Having left the Greek mainland we had planned to head to Andros – a big jump but getting us a good way to Mykonos where we need to be for 5th August. However, after 20 minutes of horrid waves and wind banging on the nose of the boat we turned around and made our way to the island of Kea instead! This is one of the special facets of this experience that we literally can go where the wind takes us! Kea is the closest to Athens and a frequent weekend get away for Athenians but for us this was a one night stop at anchor and dinghy ashore for dinner at a wonderful ‘locals’ restaurant.

Superb food cooked by an elderly Greek couple and seems it’s good enough to attract the local Padre and his loyal cat!!

We had enjoyed the sail across and our first view of the spectacular island scenery!

I also spotted a little house on the hill that I decided would be perfect for us to renovate and build a jetty to moor up Mossy Joe in a few years time!

Following day we took off for Kithnos, again at anchor in a peaceful bay. One tavern on the hill but we had a chilled evening on board eating Jacques’ marvellous tomato and feta salad!

Next stop was an old favourite of ours, having been here years before with the family, Serifos. When we were last here we anchored in the bay alongside our friends Kay & Chris’s boat which ended up in a mighty tangle of anchor chains the next morning – not fun!

The area around the harbour is lined with bars and restaurants and our walk along the beach brought us to this contraption! I decided that this was a fab idea, once I realised it was for people who were unable to get in the sea unaided and not just for wimps like me who don’t like stepping on the slippery and often jagged rocks on the way in!

Serifos was bigger than I remembered it but still had a charm and one of the things we did not do last time was head up to the village. Like most Greek islands, the main inhabited area is not by the port but in the safety of the hills. We decided we would go visit the Hora in the local bus and by the time we were ready to go out it was dark – this was just as well!! Had I been able to see the sheer drops over the cliff whilst we ascended at a 90 degree angle I might have panicked. However, given the massive overcrowding on the bus and the fact that all I could see were the armpits and cleavages of the youngsters straight off the beaches – it was more like a scantily clad version of the Victoria line in rush hour – I was soothed into a sense of fatalism that it would all be OK and if it wasn’t well so be it!

The Death Ride was worth it – the village was spectacular! The labyrinth of alleyways housing small shops, bars and restaurants were remarkable.

Jacques pointing out Mossy Joe in the distance!

The main square at the top of the Hora – tourists eating and drinking with the beautiful backdrop of the neoclassical Town Hall alongside the Cathedral of St Athanasios.

We had a couple of cocktails in a Rooftop Bar – these were the first set of three steep stairs to climb to get up there.

The view from the bar and some of the young and trendy (including us of course!) customers!

Having had the cocktails we felt brave enough to get the Bus back down to the harbour!! When we got off the, thankfully half empty, bus unscathed and stomaches settled enough to eat, we saw this which made us laugh. The lengths some people will go to get a space right outside the Supermarket especially as parking and the regulation of it is always a drama on the islands!

Whilst we had been on our evening adventure, Jacques had received a text message from Lothar who was the Austrian contact that Marc had given us to help us purchase and transport a new anchor chain (see Athens Blog!). Lothar was also in Serifos and had spotted Mossy Joe as he sailed in to the harbour! We had a lovely chat and a coffee the next morning before setting off! What a small world!

We were sad to say Goodbye to Serifos – a very beautiful place. This is the view from the sea back to the Hora – no hint of the inherent deadly threat to be seen in the daylight!

Next stop – serene Sifnos!

PS: Winch update – still no sign of it but rumours that it as been in Bulgaria and Romania – no where near Greece though!!!