Where am I?

Do you ever have that feeling of waking up and wondering where you are? It’s happened to me on and off over the years – sleeping in strange beds and plenty of unfamiliar rooms for a variety of reasons!

Although we’re always on board the same boat, outside the locations change and so do our neighbours. The other day I woke up to the sound of New Zealand accents on the adjacent yacht and popping my head out on deck, I was greeted by a friendly voice, “How are you this morning?” A few days earlier it had been German accents and before that French.

Our neighbours over the past few weeks have been varied and many. It’s been one of the many joys of this extended trip, getting to meet so many sailors from different parts of the world and often mooring up beside them again at different anchorages and greeting them like old friends, sharing stories of where we’ve been in between and what we’ve seen, along with the inevitable sailing nightmare tales! They’ve also been on hand to help with ropes and getting moored in harbours in various strengths of wind, everyone has been helpful and kind.

The other morning I woke up in the saloon of the boat, as the cabin had got too hot in the night. I couldn’t remember where we were and even more confusing was hearing the twang of “Kiwi accents” again. I’d forgotten that having left this friendly family behind a few days earlier, we’d found ourselves moored next to them again the previous afternoon in a new location.

I’ve loved the friendliness of fellow sailors. The other day, the skipper of a boat anchored across from us in a bay swam over to chat about our sun canopy. He explained how he and his wife had sailed here from Brittany. We talked about our Devon flag and places he loved in England, especially Cornwall. When left he said, “We’re practically cousins!”

In our favourite port on the island of Alonnisos we found our new neighbours were a couple who’d been stranded in Australia during lockdown, and their lovely wooden boat had been damaged, but they hadn’t been able to get back to it. He was a native greek with a shock of white hair and he and his Australian partner shared tips with us on easy meals to cook on board along with sailing tales from around the islands. We nicknamed her ‘Shirley Valentine’ and wished them well with their boat rebuilding in the coming months as we upped anchor and set sail again.

Today we chatted with our new Danish neighbours about places to visit and last night we were back onboard yacht Zigzag – sharing a few glasses of wine with a Cornish couple, we keep meeting up with and who are now anchored a few metres away in this idyllic bay.

When we swam before breakfast this morning, it felt as if we were in our own giant swimming pool. Even in the deep water around the boat the seabed was so clear you could see each little pebble and rock far below.

As we move into the twilight of our time in Greece, for now, it’s clear our little boat is in need of some repair work. Over the past few weeks we’ve both become intimately acquainted with a sponge and bucket that has been filled up daily after each trip from water leaking down below! I’m thinking of buying one as a reminder of the adventure.

In the meantime, I’m gazing across at lush pine trees lining the shore above a bank of white rocks reflecting in the sparkling water. Apart from the heat and the temperature of the water, we could be anchored down the Fal in Cornwall! And I’m reminded that we have plenty of beautiful places to rediscover on our return home.

I’m also wondering how strange it will feel sleeping in a real bed that doesn’t rock and has space to move, or taking a long shower without being worried about using too much water.

But I may well wake up in a couple of weeks and wonder where on earth I am!

“Did you say Mexico?”

Staring at the departure board at Euston station last week, I had a sinking feeling we weren’t going to make our flight to Greece. Delayed and cancelled flashed up on more and more trains, and even more worryingly, our train wasn’t even listed.

“Due to the extremely hot weather, some of our trains are not in the right location and also some of our staff… we’re doing our best though,” said the station announcer. However sorry they were it wasn’t going to help us get to Birmingham International for our plane, that was likely to be leaving as scheduled in a few hours time. We both looked at our watches and sighed, saying one of those prayers.. “if you could just help us get a train, please!”

Suddenly one of the Birmingham-bound trains was ready and a hoard of would-be passengers streamed forward. We joined the throng, hoping our tickets would be valid and dragging our cases behind us.

On board the guard showed her sense of humour, mixing up the wording on her announcements and making everyone smile. Later she chatted to us as we prepared to get off, helping us manoeuvre a pushchair to get our bags to the door.

“Where are you off to? Did you say Mexico?!”

We chuckled and I touched my straw hat, while she told us her dream was to go travelling in a few years, when she’d had enough of Avanti and network rail.

Stepping aboard another Greek ferry later that day, felt like a bit of a miracle after the day’s train and plane delays. The ferry was actually earlier than scheduled so we were lucky to catch it. Even more amazing was that I could walk without limping after almost falling through the ceiling a couple of days earlier as I’d attempted to tidy tools in our son’s loft extension!

Now a week on, the boat is rocking gently in the most delightful bay, framed by chalky cliffs with turquoise water lapping at the beach.

Since leaving Skopolos last week, we’ve enjoyed some beautiful anchorages on islands we’ve never heard of. Pine trees and olive groves flow down to the water and bleating goats and buzzing cicadas provide the soundtrack day and night.

I’m loving taking time on this mini sailing adventure around the Sporades islands. We’re here for a few weeks and that means we can take our time, sit longer over a frappe in a cafe by the quay, spend time forging new friendships with fellow sailors, decide to stay an extra night and try another restaurant just because we can. Today “time” is on our side and it feels good to slow things down for now.

I’m also loving meeting new people! Within a day of arriving in Greece we met a couple from Cornwall who’d sailed their boat all the way here some years ago. Then we met them again at an anchorage and again at a little port town (we’re not your stalkers – honestly!). We also met another couple from Plymouth! Suddenly it feels like a small world and the other night all six of us exchanged stories and laughter at a local fish restaurant. However much peace I crave, you can’t beat forging new friendships – it’s the best!

On the other hand international relations were under strain an hour or so ago, when a neighbouring yacht ‘politely’ asked us to move our anchor. We ‘politely’ declined, on the grounds that it wasn’t necessary. Half an hour later we waved “au revoir” as they decided to move and the French skipper showed us his bottom! Fair enough – perhaps he was rather hot…