The day started dark but not windy with a plethora of stars and no need for a coat. We started with Azurro and walked the same route as the past few mornings. Patrick had threatened to join us as he’s also an early riser but his infernal alarm may have been on holiday today.
Skinny found a bone which he managed to devour before the second walk so he came too. Maya had reappeared smelling of something very rancid so I expect she’d been munching somewhere only she knows. We crossed the rocks the other way this time and were suitably tired.
I rode to the post office to collect my front bike tyre and spare inner tubes, then Petrakis as it’s DDs day followed by the bakery for a loaf. I’d left my bike, my Petrakis shopping and the tyre and inner tubes unattended and for all to see. The nice thing about Paleochora is that everything is still where you left it when you return.
I fed the dogs and made some tea after I’d put the DDs into the pot. Shortly after, I had a call from the chap who’s stayed in Ξ5 for the past few days. His son/daughter-in-law with their children joined him but stayed in their van. I was about to work out how I was going to accommodate my birthday group which would arrive later. The birthday has already passed and he was 37, a mere child, when I think I was nearly thirty-two when he was born. I collected the money and then discovered Patrick was extending his stay until Monday and that Jamie and his father would arrive on Sunday, each requiring accommodation. Following a little shuffling, I managed to sort it all out and stirred Bona into action to make sure everything is clean and ready and put her on notice she needs to do me two rooms on Sunday for that evening. Unsurprisingly, she wasn’t too delighted but they are only small cabins.
A couple with a motorhome/van conversion contacted me to tell me their fridge and lights had stopped working. Armed with a voltage meter and tester, I went to see them to try to find the cause. We ascertained the power to their van was fine, fuses ok and charger working. The problem was that both domestic batteries were around 7V which is not a good situation for 12V batteries – deep discharge or not. It explained why nothing was working.
I went off and phoned around for a motorhome electrician trying some motorhome rental companies on the north coast. A very helpful man told me that the onboard domestic chargers will not charge the batteries once they fall below a certain voltage. The solution being to remove them from the vehicle and charge them. He recommended a company in Chania which I called but they couldn’t help until Monday. I relayed all of this to the customers who were all ready to go to have the batteries charged immediately. I suggested also that the batteries might charge from the engine alternator if they took the van for a run. They’d decided to leave so paid and departed.
All was quiet for a while although Toni was pleased when I broke the news the gent’s bathroom was flooded because of the drains. I’m told it’s to do with roots blocking the pipes. I spied a car towing a caravan leaving the camping via the reception barrier. When I checked the other cameras, I discovered they’d come in through the other barrier which is left open for Manos and his pickup.
A short while later, I received a call from the same people asking to stay at the camping. They were again by the rear barrier so I suggested they might go in through the reception. They insisted so lost their chimney cowl under the trees! They are now in the location vacated by the young family this morning and plan to stay a few days.
The first couple of the birthday group arrived. The woman had been in the camping with her other dog, Spiros, at the beginning of the season. The one here today is quite nervous and nothing like as sociable as Spiros. They are unsure if they will stay both nights so a bonus for Bona!
I’m just waiting for one more arrival but it’s easy as the others will show them the ropes if they’ve not been to the camping before. They booked to stay two nights as well.
Manos had called out so say he was cooking fassolia for him and Toni and there’d be some for me later. Another bonus as it saves me cooking later.
There were quite a few calls for summer booking so I hope they get a quick response.
I will need to put the bikes into the storeroom and replace the sunblocker or the rain will come into the awning area.
I received a Greek birthday greetings card from Lucia together with a wonderful selection of dried fruit and nuts. All of which, she’d left with Nina to give to me before they left. I was really puzzled as to what was in the tall package but, of course, I didn’t peek only opening it today. Lucia tells me she’s cold and the temperature is 6ºC where she is.
I received other greetings but he morning was very busy so there was a bit of a delay replying. Next stop soixante-dix!
