Solway Lass

This is the second day of cruising on Solway Lass. While some did a dive course this after noon I and some others took the ship’s boat to the beach. We had snorkled this morning. This is a pic of the ship anchored near the beach. Note: pics will be loaded at the end of this bloc entry because there is no connection to the Internet at island that are farther out.

I am sharing a cabin with Isabel from Switzerland, Elliie from Germany and Eric from Texas now working in Sydney. Air conditioned cabin! Day temp is 90 but some breeze, more when we are underway.

After snorkeling this morning I spent some time laying in the bowsprit net with a great view. This is a classic sailing ship built in 1901 the history of the ship is on a Google search. I have a good imagination and I think of myself being on it last long ago when it was a sailing ship.

I materialized this adventure by thinking and dreaming of it like I have done for so many other things. I saw Soleway Lass the last time I cruised the Whitsunday islands 6 years ago and have wanted to sail on it ever since.

The variety of coral is amazing. Many small colorful fish but no big ones yet. Yesterday we were at Whithaven Beach on Whitsunday Island. It is always among the to beaches in the world. I rank it the best. It has the purest white silicon sand. Sand so pure it was used to make the lense for the Hubbel telescope. Sun reflects off the bottom to give the water shades of turquoise to blue. The walk over a hill on the island gives an initial view if the beach that makes it work d famous.

The boat crew is John the captain, Steve and Ken deck hands, Tim the bartender and Tim, the French cook. All good guys.

28 people on board from a variety of countries and I have talked with just about all of them now. Both young and old and both categories have substantial travel history so we talk about the many places we have been and our adventures there. A French couple is traveling with two younger teen children. What an adventure for them!

Cruising

Leaving this evening for 3days cruising on the Solway Lass. A highlight of this trip!

2 Oct. Athens to Paris

The sun rose in slow motion flying north west to Paris. First a long golden glow then a prolonged peaking over the horizon. Finally it rose in morning glory somewhere over the Italian alps but I could not see them from my window seat in 28F. I had asked the check in clerk if it was the last row (does not usually recline). She said no. It is the next to the last row. It will be a long time getting to the front door. The plane is full. They always are. In the old days, which I remember, a full plane was not common.

Clouds below. I can’t see the ground but the sun is shining across the tops making them look like snow capped mountains.

Snow clouds became real snow covered mountains as we passed beyond (could it be?) Lake Geneva. Memories of the bike trip with Declan two years ago as I looked at its entire irregular circumference.

I get on a plane in Paris. I get off in Seattle.

It boggles my mind!

Paros 30 Sept

Today I took the bus to Naoussa. A small port city of almost 3,000 people. It is absolutely charming. A place where people go to discover a jewel off the beaten tourist track.

It has a small marina. Some sailboats and a 50 ft catamaran. The stuff that dreams are made of.

In the blog of the bike portion of the trip I wrote that I like to pick a place and time toward the end of any trip that wraps up nicely what the entire adventure was all about. The last and best memory that I will take with me. This is it. It is not taking my assigned seat on the airplane home. That is definitely anti-climactic!!!

Tomorrow I will take the ferry to Athens then go to a hotel near the airport. The flight is at 6:35 am the 2nd of Oct.

Time flys!

I had baklava and coffee for lunch. Best baklava ever, of course. My first one in Greece. Dinner last night was mousaka.

I will spend some time looking for a photo that expresses what I feel. If the photo is not here yet it will be later. One photo would not be sufficient. It would have to be a collage. I don’t have an app for that!

An excellent day.

Sailing

Looking out at the bay and the boats I dream of sailing on a large catamaran. I am seriously considering joining this syndicate and spending a large part of the year sailing in Australia and the South Pacific:

http://www.photowords.com.au/evenkeels/index.html

The boat is going to New Caledonia for the their summer sailing season.

This site tells where the boat is now and what it is doing:

http://skipr.net/where-is/boat-pages/?boatid=1477

Sunday 28 sept Paros

I moved to the Irene Hotel on the beach. Same price, 35 Euro as the back street hotel and much nicer. I was upgraded to a studio and the room comes with a no label bottle of wine and a cake. The color of the wine is like kerosene and the flavor interestingly unique with an appreciable after taste. The receptionist said it was better cold. The cake was chocolate, moist and full bodied with a delightful hint of coconut and the subtle mellowing understated influence of fig. It did not pair well with the wine. It was much better and would have paired well with ice cream. After finishing the glass of wine I felt the need the clean my glasses. Vision did not improve.

