Wind?

The sun blocker came down again during the evening as it became more windy than I was expecting. A good thing really as it’s been windy most of the day and is forecast to continue.

I entertained myself with a little World Cinema with an Argentinian film set in rural Patagonia. The film was called My Best Friend. The story line was simple: a family receive a telephone call from a friend asking if they would take their teenage son as there are some family problems so they are unable to give the attentions he deserves. The fathers grew up together with everything that entailed. The mother is not so keen as their family is quite regimented and unadventurous.

The film studies the boys’ relationship as Lorenzo, the younger of the lads, tries to help Caito, who is far more adventurous and streetwise to try to integrate with his family once he finds out the true reason for Caito being there. The film is gentle and unassuming taking you on camping trips to the lake and the usual boyhood adventures.

I was in bed just after 22:00 and asleep not long after. The night was hot but there was plenty of air around so not too restful.

We were up and out slightly earlier. The motorhome has gone from the beach car park to be replaced by a couple of cars. One a Mercedes saloon. We went down over the rocks and back over the Big Beach which is when I nearly fell over a couple of maggots lying in the sand. The dogs had seen them and simply walked around them.

A couple more maggots were stretched out on some of the sun beds on Alonaki. I diverted to give them more space however the dogs wandered past as if they were not there. The remainder of the walk to Plakaki and back was uneventful.

Despite the presence of maggots, we went back along the water’s edge and then over the rocks after stopping for some biscuits then back to the camping. This time, I took the dogs down the east side of the Promontory as walking past the maggots twice was enough.

I went in with the dogs to make some bread then spent time Elevating my brain before departing on my bike to Paleochora via Panorama, EKO, the ASC courier office, ferry and the puppies. I stopped to pet the three remaining dogs.

I set off back west stopping for a quick swim from Alonaki. The sea was lumpy again and there was a couple of well-nourished locals teetering on the shoreline contemplating immersion. I wandered down and swam out into the waves. They were in and out in less than five minutes. Hardly time to get wet! Soon after, a sizeable woman with a little girl and little boy suddenly appeared on the shoreline. I noticed a buggy with a younger child parked further up the beach and recalled I’d passed them as I rode down to the beach. Their visit was equally short lived. A man with a truck arrived, walked down to the sea, turned round and went back to his truck and drove away. There was someone else swimming much further up towards Plakaki.

I rinsed myself off with my hosepipe then fed the dogs patiently waiting for their breakfast. Believe ‘patiently’ if you will. I decanted the dough into the bread tin and sat down with some tea. I seem to have fallen asleep whilst watching an interesting YouTube video.

I read an interesting article about the hydrogen buses deployed at the Tokyo Olympics. I understand that even the flame is hydrogen. The article explained that Tokyo was using hydrogen technology as they feel it’s the way to go. It’s only when you dig deeper to discover the hydrogen bus cost more than three times a diesel version for a six-year lease! Furthermore, the hydrogen is derived by reforming LPG (a fossil fuel) using loads of energy whilst producing CO2 into the bargain. I am of the opinion that hydrogen fuel cell technology is indeed they way to go so long as it’s reasonably competitive, the fuel cell is efficient and robust, the hydrogen is produced using renewable electricity via hydrolysis and there’s a sensible infrastructure to store and fill up with fuel. At present, these buses have to travel miles just to fill up! Economically, environmentally and technically, it’s all a bit premature.

The dough has turned into bread, the Doggy Rice is ready. Some of the dogs are inside but Luis is still quiet due to his collar. Since practicing earlier, he’s not had any more attempts at discovering the bark threshold which invokes a ‘bite’ from the collar. I’d better feed them before Isabell scratches has way through the metal mesh and gate blocking the van door.