24 July 2013 Nea Klima What to do?

We are in the lovely little harbour of Nea Klima on Skopelos island. Shows you shouldn't believe everything you read in the pilot and guide books - it is a little gem. We've been doing nothing strenuous but lazing, swimming and a little sightseeing. We took a bus up to the hilltop town of Glossa where we visited a little Folk Museum and had a guided tour by three young women. The museum was a traditional house owned previously by one of the girl's grandmother and housed traditional costumes, looms, fireplaces and artefacts from life as it has been lived probably for centuries. Water has only been piped to the village in the last 20 years, previously drawn from a central source in the village from a mountain spring.

But we are undecided as to next steps. Working with the Meltemi is difficult. And so are the facilities in the area. Normally, we go home for August. Too hot, too crowded, time out, etc. This year, we are struggling. We cannot find anywhere safe to leave the boat unattended. There are places to possibly haul out, but some distance away, and to put the boat ashore for just one month seems excessive. And reasonable flights at peak season here are also a rarity. Do we stay, do we find a means of going?

And then where to go? North to the north Aegean, towards Thessalonika, around the fingers and down then to the Eastern Sporades towards the Turkish coast and on down. Straight over to the Eastern Sporades and south to find a safe winter haven for the boat further down? Or back down to the Saronic eventually to Kilada again. So we are dithering. Going south or across with the meltemi is easy, north a challenge. What we cannot do is stay indefinitely in the Sporades. Lovely though they are.

Shame having to make these difficult choices in the sunshine..... Hope all is sunshine with everyone for everyone out there x