In to the lions den!

Restaurant mascot

Well after a brief stop in Pathos to enable an early morning departure I had to stay two days because the boat wouldn’t go into reverse when I Moored up . Not good. Two blokes were there to help fortunately as one threw a line but it slipped away before I could fix it on deck. The next one trapped and squashed my fingers against the solar arch which was painful and caused bruising but helped to stop the 12 tons of boat drifting broad side with my anchor into a 20 day old boat( owned by a ruskie)! An Egyptian who was one of the two men said his mate on a big tourist boat could help fix my issue. Sceptical ,moi but desperate having investigated as much as I could I went to see him. Really nice guy got on his tender with me and together running around like rats he said 100 % it was the cable. How can this be it’s pushing and pulling? He took up a couple of boards down the back and the cable sheath had completely rotted and separated!! 

Where to buy? He informed me later that there was a shop in town. Marine and cycles?? Who would have one 😳they did! I fixed that then had to do the taxi run to town to get diesel, none in the port.Thank Neptune I filled up a couple of  extra containers. Met a very interesting 38 yr old German living in Romania running an earth moving disposal business plus other interests who was on a mates boat lent to him after sailing with the owner for 3 days. Astounding because that’s the only sailing he’d done 😂The Egyptian thought he was mad as he went out in 2m waves one day. Also the prop shaft came away from the gearbox and flooded the boat . My Egyptian pal had helped him fix that. Other points of note he parascends in Romania with out a licence and goes on mountain walks having taken  micro doses of LSD . Regularly! Apparently legal there😳Oh and his work regime is work three weeks then one off per month!

So I left on Saturday and am floating around two days later with 90 miles to go. Unfortunately absolutely no wind or westerly that means I’ve run the engine over 48 hours and have just used my last reserve tank. Boarderline as to whether I have enough to make port in Crete and to turn up on vapour will result in same problem as at pathos except I won’t be  going forward either! Big slow tacks required to get me to port. Worst case scenario I’ll have to call for a tow. To be continued…..

A nice thing is I’ve had little birds land on board to catch flies.

The first was 50 miles from land. I tried to feed him but he was very good with moths and insects. When he disappeared at night I assumed he’d gone. This morning I heard a squeak and thought it was a shackle. Came out , fannied about then when the sun rose this little bird was dead on the floor. Some one had stepped on him. I was devastated and buried him at sea. Able seabird sparrow . RIP. About 10 mins later a bird hopped out from a pile of ropes . Easter resurrection my arse, ASS must have had a friend over and I stood on him😳The original one was standing on my foot and at one point on my shoulder. Very cute. 

                         Spot the bird!

Had three others since. Amazing . Robins I think and a skinny neurotic type . Back to work!

Arrived !1/2 hr short of 3 days. Not a restful night! Tacks , no wind then slight sea and constantly aware of fuel predicament. One tank empty other just at empty but gauge has been fidgeting since half. Canisters holding 80 litres all empty🙄but only €24 for 3 days in the port- brilliant . 

The life of a sea gypo is not as carefree as people think , it’s deal with it or sink. 

Since leaving Lebanon I’ve had a ripped sail-repaired. This is the before shot.

 Fuel bug block - sorted. Gear cable trashed. Fingers squashed between rope and drifting boat and fuel stress ,the last and least of my worries but strangely , I’m still very happy to be where I am doing what I’m doing  and not even bored of my own conversation

Off to immigration now , so could be an amendment to this list!

Amendment

I am now a prisoner on my boat which is classed as UK territory! After my previous EU overstay and non payment of fine I have infringed the law and sending me out of Schengen with boat looks like the only option. I couldn’t fly home because I would be on Schengen territory on my way to and at the airport. Go back to Cyprus, bugger that , it took 3 days to get here.

The local police woman, a woman who deals with boaters in the harbour and the 

Coastguard policeman have been truly unbelievable. Complete opposite of the toe rag immigration , South African accented tosser in Samos. The remedy now is I have to find some one to pay the €600 at the tax office , get a receipt, take that to the cop shop then policewoman clears my name on the system. Then I’ll be a free man, hopefully The two passport ruse obviously has failed.

Still , worth a go.

I may be freed in two days time🤡

              The angry sea off and entering Crete.