Kostas was hard at work as we wandered up the Promontory. His Jeep was parked in its usual spot and I could see his headtorch bobbing about as he collected salt. I said good morning but the sound of the sea drowned me out. We walked about in the moonlight. It’s the final quarter so we’ll have to rely only on the reflected light from Kountoura and Paleochora in a few days.
The difference in daylength is becoming more apparent. Previously, just after the Solstice, it would be starting to get light at the end of the first circuit of the Promontory. Now, even though we’re going at about the same time, it’s only starting to get light during the third circuit. We usually spend about an hour just walking.
First round: Skinny, Obi and SBD – the more active group
Second round: Charlie who is off-leash with Fido plus group one above
Third round: Luis and Oskar are added
until the final quarter when all but Skinny, Obi and SBD are released. These three are kept on the lead as they are likely to abscond and return to the camping.
At this point, we go over the rocks and back to the beginning where it’s leads and biscuits before walking back to the camping. It’s just about two hours as we come back through the gate from the field.
At least it was cooler as the wind was from the north again. We did our thing and were back by 06:45 ready to depart for a run, just Skinny and I. There’s a German Shepherd and local brand dog which spend their time in a compound by some greenhouses. The Shepherd loves to bark as we jog past. Skinny just carries on as if nothing is happening. However, this morning, the Shepherd was too busy keeping an eye on a smaller dog belonging to a woman across the road, who was most likely waiting for a lift. We jogged by and the Shepherd didn’t move. Before Skinny used to come out with me, I could get by without either of them even bothering to get up. When it’s hot, they don’t bother anyway. Now that we’re going out earlier it’s cooler so more pleasant and they are more active.
I mentioned some puppies of which Xanthippos had one. There is only one female left now and she waits with her mother most mornings as we pass. There’s a little bit of barking then both come to the edge of the garden to be petted. The puppy likes to have her tummy tickled. Skinny just looks on patiently. A little further on, there’s another dog which runs madly along a balcony above a café. She always barks and Skinny and I always take no notice.
The sea was calmer and there was only one other person in it at 07:35. I swam about for ten minutes or so then got out as I wanted to go to Paleochora for some shopping. Petrakis was busy but I was not hanging around as I wanted to get back before it got hot. There are signs of progress on the road however I’m sure they’re digging up some of the bits they’ve dug up before. At this rate, it’s going to be a while before it’s finished.
The dogs and the cats were pleased to see me as I carried down my shopping in two trips. The cats were hoping for some food so were probably relieved when I appeared with a large bag of pussy biscuits with me. I may need to consider getting bigger bags as it’s cheaper that way. I put away the shopping, made breakfast and then had a little sit down for some relaxation. I’d been going non-stop since 04:30 so needed a rest.
I spent some while chatting to Barbara in Melbourne. Today we chatted online as it’s somewhat cheaper than using the phone. Talking of phones, I received a text from O2 informing me they’d noticed I’m using my phone abroad a lot and that should I continue to do so they might charge me extra. Not bad really as It’s taken nearly six years to work out that I don’t live in UK anymore. I’ve had a good run for my money so I’ll wait and see what their additional charges are, then take a view on the matter. I expected to get away with it for about six months and certainly not six years!
The large Swiss motorhome was parked on Alonáki Beach as I took the dogs, somewhat belatedly, for their Evening Walk. It was too hot to go out earlier. We went around the Promontory and then back towards the camping. The Swiss family, which consists of parents and four children, were sitting outside on the beach so I stopped for a chat so that the older children could pet the dogs. They have a farm at home but come to Greece a lot as they have relatives here. The mother spoke Greek as well as Swiss-German and English, With so many children, a large motorhome must be essential.
The dogs are fed and sleeping in a number of locations. It is completely still unlike yesterday evening. There is noise from the camping as it’s Friday so there are more customers during the weekend. It’s not so much noisy, just animated. Very little sound from the upper section even though there are more people than earlier.
I just noticed an exhaust pipe and silencer attached to the wall at roof-level, outside the workshop. Μιχάλισ assures me the electrician will be coming and the new 33kVA generator will be working tomorrow. We could have done with it this morning as the power went off for around twenty-five minutes.
Time for bed now. Hopefully, it’ll be an undisturbed night.
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