July - Lots of Prep

 All of July 2021

July has been fearsomely hot, and we have done only the minimum of things that need to be done.  However, with our proposed trip across Europe starting in August, there has been quite a lot of preparation to do.

First task was to take the car to Athens for its delayed service (delayed due to lockdown travel restrictions).  We thought this would be a good test of our, and the car's, tolerance for two consecutive long days of travel.  Day one - we arrive in Athens, and drop off the car, then we found our AirBnB and went out for an evening meal.  Day two, we explored the newly opened archaeological dig area under the Acropolis Museum before picking up the car and heading home.

 

The drive back was uneventful, and we were not too exhausted by it all, so the trip is looking good.  This is the fabulous road bridge at Patras.

 

Dave has been making important preparations for our two night stop by Lake Lugano, sitting by the aircon (solar powered) and tying flies.  Who'd have thought we would both have a love of sparkly threads, feathers and beads!

 

Then we went out in the boat, to make sure we had some use of her and to get away from Nydri's excessive heat.  Lots of swimming, and exploring new locations, and we saw so many big loggerhead turtles - far more than ever before, we must have timed our trip with a migration route.  This is us on the island in the bay at Vonitsa, taking an evening walk to stretch our legs.

This is the life - chugging over in the dinghy to a restaurant on the seafront.  

Seven Islands Taverna in Ligia, Lefkada.  Very nice.

 

Back home, and we got up early to test the camping gear.  The tent went up okay, not too musty; the awning was too small, so we swapped it with the one from the boat - good to know in advance; the chairs work well, and the tea was properly supported on the chair tables: so it is all looking good.

 

We were slightly derailed one evening when we met up with Nim and Pete, and failed to avoid going to the Roadhouse.  Good music, a bit expensive, and Nim and I had to dance in the street as it wasn't allowed inside!

The 'dry run' at packing the car - this bit is crucial: if we can't get it all in (and most of it out each evening) then the trip is off.  In the event, it all seemed to go okay, even squashing in the paintings I'm taking as presents.