The First Mate He Got Drunk....

For the last 10 days Himself has wanted to go out on a boat.  

Captain Manolis Boat hasn't been launched yet. 

The Speed boats hadn't arrived on Vlichna Beach. 

Si did some research, and found that there were Speed boats for hire at Lindo's beach round the cliff. 

We booked it up for today.   

I was totally dreading it.   I saw these boats - They sit offshore.   they were speedy and bouncy. 

I had thought to myself that (a) Lindos beach was really far down a cliff and I'd struggle with the path.  (b) I['d never get my arse in the boat, and (c) I'd be as sick as a dog if I did get down the cliff and back down the stairs. 

Si reckoned that if we got a taxi - the taxi could take us to the beach.   Taxi duly arrived and drove to Lindos.  Stopped in the uptop car park and pointed "Beach that way". 

The path down to the beach was so steep, it was like walking on tiptoes. 

Eventually we got there, and then there was the boat.  

The chap was very lovely and chatted Si through the whole hire.  Then he walked into the water, and pulled the boat about to 1 foot depth.  and then took my bags and clothes and put them in the boat and helped me on board.   Two issues sorted. 

Then he drove us out a bit, got Si to drive around a couple of bouy and then he bounced out of the boat, and said "I leave you now, bye".  And swam to shore. 

And off we went. 

We sailed north. looking at our Bay, and the next few bays a long. 

We reached a beautiful bay - Red Sands, and Si decided to jump in.  It was freezing, and deep.   He swam around abit, and then tried to climb back in.   The "telescopic steps over the back of the boat, were level with the waters edge. ... 

Si had to lift his leg out of the water, and then pull himself physically up and over into the boat.    I was completely terrified.  But he did get on board, but his belly was bleeding.  He had scraped it over the steps and he pulled himself on board. 

I have no upper body strength there was no way I was even going to attempt it.. 

Once we had stemmed the bleeding we set off again, back up along the coast.  We past Lindos bay and headed to Navarone Bay.  How beautiful that was.  Blue. blue, blue sea.    The wind was getting up a bit, and we pulled as close to the shore of Navarone Bay as we could, and dropped the anchor. .

We were very pleased to appear to  be in a sheltered spot and well anchored as we watched other boats throw their anchor and then drift 20 - 30 yards in seconds. 

We lay in the sunshine, and enjoyed our packed lunch.   And shortly it was time to pull up the anchor. 

But it wouldn't. 

In a bay of sand, our Anchor had found the only rock, and got itself stuck on it.

Si pulled the rope up as far as he could so that the anchor was directly below the boat.   His consideration was that if he could pull the rope directly above us, then if I started the boat we might be able to wiggle it off.   It was still about 15 ft below us - the chances of one of uss being able to dive down and release it were remote. 

Just at that point, a gust of wind hit us, and the boat lurched, and there was a big bang.  And suddenly  Si was able to pull the anchor free.  The wind had wrenched the boat, to one direction, so hard that a catch on one side of the anchor had snapped, and allowed the anchor to move, and work loose. 

Oh goodness We were exhausted, but very relieved (I know I wasn't doing anything, but i was very stressed. )

We sailed back up the coast again.  The wind was really picking up and as Si steered into the waves I was hanging on with both hands to the rails as I bounced off the seat with every wave, and as I landed a wave would break over the bow.    

I w as soaking

When the waves started hitting Si he decided that it was probably about time to go back ashore (we had been out for 5 hours!

We sailed in to Lindos Bay and had to negotiate a pirate ship, A unicorn pedalo, a swan pedalo,  Two body boarders and a 40 ft sailboat.  Great fun

The guy from the rental was waving like crazy to us, and ran into the water as we neared and pulled the boat in.  He grabbed my bags again, and helped me out into the water. 

We were so exhausted we walked up to the bar and had to have a pina colada and beer and calamari

Once we had recovered (and finshed the coladas) we started the vertical walk up to the village. 

What a bloody nightmare.  25 steps.  Break.  25 Steps, Stop .   50 steps.  stop.  50 Steps. Stop.  

Finally we made it.  We went and grabbed an ice cream and sat down for a moment. 

Then we got in a taxi and got back to the hotel.  

We were exhausted.   We had to stop at the bar and get another drink,.