I wandered the narrow streets of the old town this morning until I think I saw the same place for the third time. No rain today but very windy and cloudy. Tomorrow will be better.

Saturday Naxos to Paros

Raindrops falling on the pool made expanding concentric and then merging circles on the surface of the water. I was dry and having breakfast under the patio cover. It changes the mood of the day.

I am leaving Naxos and going to Paros. An island I could see in the near distance but the port is on the other side of the island of Paros. A new island for the extension of the adventure. I will leave Paros on the 1st of October for Athens then fly on the 2nd to Redmond. The Paris to Seattle portion is non stop.

I enjoy being close to nature. Biking takes me there but it is on a road. Not entirely natural but a good way to cover ground from point A to B. Hiking is closer but still on a path. Swimming is immersion but not travel.

A friend hiked the Camino, some of the PCT recently. That is close to nature. Sometimes up close and personal relations with nature is stormy weather, sometimes sunshine and roses. Maybe it is the great difference in exposure variety that makes the exposure an adventure. Sometimes seeking protection. Sometimes opening to to its embrace.

My dear friend Kelsey does a radio talk show every Saturday. I was catching up on the podcasts recently. Each program explores a different experience. A recent one was our experience with nature. One thing Kelsey always does is get me thinking!

Kelsey’s podcasts are at this link
http://kelseycollins.podbean.com

A month or more ago she did one on travel. I should go back and listen to it again!

This is my new place in Paros. Half the price of the last place which was up-scale but this one is up-charming.

Tomorrow I will move to Hotel Irene. Nicer and on the beach for the same price.

There is a sprint triathlon here tomorrow but the forecast is for rain. I think that I do not want to embrace nature that much. There is a bike shop next to the hotel that would rent a bike to me. Am I getting to old and too soft. Used to be a “bring it on” guy!

Naxos Friday 26 Sept

I wake to the aroma of baked goods drifting in through the open patio door. Roosters crow Kalimera, the Greek “good morning” greeting. They emphasize each syllable; Ka..li..mer..a. Over and over. The morning sun begins to online the mountains.

A worker is cleaning around the pool. Waitresses are wiping down tables and arranging chairs. Breakfast is to be served at 7:30.

Life is good on Naxos!

Thursday 25 Sept Naxos

I have moved to the Naxos Resort and am living large here. It is a nicer beach in front and closer to town.
http://www.naxosresort.gr

I swam for a half hour in the pool this morning. This is the pool view from my room.

This is my room from the pool. Top left.

Then I swam in the Med for a half hour …but that was later.

Sunset as I write this. Another glorious day.

My heart rate is 52 beats per minute. That equals very relaxed.

Sailing Wednesday 24 sept

Sailing today from 8:30 to 7:00 on the Annabella with Captain George. 9 passengers on a 45 ft. Yacht. Excellent winds, great sailing.

We anchored at a sea cave at Rina Bay and swam into it with flashlights.

lights.

Lunch was at a taverna on a small island south of Naxos.

It was a fantastic day of fun with a group of fellow sailors that became friends. We returned at sunset.

I have had two impossible coincidences of meeting people I knew in strange places with almost impossible odds. The first was a navy reservist that I stood next to in formation for years of Wednesday night drills while I was in college. He was not. I joked that when he went on active duty and I went to OCS that I might someday be his division officer. Years later One morning I came aboard a cargo ship that my hatch team was offloading in the the Danang harbor in Vietnam. My friend was operating the winch and he was in my division.

Small navy.

Yesterday beat all odds. John and Peggy from Terrebonne had signed up for the same sailboat trip. They were retired teachers and we soon discovered they were friends of Jeanette. I had met them only once however at a party that we had at our house! We shared some memories of Jeanette and what she would be doing if she was with us now and laughed at the happy thoughts we shared. For awhile she was with us, not just me. It was a special day of more than just sailing the sea. At the lunch stop we walked up from the harbor to the small town. That is where this picture of John an Peggy was taken. I can see Jeanette smiling in this picture too. She was also with Karen and me on the bike tour as we remembered her. Maybe that is one reason that Bend will always be my best favorite place regardless of where I am . Her friends are still there. We all share and carry her in our hearts. Meeting her friends here was not a long odds thing. It was a gift of a lifetime. So was she. Whoever gives such gifts continues to be very kind to me. I do believe that we created the giver simply out of need to express thanks. Good enough for me…..thank you!