Saturday 8 June 2019 – Galaxidhi

We woke up early and the wind was very light and the sun was shining.  I was pleased to see that the boat moored in front of us had gone making it easier for us to leave the mooring.  By the time we finished breakfast just after 8am I was a bit shocked to see that all the boats had gone!  We left at 8:30 which I reckon is early yet we were the slow coaches today. 

We didn’t put up any sails which was just as well as there was virtually no wind.  So it was a three hour motor to Galaxidi.  This is a harbour on the mainland from which you can get to Delphi. One of its attractions is a town wall with water and electricity.  We were warned however that it gets very crowded and you cannot always find a place on the town wall.  So we were just taking the chance that we would arrive early enough to find somewhere.

The weather has suddenly turned ‘Greek’.  It is sunny and the temperature is in the high 20’sC.  When we get to port there are very few spaces to be had.  But we spot one near the beginning of the wall and make our way to it.  There seemed to be no one around to take our lines but after a bit of shouting people came out to help.  There is a problem, however. The wall is quite high.  It is not as bad as Patras, but difficult.  Our passerelle will get to the wall, but it is at a fairly steep angle. Richard and I have tried it out and can just manage it, but with some trepidation.  We also have trouble getting electricity.  The two pillars near the boat don’t work.  We have doubled up on a splitter on a pillar quite some distance away and other boats coming in have nowhere to plug in.

We have another stroke of luck.  As we finish tying up we see a fuel tanker filling up a boat just along from us. We speak to the tanker driver who says he can fill us up next.  So we are able to top up on fuel.  Our fuel gauge is dodgy.  It says we are just less than full, but we have done a lot of motoring miles and we know that cannot be right.  In the end we take 72 litres, which is just under half a tank.  So no worries there.  This should get us back to Gouvia.

It is now very hot. We have a light lunch in the cockpit and just sit still to keep cool.  Eventually we decide to have a look at the place and sus out how to get to Delphi.  We manage to get off the boat, but the passarelle seems even steeper than before.  Later when consulting the Cruising Association web site we find that there is half a metre tide here, so that is the reason for the change.  The town is behind the port and we walk up to where you can catch a bus to Delphi.  We find out where to buy tickets and guess we will take the bus as it seems difficult to get a taxi, which must be booked in advance.

When we get back to the boat we still haven’t seen anyone about paying for the berth, water and electricity.  Eventually a lady does turn up and sends us to a kiosk to pay.  At the same time R finds a place that is renting cars and we reserve one for tomorrow which frees us from the bus timetable.

Despite the heat I cook dinner aboard.  There are chicken legs that really need eating up.  It is now getting late and with the heat, despite having electricity making hot water, I am looking forward to a cold shower!