After a few days in Elounda Bay we decided to return to our home marina early. The forecast for the next several days was too much wind for us to dock without a bow-thruster, and our marina friends who would help us dock would not be around on Friday when the winds were forecast to be calm.
It was a short motor back. The surprising thing was the feeling of going back home that Victoria and I both felt as we got closer. It was very unexpected, since we had only spent last winter here, but we both felt it. I don’t have a good picture, but there are mountains around the big bay in front of our marina, and it was so great to see the mountains all around again.
Our berth was supposed to be free by 11, so I aimed for 11:30 expecting the departing boat to be late. We had to anchor outside the marina since our spot was still not free….and it wasn’t free until 1pm (the vessel in our spot was not occupied by one of the on-time type of Europeans 😉 and just about this time the wind picked up to a brisk 15 knots. The fun thing though was that Victoria and I both went for a swim in the beautiful crystal clear water while we were anchored. The water was a mix of warm and very cold, and with my mask I could see the cold currents looked ‘wavy’ under water…..Victoria explained that this was the fresh water from the mountains mixing with the salt water…..very neat! I also thought the water here was slightly less buoyant than usual which would be the case if it was less salty from the fresh runoff.
We don’t have a lot of room to maneuver in the marina, and my bow-thruster was not working, but I was more confident in handling the boat and we had dock-friends lined up to grab a stern line and help pull my stern into the spot as I backed up. We made it in successfully w/o any major damage, and we were home!
Last year we arrived in late October, and while there were tourists around, the town was not too busy….now it was packed! There was a cruise-ship in town, there were tourists everywhere. Some of the restaurants were too busy to get a table at…I saw my first Agios Nicholaus traffic jam……this place was hopping! I can’t imagine how busy it must have been in August.
I was happy to see all the local businesses making money from a busy tourist season, as they have had a few bad years. Even in mid-September it is still very hot here during the day. It has been so great to eat (and drink) at the local restaurants again! I have had way too much to eat and drink a few times for a very reasonable cost. My favorite is when they bring free dessert and raki at the end…..Victoria doesn’t drink Raki so I get lots!
Adventures on Spruzzo 