As it is the weekend, I did a quick spin around the beach car park to see that there were no vehicles secreted behind the trees. The chances are then that no one would be camped on the Promontory. I let off most of the dogs retaining only Obi as he was a bad boy yesterday. Just as we approached the large open space at the southernmost point, Oskar startled, started to bark. In the gloom, I could make out a small dome tent pitched behind some rocks and bushes. Naturally, all the dogs joined in, not wishing to be outdone by the others. The occupant of the tent had a rude awakening just before 05:30 by a number of noisy dogs. I carried on and most of the dogs followed. Some went back to discover an item of clothing and a packet of meat which the owner of the tent had generously left around and about. The garment amused them for a few minutes and the finder of the meat went off into a quiet corner to tear open the plastic packet.
The Wild Camper was lucky it was my dogs that ‘set upon’ them and not some of the dogs which roam the fringes of the urban areas on the north of the island. These dogs, like the ones which Edward and I encountered around Piraeus, can be less than friendly or quite aggressive. A woman visitor to the camping, who lives in the north, told me that on at least one occasion she was surrounded by dogs so felt unable to get out of her car to go to her home. I suggested she arm herself with an ultrasonic bark stopper as well as a small container filled with some premium dry dog food. Open the window on the passenger door to attract the dogs, throw out the food and then jump out of the driver’s side whilst the dogs are distracted by the food. After all, the dogs are more interested in food than they are of you. The usual burglars’ ploy.
The lone female hiker was to be seen on the beach as we returned to the camping. Ignoring the ‘No Camping or overnight stay’ sign was not such a good decision.
During the walk, we visited a place where some people were camped previously in the week. There were a couple of beer bottles, some kitchen foil and other rubbish just left where they had been. Camping in a prohibited place is one thing but not bothering to take home your rubbish is totally unacceptable.
Another warm day with a maximum of 32.5°C. The forecast is for temperatures of 32C – 33C. The actual temperature here is often a couple of degrees above that which is forecast. The UAT has also been quite high today and Antonis made an amazing observation that it’s cooler under the awning that in the sun. What a clever chap he is. He did me a great service today by helping to reduce the number of cans of beer residing in my fridge. Such a kind and considerate man! Antonis returned later with my glasses which he’d reacquired from Kostis the optician. Only four months to have the lenses changed. Quite quick really. It’s nice to be able to see properly again, not to have scratched glasses and to be able to see things up close.
Other activities today included grooming Minnie and Heidi as they were allowed to escape the SDC and have freedom. The more time I spend with Minnie, the more I see what a character she is. She is certainly going to be a great pet for someone one day. Daft as a brush she may be.
I’ve also done a little washing: some shorts and polo shirts. Not in the machine as it’s used quite a lot by the camping so I can’t be bothered. I can wash things by hand at the end of the decking as I’ve added another short hose and pistol to the tap. Two reasons: one to zap dogs who think they can escape by running down the compound to the end where the houses are and also to provide another hose for watering the SDC in the mornings.
Janne and Erica have gone out so we can all relax for a while. It’s hard to believe that they have been here for nearly a week and Janne has done hardly any of his projects, actually taking time to relax! Antonis is making a base for his storeroom project. It has to be on wheels to avoid taxation. The base is being made using an old car axle. Nothing is wasted here.
Here is the Guardian article about the boys who wore skirts to school during the heatwave and were instrumental in changing the dress policy.
Another interesting article about the USS Fitzgerald (9,000 tons) which collided with a container ship, the ACX Crystal in Japanese waters. As soon as I read the initial article, I couldn’t understand how a ship such as a destroyer could not see nearly 30,000 tons of container ship bearing down on it. It would seem that everyone was asleep! Article in the New York Times
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