WHERE ARE WE ANNE?: CAMPBELL HAIR I PRESUME!

ITHACA

THE HAIR PIECE OF THE PUZZLE

SUNDAY 25TH AUGUST 2013

There are several Vathi's in Greece. Vathi on the island of Ithaca is a little ripper.

Steep tall countryside tumbles down to this lovely bay with it's Eucalypt lined shores.

Whenever I've read Linda's facebook posts there was invariably a quick cheery reply by a fellow boat owner some where in the Med named Campbell Hair. He was obviously having his own adventures and his posts referred to his plans dovetailing in to Linda and Bill's so they could meet up somewhere. I assumed they were great friends from way back. What I didn't realise was, they had never met in person and knew each other only through Facebook and Sailblogs for the last five years. Campbell had followed Linda and Bill's circumnavigation, bought Linda's book, bought his own boat, absorbed their sailing wisdom, followed every twist and turn of Lati's rescue makeover and five years of e-friendship was about to culminate in a real live crossing of paths where Linda was to meet one of her avid readers on a picturesque Greek Island.

We spotted Campbells 46ft Bavaria 'ANNECAM' on the dock from some distance out with it's big Aussie flag. He and his wife Annette received our ropes as we backed in next to them and then it was hugs of recognition all round and welcome aboard for a celebratory drink or two and exchanging of tales.

We were moored to a quay that was once a paying marina with power and water etc. Now it is folded, faded and free to all. There is an enterprising Greek man who drives his tanker of water to any yachts wanting to top up and Dimitri's restaurant is a few paces across the quay for dinner by the water with the local cats.

You know you're in Greece though because the gum trees are painted white up to shoulder height, the water is clear and blue, opening times are a rough guide, and the pace is distinctly relaxed. Dine at Dimitri's and the showers are free.