NIDRI

Our experiences in Nidri last year left us feeling that this was a port we could miss visiting in the future. Our visit had been during the hottest weather, tourists were everywhere and more importantly, our boat was berthed at a pontoon that ponged with sewerage outfall. We didn't expect great times this year.
How wrong we were. The weather was perfect (so no need for the air-con), the tourists were light on the ground and there was no sewerage to be seen. We stayed for 3 days with access to electricity and water and had a brilliant time enjoying the gyros(pita), coffee and spanikopita.

Every morning, the flowers were swept.

Amazing strawberries!

The Neilson pontoon

Out came my trusty sewing machine and the cabin curtains started to take shape. The original press-stud covers have always looked old and scrappy so now we nearly have blue full length blockouts (courtesy of Spotlight), perfectly sliding tracks and above all sun protection and privacy.

 Our first experiences with bike hiring in Vathi were incredibly positive, so another scooter later, we ventured to Lefkas,13 kms north. In the past, walking for hours always takes the joy out of exploring towns during the heat of the day. Riding is invigorating and gives you access to places beyond the immediate area you happen to land in.


From Nidri we sailed in perfect conditions to Mitika, a small port on the mainland.

TECHIES' CORNER

THE BATTERY MONITOR SAGA

When we bought the boat, the battery monitor didn’t work.

 “Never mind,” I said. “It won’t make any difference.

Three deep cycle batteries later I decided to try to fix it. I noticed that a small variable resistor was corroded and had fallen to pieces.  I was able to get an identical one from Jaycar and solder it into the printed circuit. It worked. Back on board the boat I installed it and happpily went about charging batteries and keeping an eye on them so that they didn’t overcharge (the cause of our defunct deep cycle batteries which was caused by our smart charger losing massive quantities of smartness)

I wasn’t entirely pleased with the crude and uncalibrated display and so searched aliexpress for voltmeters. 

Here’s an example: http://www.aliexpress.com/item/R1B1-Portable-Digital-Voltmeter-DC0-100V-Red-Light-LED-Panel-Voltage-Meter/1243447711.html

Total cost US$2.74. 

I bought three and housed them in a little box.  Each one goes to a different battery and I have put a switch on the common negative lead so that I can turn easily turn them off.  They are great.  

We can see how the motor alternators are working (see the Alternator saga), check how the wind generator is working and manage the dumb charger so that the batteries are kept in good condition.

All up less than $20 and a very happy outcome

THE ALTERNATOR SAGA

Last year our service battery alternator stopped working.  Unfortunately, we could only buy a replacement as the place we were in didn’t have anyone that could repair it. This year we set out, but soon noticed that the batteries weren’t getting charged (see the Battery Monitor Saga). 
So miles from nowhere and with the motor running, I took off the engine covers to have a look. All OK, but just to make sure, I pulled on each wire to see whether it was firm.  The active lead, which had a difficult-to-see terminal, was hanging loose.  The nut had fallen off (vibration).  Touching the wire on to the possible terminal created a strong spark on one and nothing on the other.  I took a punt that the alternator was working and that I wasn’t shorting it out. The new meters helped here too. 
So all I needed was a new nut. All the nuts in my little supply were too big, too small or imperial thread instead of metric.  I scoured the boat and eventually found a nut on a camera mount that worked. Off with the motor and on with the lead and nut.  The nut was tight because my sparking tests had damaged the thread, A gentle spannering solved that. 

Fingers crossed, motor on 13.5 volts on the voltmeters, an alternator purring away and batteries getting happy again. 

VATHI

We left Preveza early Friday morning and headed for one of our favourite ports, Vathi, on Meganisi Island.  Our impressions from last July were not changed. The town is a picturesque sanctuary for boats, protected from the strong northerlies with all the services and amenities you could wish for.

The esplanade near the boat

It was disappointing to discover the electricity had been discontinued because of an unpleasant dispute between the private ‘Odysseus’ marina and the local community. Apparently the town marina’s provision of electricity and water at a very reasonable price 5E-10E as opposed to the 40E charged at Odysseus was uncompetitive.

The solution, close down the town wharf!

Hopefully they’ll sort things out before we return next year.

This trip has been far less stressful than any other years.  The weather has been kinder, the wind more able to be enjoyed (not blowing in our face all the time) and we’ve had more adventures in the small towns adjacent to the ports. 

 

Hiring a motor scooter was a real plus. We zoomed up and down the valleys and mountains like a couple of teenagers, wind in the face, sharing the country lanes with mountain goats. 

Spartakori harbour

A tiny church in the middle of nowhere

Our road trips took us through the small lanes and villages of the island. You still find old women dressed in black, walking the streets carrying shopping or even sitting weaving and spinning. 

Although probably for tourists, the images and experiences were wonderful.

Meganisi is an absolutely beautiful island, yet to be exploited and spoiled by rampant tourism. The only problem for this and many of the islands in the Ionian is the temptation to allow the kitsch culture to take over.  

PREVEZA

We’ve never been totally enamoured of Preveza. Firstly because of the rather unpleasant memories of my falling off the boat onto the wharf last year (totally my own fault) and secondly it’s just not a very endearing city. We decided to moor in the Preveza marina this year instead of the town wharf, as we knew there was water and electricity on site and also the tidal swell would be much less. On arrival there was one spot left and as we tied up we were told we could only stay for a short time as this was where the charter boats came and they had priority. As it turned out it was also the only quay with water and we would have to move or raft up other boats when asked and so after 3 days we left unimpressed.

 

The marina

The town itself was a good walk away, but being health conscious ? we happily made the trip each day to shop and enjoy the cafes. The main esplanade was full of cafes and tourist shops all looking very empty and desperate for the summer crowds to start.

The main shopping street

The small lanes linking the esplanade to the main shopping street also seemed to be overflowing with empty chairs and tables with only owners and a few locals chatting, smoking and waiting.  For us the season is perfect, for the locals just another reflection of the a seasonal, tourist based economy. 

dinner at the Red Mullet

Usually we check the weather each morning but forgot to on our second trip out. As our luck would have it the rain poured down, came through our open hatches and soaked some of the bedding. We coped.

Our next stop is Vathi on Meganisi