November 2023

Greece - Victoria, Ottawa, Canada

We haul out the boat in Leros Artemis Boatyard and make it back to Canada to visit family and friends.

Artemis Leros Boatyard

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Greece
November 1, 2023
25°

Last day on the boat. Enjoyed our morning coffee overlooking the quiet bay.

At 9:30 we pulled up anchor and mowed it over to Artemis Leros boat yard. The haul out went well and we are now in our spot for the next 5 months.

The boat yard organized a car for us and Lero's Car Rental dropped a car off which was very convenient.

In the afternoon we scrubbed the bottom of the boat getting all the barnacles off in washing the black undercoat.

Then we washed the sides of the boat with a special cleaner and then some soap and water. It looks way better.

We had dinner on the boat cuz we were pretty tired after all the manual labour.

Artemis Leros Boatyard

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Greece
November 2, 2023
24°

Drove to Lakki to go to the port police and hand in our Tepai . Went to customs.

Continued to clean inside of boat.

Took dingy down. Doing maintenance of dingy motor.

Cleaned all carpet cushions and put them inside.

Put Saran wrap on the engine controls and the winches.

Put an old t-shirt in the end of the boom so birds don't go in there

Put the wheel covers on. Covered dingy with a tarp and put it under the boat. Took the anchor down and paid out the chain

Cleaned the anchor locker. Cleaned the rust marks on boat. Talking to Artemis Leros about what work they can do while we are away.

Just got a msg from the ferry, our ferry on Saturday has been cancelled. Super windy. So we need to leave tomorrow instead.

There are no flights available tomorrow so we will plan to spend a night in Kos.

Artemis Leros Shipyard to Kos

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Greece
November 3, 2023
26°

Step 1.

The journey has started!

Finished up putting the boat to bed this morning.

Left Artemis Leros at noon with the rental car. Arrived in Agia Marina, made sure our ferry tickets will work today as it's a day early.

Now having a drink and relaxing.

Got the ferry. Stopped in Kalymnos then Kos.

That sucker went fast.

A horrid turn of events!!!

We went to immigration to try and get off of our crew list and into our passport.

He told us to go to the port police because you need a debarking form

We walked over to the port police but because our boat was in Leros and we were in Kos they could not do it.

They spent 5 hours on the phone!!! with Leros and couldn't come up with a solution Leros refuses to send the form here. After sitting in the waiting area for 3 hours, they said we could leave and come back so we went out for a really nice dinner.

So we have to go back to Leros!!! There is no other option.

The guy at immigration and his girlfriend at the part police were super nice. They gave us some suggestions and really tried to help us.

Because of the bad weather tomorrow all the ferries are cancelled. However I found a flight for tomorrow that works. It leaves at 930 then comes back at 340!!! However, because of the really windy Hopefully the flights will not be canceled.

Lord help us.

Kos Airport

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Greece
November 4, 2023
25°

Took a cab from the hotel to the Kos airport. Waiting for our flight. It stops in Kalymnos then continues to Leros (hopefully - it's really windy there).

We might not be stopping in Kalymnos as it might be too windy. God help me.

There is only 5 of us on the plane.

Too windy in Kalymnos. Just landed in Leros. Not nearly as windy. Strange!

Now we just need to try to get our paperwork done.

Back to Kos on the 345 flight.

Agia Marina

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Greece
November 4, 2023
26°

In another cab to Agia Marina.

Even though we had paid for a car for today but returned it early. 🙁

After about an hour we got her done! He was very apologetic. The guy from Kos called him.

So far, our flight is still scheduled. Fingers crossed.

Municipality of Leros

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Greece
November 4, 2023
27°

Well after waiting at the airport for 2 hours, we just found out the flight isn't coming here, it's been cancelled.

We have no hotel to go to. Now we have to rebook all our flights as we are not going to make it to Athens for our flight.

The rental car company sent the guy over to the airport so we at least have a car for now.

We have booked onto the Blue Star ferry for an overnight to Athens tomorrow at 11.30.

We lost our Athens hotel. It's not changeable nor refundable.

I now need to call Sky Express to try to get my money back.

Booked a hotel in Lakki for tonight.

Went for pizza for dinner which always puts me in a good mood.

Municipality of Leros

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Greece
November 5, 2023
24°

Back at the boatyard after a horrible breakfast at the hotel.

Well it's a good thing we came back. We plugged all the through holes.

Diesel had leaked into the port hull rear bilge locker. It is because we are on a slope and the diesel tank was absolutely completely full. Went back to the boat to check. I got rid of open baking supplies and checked that the diesel wasn't leaking which it wasn't. yay. One of the boatyard dogs jumped in the car and wouldn't get out lol. We had to drag him out.

Went out for dinner with Mario and Eva.

Now waiting for the ferry.

