Well the taxi to the station turned up on time, the train left Weymouth at precisely 0820, then we sat at Dorchester South Station for well over an hour! Apparently the driver couldn’t communicate with the network and consequently all trains across the South of England were going nowhere. After about an hour we were about to jump in a taxi to Gatwick, when the Guard popped his head over the fence and advised us that the train could now leave. So back on the train and cancelled the taxi. Then a chap ran fast down the aisle to attract the guard to a passenger incident in one of the carriages. Later still there was an announcement that we had to slow down owing to a cow wandering on the line in the new forest. We safely passed the cow and we ran smoothly to Southampton where we decided to vacate our seats and move forward so we could leg it at Clapham. This turned out to be a bad move, as the train was packed in the forward section with standing room only. At Surbiton we had further delays, waiting for trains at Waterloo to leave the station. We even thought about getting a taxi from here but the doors were locked. We eventually arrived at Clapham Junction over 2 hours late. Stress levels were now getting high with the flight to Kos scheduled to depart at 1515.
However once at Clapham, the train gods were with us, and we only had a 5min wait for a Gatwick train. At Gatwick we sailed from South to North Terminal (not literally), glided through bag drop, a slight delay at security with the usual bag search, and got to the gate with about 20 mins to spare.
Once all seated on the plane, some bright spark at the back asked a stewardess if there was any possibility of getting his lithium power bank out of the hold. Alarm bells started ringing (not literally) as the captain insisted he was going nowhere with lithium batteries in the hold. The passenger’s bag had to be found and the power bank removed and stored in the main cabin. Apparently the ground staff were very reluctant to help, and only after a half hour or so, did they start looking. Meanwhile 2 other passengers admitted to having power banks in their checked in bags, so now a hunt for 3 bags! We eventually started rolling about an hour later than scheduled, with four rather embarrassed passengers on board.
So we arrived in Kos later than planned, but our hotel transfer man was thankfully still waiting and after a further wait for a young couple arriving from Amsterdam we arrived at our hotel in Kos Town.
Greece has decided to temporarily abandon the EU EES, so no delays at passport control at the airport, moreso as we had paid a bit extra to sit in row 1, so first off the plane!
Next morning a leisurely walk to the ferry terminal, 90mins on the ferry to Agia Marina on Leros to a waiting hire car and at the Moor and Dock boatyard 15mins later.
Jacana was waiting for us, all bare, as her winter cover had been shredded by strong winter winds, but otherwise fine, apart from a layer of yellow Saharan dust.
However once at Clapham, the train gods were with us, and we only had a 5min wait for a Gatwick train. At Gatwick we sailed from South to North Terminal (not literally), glided through bag drop, a slight delay at security with the usual bag search, and got to the gate with about 20 mins to spare.
Once all seated on the plane, some bright spark at the back asked a stewardess if there was any possibility of getting his lithium power bank out of the hold. Alarm bells started ringing (not literally) as the captain insisted he was going nowhere with lithium batteries in the hold. The passenger’s bag had to be found and the power bank removed and stored in the main cabin. Apparently the ground staff were very reluctant to help, and only after a half hour or so, did they start looking. Meanwhile 2 other passengers admitted to having power banks in their checked in bags, so now a hunt for 3 bags! We eventually started rolling about an hour later than scheduled, with four rather embarrassed passengers on board.
So we arrived in Kos later than planned, but our hotel transfer man was thankfully still waiting and after a further wait for a young couple arriving from Amsterdam we arrived at our hotel in Kos Town.
Greece has decided to temporarily abandon the EU EES, so no delays at passport control at the airport, moreso as we had paid a bit extra to sit in row 1, so first off the plane!
Next morning a leisurely walk to the ferry terminal, 90mins on the ferry to Agia Marina on Leros to a waiting hire car and at the Moor and Dock boatyard 15mins later.
Jacana was waiting for us, all bare, as her winter cover had been shredded by strong winter winds, but otherwise fine, apart from a layer of yellow Saharan dust.
Having a hire car we also explored some of the local eateries.
So a few days to get her ready for Tuesday’s launch. Mainly washing down, including washing the sails and cleaning generally, also fitting a new bimini, fitting the repaired spray hood, mending a couple of wooden storage items in the saloon, a bit of antifouling patching, more hosing down and ready to launch at 0815 on Tuesday, except it turned out to be about 1100. A German boat had apparently jumped the queue!
The water at the boatyard is non potable and the only drinking water available (like many islands in the area) is via tanker from a mountain spring. Consequently, the best we can do is fill up empty unsterilised tanks. So far no ill effects!
So on Tuesday at 1230 after about 90mins of motoring we were tied up in Lakki Marina for a few free nights. (they come as part of the winter storage contract)
So a few days to get her ready for Tuesday’s launch. Mainly washing down, including washing the sails and cleaning generally, also fitting a new bimini, fitting the repaired spray hood, mending a couple of wooden storage items in the saloon, a bit of antifouling patching, more hosing down and ready to launch at 0815 on Tuesday, except it turned out to be about 1100. A German boat had apparently jumped the queue!
The water at the boatyard is non potable and the only drinking water available (like many islands in the area) is via tanker from a mountain spring. Consequently, the best we can do is fill up empty unsterilised tanks. So far no ill effects!
So on Tuesday at 1230 after about 90mins of motoring we were tied up in Lakki Marina for a few free nights. (they come as part of the winter storage contract)
