Erikoussa and Mathraki

After three luxurious days in Kalami we reluctantly departed on the 25^TH May. We had decided that Kassiopi was not for us and that we'd get a little further out there before heading south away from Corfu toward new and exciting destinations.

Off the North West coast of Corfu island are three islands all about 70 miles from Italy used by yachtsmen as a stop over on their way from Italy to Greece. Erikoussa looked in the guide to be the best of them so at 9:35 we weighed anchor and off we popped.

On the way we passed by Kassiopi and wouldn't you know it, through the bino's we could see that there was plenty of room on the wall... however we'd resolved to shoot for Erikoussa and so we motored on by.

A pleasant balmy trip brought us to Erikoussa harbour by 12:30. 
Well. What a desolate, isolated, abandoned looking place! Although there were some people on deck chairs on the beach, the only taverna we could see looked to be shut. The place we would have moored looked like the town dumping ground and the town itself was nowhere to be seen.

Frankly, the place gave us the creeps and so it was pirouette time again and into Rod Heikell's Pilot Guide for Plan B. Shoulda dropped into Kassiopi.....!

Mathraki is another of the three islands lying a little way south west of Erikoussa and it looked to be the best of what was left and so we set a course in hope. 

Mathraki ahoy! This is what is meant by Nil Wind..

At 2:20pm we arrived at what looked to be a much nicer place. Granted we were to be the only yacht in the harbour... not always a good sign, the harbour itself was well built, spacious and nice and easy to Med moor. Once moored and set, we got the bikes off and set off to explore our new world.

We came upon a tavern/supermarket and started with the customary "kallimera!" (good morning)hoping to find someone who spoke English. "Hi, where are you guys from" came the reply in a thick New York accent! Yep, this whole tiny island in the middle of nowhere is inhabited by New York Greeks who commute seasonally between the two places! 

After the obligatory half litre of house Rose and a light lunch, we were persuaded to return for dinner made to order, and so after a wash and a shave back at the boat we did indeed returned for a superb home cooked meal. 

A late night and a latish morning swim saw us weigh anchor at midday the following day headed for Paliaokastritsa on the West rugged west coat of Corfu. 
Unfortunately, the photos we took of Mathraki have disapeared into the Google + ether together with about 15 gigs of precious wifi. So, don't bother using that piece of technology.
On exiting Mathraki, we did however encounter...

Scanning for Dolpins

Dolphins.. always such an exhilarating feeling!