Pigardia to Lindos..... longest leg yet... We think?

By dawn the Meltimi had blown itself out. After having built up quite a distaste for this narky, persistent, tension inducing wind I'd can't say after the previous day's sailing that I wasn't disappointed.... It would have been perfect for our direction once again, although in open seas it may have been a bit rocky until we reached the lee of Rhodes.

So at 8:30 on the 2nd September we got going. The trip was near on 60 nautical miles and even at 8 knots it was going to take 7 - 8 hours

The entrance to Lindos looking South down the coast

By 1:30pm a nice little 15 knot NW blew in so up went the sails. In smooth waters behind Rhodes we kept the engines going and managed 9-10 knots for the rest of the trip.

At 6:00pm we were comfortably anchored in the stunning anchorage that is Lindos. A massive tourist attraction by day, but by the time we got there, all the tripper boats had left, leaving us to share this beautiful setting with only four other yachts.





Under normal circumstances, this would have been a 2 - 3 day stop. Beautifully clean and clear water, inviting tavernas on shore and perfect protection from any wind. Meaning a good night's sleep for yours truly....

Alas, not to be. A South African couple swam out to the boat for a chat and they had extended their stay for those very reasons.

We dingyed ashore for a feed at the most attractive taverna. It had a jetty off the end of a rocky point with a long timber walk way making ou entrance rather special.

On the way in I failed to notice a rusted hole in the mettle steps up to the walk way. After a delicious dinner, kids on a separate table which made it feel like a date with Mum, I missed it once more, left foot into it while momentum kept the rest of me homeward bound....



So now Sal has a problem with her right foot..... and the captain with his left! Instead of me helping Sal into the dingy, it was the other way around, we must have made quite a sight.... and sound! Some ice and strapping and we're all good now.

I thought it is a good time to show you this picture below. I noticed that the Navionics App highlights the areas used and so by shear luck, (but for the spot in the middle), you can clearly see the ground we have covered so far. In the top left corner is the island of Corfu and in the bottom right Karpathos,... Rhodes yet to be highlighted. The red arrow is where the boat was when I discovered this picture.

1200 nautical miles. 200 hours per motor. 50 ports/harbours/marinas/anchorages..... and no talk of divorce or mutiny as yet!