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More thunder last night, and lots of rain. Things looking rather better this morning however, so after breakfast and under a threatening sky, we set off for Port Leone on the island of Kalamos.

Localised storms all the way, but we managed to avoid them.

Some heavy shipping too

And here we are at Port Leone. The village was abandoned after the 1953 earthquake, which somehow make the wells run dry. The only building that is maintained is the church, otherwise there is nothing here at all apart from ruins. We anchor in the bay and have a barbeque on the beach.

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It rained a bit last night, and there were a few claps of thunder. We were woken about 4am by a big thunderstorm, with wind howling through the rigging. Fortunately we had secured Sea Fever to a good spot on the harbour wall and we managed a few more hours sleep.

By 9.30 the weather was so bad that we became aware of commotion in the harbour. Yesterday’s late arrivals were now finding that their berths were untenable. Boats everywhere. Difficult decision for skippers – too dangerous to leave, and too dangerous to stay in this little harbour.

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I was swimming here yesterday afternoon!

Anyhow, we won’t be going anywhere today, so we take a nice table in a taverna with a good view of the goings-on, and we can keep up with events with the portable VHF.

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We had planned to go to Kalamos today, but the forecast is for a storm, so we decide to go back to Kioni as it has a well protected harbour. Went for a swim and had a few beers then a walk around the bay.

Our guys mooring – not much room on the quay so stragglers have to reverse in and tie a line to the shore.

These old windmills are a nice indication of the entrance to this harbour.

Lovely afternoon – no sign of the storm

Nice old house, this would cost a couple of million in Salcombe

Lobster for dinner again

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You can do anything you like here, as long as it involves a boat. A superyacht arrived yesterday evening and moored at the ferry jetty. At lunchtime today a bigger superyacht arrived wanting the same space, so between them they shuffled places in the harbour until both were moored once again. Nicholas Taverna in the background, where we enjoyed lunch.

Sea Fever and companions moored on a pontoon in front of the dinghy park.

Lovely flowers decorate the buildings.

Count the Dragons. Of the dozen boats on our pontoon, 3 are flying the Welsh Standard.

Still plenty of traditional Greek fishing boats parked amongst the yachts and (as seen here) the Port Authority launch.

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Today we complete our circumnavigation of Ithaca, and return to Cephalonia and the port of Fiscardo. Fiscardo is the Ionian equivalent of Salcombe – all expensive restaurants and boutiques. It’s busy during the day with lots of tourists who arrive on tripper boats from beach resorts nearby, but in the evening it is the exclusive yachtsman’s hideaway.

Fast ferry from Italy to Patras in the Cephalonia Strait

Approaching Fiscardo – old stone lighthouse off our starboard bow.

Sea Fever safely moored in the harbour

Fiscardo is very pretty, and very popular!

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This lobster was alive and kicking, right up to the point when Val said she’d like to eat it for dinner.

Harbour lights

Lovely pub – the Jazz bar

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Today we continue our circumnavigation of Ithaca, and we head for a place called Frikes. We got there about lunchtime and it looked far to exposed to the evening winds that we’ve been having. So Sea Fever diverts to Kioni, which we know to be much more sheltered.

Harold and Andrea, our buddies on board their boat April Star. Leaving Vathi harbour alongside Sea Fever.

Entering Kioni harbour.

Picture-postcard Kioni, Sea Fever moored on the quay.

Worth another picture really.