After a couple of visits from Lucas, the Planaco mechanic, we had all of our issues resolved–Lucas got the alternator fixed, also got the generator working again, and Mike fixed his solenoid. Check, check and check!
As a bonus, some guys running a big charter boat docked next to us offered to sell us a consultation on the rigging. Mike spent a couple hours with them and was very pleased with the result. Euros well spent!
Mike got a Greek SIM card for his cell phone, and Canadians, let me tell you, our telecom industry is screwing us!!!!! For 15 Euros/month he gets a phone plan with 5G of data. Yes, you read that right, and for the first month we get a bonus of an extra 5G. I was paying $90/month to Bell for a plan with 1G of data. Criminal. I’m sure they have some song and dance about population density, but save it for the judge, phone companies. You are horrible. My phone has been paid off for two years and there is no break for that?
One thing I wanted to mention about Aegina Town (so I don’t forget and can reminisce rereading this blog when I’m old), is that there are lots of horse-drawn carriages ferrying tourists around. My favourite is one where the owner has a dog that runs alongside the carriage when he has a fare. I assume this has been going on for awhile and the dog is traffic-savvy, though I did see him off-duty lying half in the road the other day. I’ll try and get a photo, but so far no luck.
So yesterday, with batteries charged and water tanks topped up, we were all set to head down to the bay north of Perdika and wait out some storm showers forecast for this afternoon. We removed and stowed the passerelle, hauled in our dock lines, and I went to the bow to start raising the anchor. (Hmmm, that Oxford comma is growing on me.) It came up about a foot and then just stopped. I thought it had jammed, but no, it would go down but not up at all. I bellowed for Mike and he was as confused as I was. So, in total we made it about ten feet away from the dock before we had to retreat back to our starting position. Talk about anticlimactic. Not complaining, though, if things have to go wrong, Aegina Town is the place for it to happen as we have support here.
Mike started digging around and found a loose connection, but still wasn’t convinced we were good to go. He called Lucas but got no answer. As luck would have it, there was a pro helping a fellow a couple boats down, so Mike nabbed him for a look-see. They discovered that the windless motor was corroded enough to cause concern, so buddy took it away for repair. The guy was nabbed by at least two other boat owners while he was in the neighbourhood, so not sure how promptly we’ll get our motor back, but again, not complaining! Mike tried to raise the anchor by hand the other day and it was damn near impossible, so this is another issue we are more than happy to deal with properly.
Mike was exhausted again after a long day of troubleshooting, so we headed back to Avli for dinner. This time the cat deigned to grace us with her presence. She kept reaching her kitty paw up to my plate. Not sure why, do cats like falafel?
Today we are cleaning and polishing. The fridge and cupboards are full of food, so we’re ready to head out, hope it happens tomorrow. My Med diet is not supposed to include all the amazing pizza and gyros I’m eating here in Aegina. Seriously, if you are in this town you must go to Tenekedakia for a pita pork gyro. Best. Gyro. Ever.
I dumped some of Mike’s photos onto the laptop, so here are a couple of belated pics from our trip up to see the Temple of Aphaia in Agia Marina. You won’t be seeing many photos of me in this blog (let’s face it, Mike is the pretty one), but here is a rare photo of the two of us. We are indeed in Greece together.
I leave you with our new mascot, the thirsty pigeon.
Is that a root beer float Mike is drinking or some Greek frappacino?
Apparently it’s an espresso freddo (yeah, a frappacino).