on Ithaca, one of our possible destinations depending on what wind we found. There's not room for many boats and as it was now about 7pm we were too late so pushed on to 'Big' Vathy, where as well as tying to the quays it is possible to anchor off, which we did. The wind dropped with the sun and we had a calm night. On Saturday we headed for 'Little' Vathy on Meganisi and as we rounded the southern tip of the island we had a perfect 8-10 knots on the beam and enjoyed a beautiful sail up the length of the island - this is just as we remembered sailing in these parts when we had chartered - idyllic! Panos was waiting on the quay to take our lines and immediately made us feel welcome. Our initial impressions of this intimate little marina, which hadn't been built last time we were here in 2008, were exactly as we hoped. We have had 3 wonderful years cruising and passage making in British, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian waters and we have finally reached our target destination and what we now consider to be our 'home' waters. In fact, we really do feel very much at home here. Read more about Pipit’s adventures at www.yachtpipit.com August 2013 www.theionian.com The Ionian 11
The Legend of Kalamosaurus By Robin Lamb
We were heading for the south eastern
“Just joking” Joel retreated in the face of Maisie, a few years his junior but pretty scary when she wants to be “but it aint a dinosaur, there’s only skellingtons of dinosaurs left and they stink.” Maisie giggled, covered her mouth with her hand and said through a gap “My Mum says ’Aint’ aint a word” and then took her hand away and said “How do you know they stink?” “Teacher said” reported the learned Joel “No he can’t have told you that” butted in my wife, Helen. “Did too.” “Are you sure he didn’t say ‘extinct?” I offered Joel shrugged, “Same thing isn’t it.” “No, it means there are none of them around any more. They are all gone,” I said “Exactly,” crowed a triumphant Joel. “But there’s one there. Pops says,” said Crazy Maisie leaping once again to my defense. “Yeah and it’s not a skeleton.” I tell them. “You can see its head and its back. It’s a sleeping Kalamosaurus. It’s been asleep for thousands of years.” “Since the rest of them went extinct,” said Joel warming to my argument “Yes that’s right.” “Why?” asked Crazy Maisie (her favourite
end of Kalamos on a very hazy day in early June. The outline of the island looked like a sleeping …… ah never mind. The general consensus was to make for Kalamos town. Not a destination that I favoured. “Hey Pops, is that Kalamos?” asked my grandson Joel pointing at the island ahead. “It’s not an island.” “Course it’s an island. What do you mean it’s not an island?” “Well…. Have you heard of dinosaurs?” “Yeah. Did them at school.” “Well that’s a Kalamosaurus.” “A what?” “A Kalamosaurus, a type of dinosaur. Look you can see it’s head lying down in the water and behind that you can see it’s long neck and it’s bumpy back.” “No it’s not a Kalama…. ahhh… thing. It’s an island.” Joel said, adding matter of factly. “I wasn’t born yesterday you know.” and then turning to his young cousin Crazy Maisie “It’s an island ain’t it” “Pops says it’s a Kalarosoros. Didn’t you hear?” She retorted defensively. “Yeah. You believe that and you probably believe in fairies.” grunted the street wise Joel. “Nana Sharon’s got fairies in her garden. She showed me where they dance.” “Yeah and she’s probably got bats in her belfry too.” “I don’t think she’s got a belfry actually.” Maisie told him then turned to me. “What’s a belfry Pops?” “It’s where a church keeps its bells.” Maisie looked puzzled “It’s just an expression. It means word at the time) she’s mad.” “Cos he’s tired of “My Nana’s not mad” said Crazy Maisie course” said Joel fiercely turning back to Joel. knowledgably 12 The Ionian www.theionian.com August 2013
“But he must get up soon…” “Yes he will. Soon…” “What will he do then?” asks Maisie. “Yes…. what will it do when it wakes and finds out that all of its friends are extinct?” Joel demands. “What do you do when you wake up?” “Breakfast. I eat my breakfast.” Maisie shouts. “Yes, well everyone is waiting in fear for the day the Kalamasaurus awakes.” I tell them. “Why?” asks Crazy Maisie. “Well it will cough or snort after all that sleep and cause a tsunami. It will rise up on its haunches and shake itself like a dog coming out of the water. There will be yotties and their yachts flying out of Kalamos town like droplets of water from a dog’s back shouting things like ‘HELLPPP!!’ and ‘Oi… Mate… You’re spilling my beer.’ and other nautical stuff.” There’s a bit of a silence broken by Joel. “I still think it’s an island” he says cautiously. “No it’s a Kalamasossorus” cries Crazy Maisie clapping her hands together. She is impressed by me since we found dolphins on her first day out and they played around the boat so much she ended up convinced that they were her friends. “What will it eat for breakfast?” “It will be so hungry after sleeping so long it will eat the first thing it sees which will probably be Kastos… that island over there… or else us if we hang around here too long.“ “So better not go into Kalamos tonight then.” said Joel. “No, let’s go to Palairos.” I say changing course for Palairos. “Good. I like Palairos” says Crazy Maisie “Yeah and I don’t specially like Kalamos says Joel, adding “Not that I believe all that stuff about a Kalamossossoross.”
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FOSTER AND PERMANENT HOMES NEEDED URGENTLY FOR STRAY DOGS, PLEASE CALL LEFKAS ANIMAL WELFARE SOCIETY (L.A.W.S.) IF YOU CAN HELP:
0030 697 851 0671
14 The Ionian www.theionian.com August 2013
Swallowing the Anchor
Anne and Les Ellson, skipper
and crew (in that order) of the yacht Autumn Wasp are swallowing the anchor and giving up sailing due to advancing years and a desire to do other things whilst we are still able. We have been sailing now for nearly thirty years. After many years sailing in waters around the Irish Sea we left the port of Holyhead, Wales in early 2004 and headed for Ionian waters in search of warmer sailing conditions. We reached here in late 2006 and have been here ever since. We have been readily recognised by the large wasp on our bum (sorry, the boat’s bum). Although we have said some goodbyes it was impossible to get around and see everyone and we know we have missed a number of special people. So we would like through this very popular
magazine to express our thanks and appreciation. Firstly to Ionion Marine, proprietors and staff, who have looked after Wasp through the winter months and launched and hauled her out with efficiency and a smile. Also to Panos Maris, Kayope and Yota of Panos Taverna for keeping us fed and watered through the periods in the yard. Thanks go to all the shops, chandlers and trades who have kept us supplied with essential items and expertise to keep us afloat. To all the ports, harbours, marinas, yacht clubs and even the solitary pontoons – thank you for giving us a safe berth and looking after us. Also all the restaurants, tavernas, cafés, bars and coffee shops that have fed and watered us so very well. To all our sailing friends, Greek friends and those who only just give us a wave – thanks for the pleasure of your company and fair winds. Lastly our thanks to the Editor for allowing us to use this magazine for this purpose. With a heavy heart we have placed Autumn Wasp in the hands of Williams and Smithells, who we hope will find her a new Skipper August 2013 www.theionian.com The Ionian 15 and Crew.
16 The Ionian www.theionian.com August 2013