Port Atheni - Meganisi Island

At 1:20pm on the 11th June, we started our engines, cast off and left Levkas for what we feel will be a long time. No disrespect to this vibrant, friendly town, but it just felt as if we could not get away.

Another British flagged Lagoon 440 had moored ahead of us on the same quay and we had come to know the owners, Graeme and Kate from the UK. Graeme was newer to all this than we and not confident to sail his boat to places unknown so we asked if they'd like to convoy with us to Meganisi.

Just over an hour away is Port Atheni on Meganisi. We had the headsail up in a 10 knot off the port beam which helped the engines but it really wasn't worth raising the main for an hour. The wind died altogether after 30 minutes so we furled the heady and motored all the way.

Meganisi is a beautiful island with inlets resembling fingers along its north eastern coast. Enumerable protected anchorages where you anchor out, reverse toward the shore then take a long line to the shore and tie it to anything available.... a large rock, a stout olive tree and even sometimes a conveniently situated metal ring put there by the locals to encourage trade at their nearby tavernas.

We had been to this island before, practicing Med Mooring at Vathi and Spatakhori when Ken, Brian and Phil Berman were here but these places were closed at the time before the start of the season.We chose Port Atheni because we hadn't been there at all and in any case Little Vathi and Spatakhori were just a shortish dingy ride away if we chose to go.



Cruising right into the head of the long bay we found it to be full and uninviting. Anchoring further out was the preferred option where the water was clean and crystal clear and other boats were at anchor giving the place a serene sense of relaxation.

No bicycles when anchoring but the kids weren't too fussed. That square item you see next to Summer is about 30 feet down

We all dined at the local taverna and celebrated our first long line to shore mooring. Not much to it really, but hey... something to celebrate!
On the following evening we decided to take the olive grove walk to the nearby town of Katomeri at the top of the hill... about a 15 minute hike.
Graeme and Kate stayed on board as they don't eat as much as we do.

Well, nobody does... Yesterday William told me confidentially... "I haven't even told Summer this Dad, but you and Mom are getting fat".
Why not just say it like it is Son?

On arrival in Katomeri we found it to be as enchanting as most, with cobbled streets and tiny houses right on the street, tiny 'super markets' but here, only a couple of Tavernas. In the first were a few tourists so we continued on.

Around a bend and into the 17th century...

Here was this old lady toiling away on an ancient loom. Of course it needed photographing, but before that happened, out came a small bag containing finished items...
17th century loom, 21st century business methods! A small cotton cloth with some colour weaved through it. 20 Euro and how could we say no? not even sure what we've done with it!










We found the 'local' taverna around a corner and a little way down the hill. Wouldn't you know it, the Opening Ceremony of the World Cup Soccer was on the box, made very welcome we settled down to yet another celebratory feed, the ceremony and the first game. Brazil v Can't remember?

"Is there a quicker way home from here?" we asked. "oh yes, carry on down the hill, right at the church and straight down the hill"

When we got to the church, neither of us could remember left or right, left looked to be the best most commonly trod option so off we went. On finally reaching our 'destination', we found ourselves in Little Vathi, one bay away from our dingy and a long walk all the way back up the hill to the church and down again at 1:00am with two small, tired children...

We went back to the taverna and were reminded, "Right at the Church!" so off we trudged anew. Half way down the hill it all started to look a little iffie... Do we go all the way down to find ourselves, once again in the wrong spot,,, We voted. Up we went having decided to retrace our original steps back through the town passed the loom, the tourist taverna and another 15 minutes through the olive groves. It was now 1:30am with two small children...

At the top of the hill we happened across two gentlemen discussing the game. One of them was in a car and after a short conversation he gave us a lift to our dingy. We arrived at the Summer Amy just short of 2:00am and I'm here to tell you that those kids did not winge once through the entire saga!