Shortest Day

I amused myself with the film of Swallows and Amazons which I discovered on BritBox a while ago and decided to save for later. I don’t recall the story being quite how it was portrayed in the film but then it’s been a while since I read the book. It was a good way to pass the evening followed by a further episode from Brave New World and some Nebula where I fell asleep…

It was still windy when I got up the first time to let Fido and Sasha out, then again when it was the turn of Skinny and Sasha on replay. It was not hard to get back to sleep; it was still windy when the alarm sounded and there was no doggy action. I drifted off and didn’t get up until nearly six!

It was cold and very dark due to dense and black clouds as well as the last throws of the fading moon. Crossing the rocks was much easier than the day before as I was not being blown all over whilst trying to walk. The trip to Plakaki was similar but lighter as it was later than usual. We completed our final circuit of The Promontory whereupon I spied a man with some dogs on Grammeno Beach. I headed that way but let the dogs get there before me as I could see from afar so was able to control the situation should there be any undesirable outcome. Only six dogs were present as Luis had not been seen in ages.

When I arrived, the dogs were integrating reasonably as Isabella and Sasha had already met Andreas and his dogs on a previous occasion; I feel this helps. We agreed to walk together so I took all of my lot back down The Promontory, over the rocks and down the other side with Andreas and his two. Luis eventually worked out he was missing out on something so appeared behind barking. It took him a little time to become acquainted with the increased number of dogs which set back relationships a little. Meanwhile, Isabella was making sure everyone knew she was the boss in her usual, delicate fashion. I had to reprimand her on a couple of occasions to prevent things from potentially getting out of hand. We walked together back to the field whereupon Andreas took his two back to his apartment and I went back to the van to deposit the boys.

Sasha and Isabella went out for another, shorter walk which was primarily to set their walk counter correctly and to pick up a couple of fairly decent tomato crates offered up by the sea.

I rode into Paleochora via Panorama with stops for bread and groceries. I now have a large container filled with lovely, big, brown beans. They are 3€/kilo but will last a reasonable time and are infinitely worth it.

I fed dogs and investigated a Dutch van parked in the car park. The incumbent informed me he’d looked around the camping the previous evening but not found me when he arrived just before darkness. I mentioned the notice on the reception door and the moving display which runs constantly and eminently visible in the darkness. He’d spent the night in the car park and taken only electricity so I charged for that and showed him the community room where we engaged in conversation for a while. I gave him the prices but felt he might be better served going to Matala or Pitsidia where he might find company more suitable to his requirements. I explained most of the present customers were ancient and excused myself to configure the Doggy Dins and get on with more useful things. He’d disappeared by the time I returned a while later.

The rest of my day was taken up with a light clean of the inside of the van and a search for the heated blanket I bought a while ago. I found plenty of useful things and disposed of some rubbish but not the heated blanket which I have put away somewhere safe. So safe, it’s safe from me too.

It was then time to process the DDs and put on their rice. I made a massive salad for myself. Only Obi remains outside however, last night he slept inside on the shelf bed under mine. Better than the foam floor tiles on the thin, metal floor. The shelf bed is above the gas locker which has oddments compartments for the non-existent passenger seat long discarded. The thickness of the fleecy blanket compensated for the unevenness of the plastic divisions on the compartments.