Thursday 26 September 2013

26 September - My Lead, Great Saling

Lovely day, fortunately, and lots out.  Drove to Greta's, thinking I should end the ride at the nominal place, even though most people made their own ways back home.

Didn't know the route beyond Thaxted but the Garmin worked a treat.  Stopped in Newport for the drinks break the on to lunch at the Andrewsfield place.  Continued on across to the Great Saling end where the track ran out for a bit then resumed but came to a high fence with a notice on the other side saying no entry. Adrian found a way round and we prepared to set off.  Found that someone had had a puncture on the track so a bit of a delay fixing it.  Continued on to Sawston where I was taken by surprise as most turned right at the lights whereas three of us had gone straight over.  So an abrupt end to my leading!

Thursday 19 September 2013

Tuesday 10 September 2013

Saturday 7 September 2013

Kefalonia 7 Sep

Walked through Skala and along towards Mounda beach, picking up some stuff for lunch on the way.  The road went inland but we took a punt on following a track down towards some houses that did indeed join up with the road to the hotel down there.

Free loungers and umbrellas so made use of them just in time before lots more people came and grabbed the rest.  Very shallow water so had to walk a good way out to be out of depth.

Decided to have a go at walking back along the beach despite having been said it wasn't the way to go.  Bit of a clamber in places but quite easy, arriving at a superb swimming place just before the start of the Skala beach.






Stopped off at the first bar on Skala beach, having refreshing drinks before heading back to pack.

Went to a restaurant on the way out of Skala, that we'd walked past earlier.  Very good meal and service and a bit of a sob story from the waiter about how hard it was to make ends meet in the off season months.  He then miscalculated the bill and gave us 10 euros too much change, so very grateful we'd pointed it out.

Home next day.  Odd check-in arrangement where they took the bags but didn't let us through into the departure area until just before the flight because it was small.  When the flight was called we joined a queue that turned out to be people jumping the gun for a later flight, so were called out for our flight, bypassing them.

Collected by Steve W at Stansted, ahead of schedule.


Friday 6 September 2013

Kefalonia 6 Sep

Captain Vangelis boat trip to Ithaka.

Very calm so no problems for Hilary.  Stopped for swimming off the boat on the way to the main town Vathy where we had a 90 minute stop.  Walked through the town and found a free archaeological museum with some very intricate little seals and pottery items.  Told that people like Madonna, MR Bean and John Hurt have houses here, and a very good choice indeed.



On from here to a smaller port where we stopped for another 90 minutes including lunch sitting outside on a very narrow street corner.  Had a mooch around after, walking around the bay a bit.






Back via another place for swimming off the boat, then seeing goats walking nonchalantly along cliff paths.  Shown how the earthquake of 1953 had lifted the whole island 60 cm, revealing undercuts on the shoreline that had previously been underwater.

Evening meal in a restaurant off the main road and a lot quieter, ie away from the Brits.


Thursday 5 September 2013

Kefalonia 5 Sep

Second day with car.

Drove into Argostoli and had a good walk around the centre, seeing a loggerhead turtle close in to the edge of the promenade.


On along a new road going inland over the mountain range but running out suddenly into the old narrow route towards the end.  Went down onto Myrtos beach and spent several hours there, reading and swimming.  Superb beach.  Bathing was just like being in a giant swimming pool, very clear water, vivid blue with white sand below.  Had a cheese pie for lunch at the small cafe.


BBQ and Greek dancing in the evening, meeting up with some of the other residents.  Long conversation about railway lines from the naturalised Welshman from Reading, now living in Swansea.  Some people watching by Hilary on the other couple, a Timothy Spall lookalike and his glum partner, both on their second relationships but not looking too comfy.

Wednesday 4 September 2013

Kefalonia 4 sep

First day with hire car.  Drove up through Poros and Sami, then cut through the ravine running diagonally across the island.  Stunning views of Myrtos beach from above, unbelievably blue water.


  

Drove on to Fiskardo, which was quite chic with large yachts and expensive restaurants.  Walked around the harbour and found a restaurant with a great view from the terrace, overlooking the bay and out towards Ithaka.



Drove a few miles along the top coast, parking at a cove where there was a good beach but lots of people.  followed the Sunday Times suggestion to walk through the holm oak mini forest to the next pay, which they said was idyllic and deserted.  Not quite so now, maybe because of a new access route signed from the main road.  Even so, very clear water and sandy once off the pebbles on the water's edge.




Drove back on pretty much the same route, stopping off at Sami for a short walk, then Poros for an icecream.

In the evening went to a restaurant that was a bit overrun with Brits but got in early and were served quickly before them.

Tuesday 3 September 2013

Kefalonia 3 Sep

Took boat taxi to Katelios and set up at the far end of the beach from the small resort.  Good swimming. Sat under sun shade but still got slightly burnt as the sun was quite intense.  Relaxing read, nice lunch at the small taverna, then back on the 4 pm boat taxi.

Walked up the hill away from Skala for evening meal at the Neptune fish restaurant.  Had a table on the deck of the mock ship, and very good swordfish meal.

Stopped off for an icecream at a posh place on the way back, open late.

Monday 2 September 2013

Kefalonia 2 Sep

Walked up to old town, taking the road behind the Crystal Palace site.

Stopped at taverna at 12 for drinks, joined by nice couple John & Margaret from Midlands.  Stayed on for lunch after they left, very acceptable meal.

Back down to room for swim, wash and brush up before going down to town for evening meal.  Sat in the outside area at back of a restaurant just at the sea end of the main street.  Good quick service, good food.

Sunday 1 September 2013

Kefalonia 1 Sep

Collected at 5.30 am by Butlers taxi. Flight on time, arriving into a wall of heat.
Almost the last drop-off in the resort but quickly installed in the room. Fairly basic but large, with mezzanine floor and two more beds up there. Self catering kitchen wouldn't run to much cooking, one frying pan, two ring cooker and a microwave.


Walked down to the town to recce, had swim in pool then went to local supermarket for provisions.
Nice meal in restaurant at the bottom of Main Street, round the back so away from street noise.