Getting hauled out of the water

 On Aug 25th at 11.00 hr, Le reve was scheduled to be hauled out of the water and be stored on the hard in Cleopatra marina in Preveza.

This marked the end of our cruising season for 2013.
All in all we traveled just shy of 800 nm (1460 km) in 62 days (Aug 25 to Oct.25) from Didim Turkey to Preveza Greece.
During that time we visited 15 Islands and 5 mainland ports. Some we visited several times. The bottom picture shows only part of the 800 boats in storage at Cleopatra marina.
Right beside Cleopatra there are two more marinas, Aktio marina, and Ionion marina. Of these Cleopatra is the biggest, but all and all there are some 2000 boats stored here.

Our last cruise for the season

Our last cruise for the season from Lefkas marina to Cleopatra marina in Peveza. But first fill the tanks so as to eliminate as much as possible condensation in the tanks during winter layup.

Two pumps, one for each tank.

The filling station attendant can not be bothered to watch us fill the tanks and he tends to his fishing!

One more time trough the bridge that connects Lefkada island to the main land. This is a pontoon bridge and swings on a large steel column. It opens each hour on the hour.

We stopped on the town dock before going to the marina to have lunch on board.

Arend and Henny Bonsink and Cees and Elly de Jonge are posing for a picture once the boat is docked in the Prevesa town marina.

A culinary experiance.

Our friends found this very unique, and very, VERY good restaurant in one of the small side streets of Lefkas, it was called "the Seven Seas". The tables are set up just on the street as many are here in Greece. However where the seven seas was located the street was so small there was only just enough room for one row of tables along the one side of the street.

We were all taken into the kitchen and had a look at what was cooking this night. 

This pot has pork, and that one beef, still and other had something else. All and all there must have been 10 different pots on several regular home stoves. We got a very detailed explanation of what everything was. 

The ovens were even loaded with different kinds of food. We managed all to make a choice, and it was no doubt the best meal we had in a restaurant in Greece. Thumbs up for the "SEVEN SEAS" culinary

Exploring Lefkas on bike.

Joanne is going with Elly and Henny for a bicycle ride around Lefkas. 

Just finished changing the wiring of the bow thruster so it will be charged by the sun panels.

Going for a little criuse with the Bonsink,s and the de Jonge,s

Out for a little test cruise. Arend is not only an expert marine technician, he also knows how to operate a boat. I guess I should not be surprised at that, as he has build many, and various boats as well as solved many technical problems. He also is the one who installed our solar panels, and they are doing a terrific job. For the time that le reve is "on the hard" The solar panels are keeping the batteries charged without the need for any outside electricity. The only thing is that the bow thruster is hooked up as a 24 volt system and the panels deliver 12 volt to the boat. But not to worry Arend again came to the rescue. After making a few changes these batteries also now are getting charged during winter layup.  Anyone needing service work done one there boat I can highly recommend the 

Gebr. A&J Bonsink - Zwartsluis

Installing the new batteries.

Installation of these "heavy weight's" was a chore!!!!But with the expert help of Arend Bonsink, from Holland and his right hand man Cees de jonge, it was done in no time. But not without a lot of lifting, pulling, and hoisting!!

We were all glad after the last one of 7 was in it,s place.

Arend can just be seen a little in the center photo, as he guides the battery in place via the same plank that was used to slide them onto the back deck.

Arrival of the new batteries.

 Our new batteries have arrived from Holland but at 75kg each how to get them on the boat is a real chore!!!

Not to worry, we have a crane on board.
Johan operates the crane, and I guide them
to the little boarding gate.















                      Than they are slid on a board to the cockpit.

Our last few days with Sister and Brotherinlaw

 Docked in the bay of "Savota" on the southern most end of the Island of Lefkas.

Going for a walk around the bay.

Heading back south

Anchoring by the island of "Sivota"
on the coast by Mourtos

 Joanne needed some "Basil" for the evening meal and often you can find it growing along in pots by the restaurants. Not sure if it is "for the picking" but Joanne did not ask!!

 By this time the weather has turned the usual clear blue sky and bright sunshine.
We enjoy a very calm and relaxing cruise towards the main land coast

On the way to Corfu we headed straight to the island of Paxi just south of Corfu.
This time we follow the coast back to Preveza and our first stop is by a group of small islands near the village of "Mourtos"
One of the islands is called "Sivota" and that is what the area is called, and NOT Mourtos. I found this out when I checked in with the port police (something that needs to be done each time you come to a different place)  in Preveza.
When he asked me where I came from I told him Mourtos and he did not know what I was talking about. When I showed him on the chart he said "Oh Sivota he told me "only locals call it Mourtos.

From Paxi to Corfu

 Approaching "Corfu town" about 2/3 of the way north on the island. Corfu is the greenest, in terms of vegetation of all the Ionion isalnds. The weather is still a bit unsettled but we arrive and have a good ride because the southern part of the island shelters our voyage. 
Soon we see the strategic eastern point of Corfu town with it's old fort dating back to the Venetian time.

Corfu is the name by which the island is known to the western Europeans who make it one of the most popular vacation destinations.
The Greek name of the island is Kerkyra.
It was first settled by the Corinthians in 734 BC who at that time named the island Corcyra

We wanted to see the interior so by car we toured the northern half of the island.
Close by Kalami we made a coffee stop at a B&B with a picturesque view over the Ionion sea.

 On the northern end of Corfu we see a large fish farm.

 One more stop for refreshments, and a game of "backgammon"

 Old Corfu town has many souvenir shops. This one is full of articles made from olive tree wood.

 If in Corfu town one must go and visit the castle, so here we are on top of the castle overlooking the christal clear water.  

From Preveza to Paxi

 We left on Tuesday Oct 8th to cruise north towards Corfu.
The weather was better than it had been, but still overcast and 4 bf winds from the south. So we had the winds with us but because the last few days the winds were quite strong we encountered  a fairly large swell once we got in the open Ionian sea. So much so that one of us had a problem keeping breakfast down!  

The harbor front of Gaios on the island of Paxi.

 Taking a look around the quaint little village of "Gaios"

 Getting a lesson in "Backgammon" from the locals.

The island of Paxi is well known for it's excellent olive oil.
In this store are barrels full of "extra virgin"  olive oil and the owner gives us the scoop on olive oil!