OMG…1,2,3

OMG #1…Our day started at 3:00am by getting up to see our Guests off and make sure their taxi showed up.  Anyone who knows me knows that I do not do 3am very well but it was important enough for me to get up.  I just want to let James, Jeanne, Nykii, and Tessa know how much we enjoyed their visit!  I will miss the giggling girls and the quiet lip-syncing while at sail the most…made me smile a lot!

OMG#2…After catching a few more ZZZZZZ’s, we got up again at 6am as we start heading for Western Greece and the Ionian Sea.  We sailed five hours through a major commercial traffic lane from Athens to the Corinth Canal.  On our way we saw this submarine:

  

We tied up along the canal wall, paid our 305 Euros which is about $450 for the 3.2 mile canal short-cut.  The canal was started by a French Company but finished by the Greeks in 1893.  There is one railroad and two auto bridges crossing above the 250 foot high limestone walls…and yes, we were being followed by a huge cruise ship.  It was one of those WOW moments for sure!

On your way out on the West side of the canal is a hydraulic auto bridge that goes underwater when boat traffic is coming through:

  Completely underwater Coming UpAll the way up now!

OMG #3…Our schedule called for us to do an overnighter into Lefkas.  The Gods had another thing in mind for us.  About an hour after leaving the canal, the waves and wind grew to Gale Force…AGAIN…and straight on our nose, of course.  So after we had a nice clean boat when we left Athens this morning, we were again covered in a thick layer of Salt.  The waves were crashing at the dodger which made us zip up the entire enclosure, creating a sauna affect.  The crew (ME) was not feeling well at all and will drink that whole bottle of Ouzo if that’s what it takes for the Gods to STOP THIS!!!!

We finally surrendered and headed into Itea on the Gulf of Corinth.  We are tied up along the town wall.  The roads here are all stained red from the lorries carrying red haemetite iron ore which is mined here. 

The mountains here are covered with olive trees and a few pines which makes for a beautiful view. 

Tomorrow it looks like we will try to make it to Delphi if we find the right bus :)