Die Woche begann wieder sehr nordwindig. Einmal dachten wir sogar, wir hätten eine Eule im Garten, aber es stellte sich heraus, dass es nur das Tuten vom Wind war. Den Rest der Zeit heulte und tobte es und störte uns auf unterschiedliche Weise und in unterschiedlichem Ausmaß.
We decided a brief a change of scene was in order, and went on a road trip round the island. We were rewarded with beautiful light catching the reeds down by the salt lake (at the far side of which you could just make out – but not photograph successfully – flamingos); turquoise and dark blue seas backed by warmly-lit mountains; some impressive inland terrain riven with canyons; gorgeous long beaches with waves whipped up by the wind. And we had a delicious lunch down by the front at Kardamena, which was otherwise wholly deserted. I came back with a slew of photos, a pocketful of beach finds, and a happy glow, ready to face whatever was coming.
Thank goodness the wind eventually took leave of absence at some point later in the week. This meant that we were able to achieve another milestone on the "Readiness For Sailing" journey, i.e. the boat was finally lifted out onto the dry dock for all the final work to be done on its underside and outside. A huge crane like a 15m-high square trolley on wheels, without a top, stood waiting for Opua at the slip. Ralph guided Opua into the frame before she was lifted up on wide slings, and then the frame wheeled her off and deposited her in a vacant lot on the dry dock.
Since then there has been a lot of activity on the boat, in the boat, for the boat, around the boat, under the boat and with the boat. If not quite yet, by the boat. Some tasks are inevitably more fun than others, but to give you an idea let me mention a few: cleaning the water tanks, scrubbing the 90m of anchor chain with vinegar solution (don’t be fooled; it looks exactly the same now as it did before); painting the anchor yellow (don’t ask me, I’m just a foot soldier); finishing our lounge project, as well as sourcing various materials and equipment to complete boat-related tasks.
Wir sind nicht die einzigen, die sich auf die bevorstehende Saison vorbereiten. Kos Stadt ist in den letzten Wochen langsam aus seinem Winterschlaf erwacht, und nach und nach haben immer mehr Cafés, Restaurants, Hotels und andere Unternehmen ihre Spinnweben entfernt und ihre Schilder geputzt. Im Jachthafen wurden die Charterboote mit Hochdruck für die Saison vorbereitet, und der erste Charterkatamaran ist schon letzte Woche optimistisch in See gestochen. Von Tag zu Tag sind mehr Menschen im Hafen und in der Stadt unterwegs, und allgemein liegt der Frühling in der Luft.
Buoyed with enthusiasm by the warm sunshine – and it is warm out of the wind – and by the general pre-season buzz, Ralph and I decided to go for our first swim in the sea. We got installed on a remote beach at the north tip of the island, and approached the water boldly. I only managed about 4 steps before I reversed out squealing. Braver souls (and at least one nutter in my family) might have been OK with a water temperature of about 12 degrees. But I have apparently become a warm-water swimmer. I am hanging on for more favourable swimming conditions. In the meantime may spring finish springing, and may the owl become a cuckoo.
Wir wünschen allen einen schönen und gesunden Frühling.
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The howling owls are always there and each boat bounces like a cork in the water. That's so. We are so happy to have met you. You have described your first few weeks so beautifully. I read a lot of courage, a lot of question marks, a lot of hope, a lot of doubt and a lot of strength in your reports. As you are. If you don't try it, you won't know in the end.
Greetings from Kaimiloa with her boss Klaudia and me 😊
Dear Kaimiloa,
Thank you for reading and thank you for your praise and your encouragement!!! We are also very happy to have met you. It is a joy to be able to share our daily moments of triumph and tribulation 🙂