Ferry came. What chaos. Trucks coming off and backing on people rushing on. I can't imagine what it's like in the summer and this is Leros in November! What about summer in Santorini????

Sea of Crete

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Sea of Crete
November 6, 2023
24°

Just arriving in Athens on the overnight ferry.

Sleep was uncomfortable and there are so many people on the ferry!! We couldnt' get a sleeping cabin so we bought the next best thing the airplane seats however they kept the lights on and people were talking on their phone and being super loud, so no sleep for me.

Plaka Hotel -Athens

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Greece
November 6, 2023
25°

Made it to the hotel. It's a freakin zoo in here too. Arrive at 900 am but can't get the room until 300 pm. They let us have breakfast tho, which was really nice.

Just going to walk around the different Athens neighborhoods

Spata-Loutsa Municipal Unit

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Greece
November 7, 2023
26

In the lounge at Athens airport waiting for our flight to Frankfurt, Germany

Frankfurt

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Germany
November 7, 2023
11°

At the Frankfurt airport, waiting for the flight to Vancouver!!!

I'm wearing a sweater and jeans🙁

Richmond

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Canada
November 7, 2023
11°

Just arrived in Vancouver.

Ugg. Horrible flight. No room, I was so squished. too many loud screaming children

On the bus

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Canada
November 7, 2023
11°

On the bus from Vancouver airport to the ferry.

Ferry to Vancouver Island

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Canada
November 7, 2023
12°

On the ferry from Vancouver to Victoria, BC.

Victoria, BC

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Canada
November 7, 2023
12°

Home!!!! Finally

One of our faviourite Victoria restaurants, Joie Grillade.

Ottawa

We have only been home for a few days and I am taking a trip to Ottawa to visit my family there. Chris can't fathom travelling right now and I don't blame him but this is really the only good time. He is going to hold the fort down in Victoria for a few weeks. I am going to meet Cari in Ottawa.

Arrived in Ottawa. I rented a car with Truro which worked out well. Had lunch with mom at a local diner.

Then drove back to the airport to pick up Cari.

Going through the 25 pairs of Lululemon leggings that Grandma bought. 😄

I tried to do some banking with Cari, so she went to get her bank card but couldn't find it. We searched high and low so at 5:00 pm we sped back to the airport, I paid for parking for a 3rd time and we ran in. Luckily there were people at the Porter desk. They knew about the wallet!! We waited about 20 minutes for them to go get it and it was reunited with Cari!! I honestley couldn't believe it.

Then we came back and had a lovely lasagna dinner.

Smith Falls

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Canada
November 12, 2023
2°

We went to my aunts house in Smith Falls for my brother Joe's birthday. Happy Birthday! So glad I am finally at a family event!

Ottawa

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Canada
November 13, 2023
1

Always fun thrifing with Grandma!

Kingston

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Canada
November 14, 2023
5°

Going to Queens Unviersity to see Andrea and Ryan. Andrea' prepared an amazing lunch for us. So yummy!

Kingston

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Canada
November 15, 2023
11°

Andrea made us an amazing breakfast.

We walked Andrea to her lab and had a quick tour of where she is working on her Masters Degree.

Then Cari and I went for a quick walk as Kingston in November is not the warmest. Went to Crave for a coffee and cinnamon bun.

Anna came over for a visit.

I went for a walk by the water. So many incredible houses.

Picked up Andrea from her pottery class

Joe and Sherry and the kids drove up to Kingston and we had dinner at Greco's.

Gananoque

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Canada
November 16, 2023
12°

Cari and I drove the slow way back to Ottawa through Gananoque.

Ottawa

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Canada
November 16, 2023
11°

Back to the Ottawa Airpor to drop Cari off. 🙁 Back to school for her.

Went to Julie's for dinner with Krista. The doorbell rang and wouldn't you know it, carolers!! We had a nice Christmas song sang to us.

Victoria

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Canada
November 18, 2023
10°

Before you know it I"m back in Victoria.

Milo

One of the hardest things I had to do before we left to go cruising was to rehome Milo. When we rescued him they told me he was a Yorshire Terrier. I didn't know much about little dogs as we have always had labs and huskies. When I brought him into the vet, they took one look at him and said this is not a Yorkshire Terrier, its a chihuahua!! Say what? I think he was a mixture of chihuahua and cairn terrier. Anyways, chihauhuas have a very long life span which means he is going to be around alot longer than we though.

Fortuantley, our good friend Terry whole heartenly agreed to take him in. Her two older chi's had just passed away during the last year and she had a new puppy. The great thing was she is keeping me in the loop, sending me pictures. Our kids can go over and visit him at any time and when we are home we can go too!!

Did I mention that our other favourite restaurant in Victoria, well its a cafe called Joie Cafe. The best crepes and cafe ole ever.

Hike at Thetis Lake

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