Off roading

THURSDAY  22^ND JANUARY

Yesterday we set out to revisit the Dam but about one and  a half kilometres through Kourtalioti Gorge we decided to go off road!  Ooops - the car spun 180 degrees on a greasy bend and the next we knew we were rolling down the small embankment to land upside down in the field. I knew we had a problem as we started to roll when Keith announced "Oh sh-t!" We got out with only a scratch to my thumb and a small nick on the back of Keith’s hand.  Luckily people were working in the olive grove next door and came to assist us as we had trouble opening the door, Keith having to kick my side whilst I was hanging upside down until he was free to help me.  A phone call to Theo and Maria, who in turn rang Kostas the boss of the hire company, and they were on their way to pick us up.  In the afternoon Kostas rang to say another car was ready for us so Keith took a walk into the village to collect a VW Polo which we will try and keep shiny side up and dirty side down for the next couple of days!

 So today we set off once more to visit the Dam.  We were supposed to have clear skies and bright sunshine, which we had once we were through the Gorge.  At the Dam the wind was blowing and so we didn’t hang around for too long to take an updated view of the flooded area.  The Church roof is now missing.

We continued to the village of Apostili.  We didn’t stop here, as the village was full of coaches and  senior school children wandering up and down the main route through this tiny village, at least those pupils that weren’t in the taverna. 

On we drove along winding mountain roads until we reached Meronas.  It is a long time since we have visited this village and where we climbed up the Church bell tower to get a wonderful view of the valley below as directed in the'Rough Guide'.  We did the same today only we had the snow capped Psiloritis mountain to gaze across to. 

Inside the Church I didn’t recall seeing so many beautiful paintings of religious people through the ages, and the chandeliers and furniture were something else. As we were about to leave an old lady came and although I said we didn’t understand her we did gather she had family in Australia. I told her that Meronas had a beautiful church at which point she took my hand and we said goodbye. 

I recall there used to be one large spring close to the ancient Church of Panagia that stands alongside the main road as you leave the village.  This spring was a 'tourist photo stop as saddled donkeys would be tethered by it' but today we found several springs along the main road and each one a different feature.  

It was nice to see so many old doors and windows for me to photograph.     We were so high up in the mountains and yet I was surprised to see some of the trees beginning to blossom, and I even saw a deep red camellia in flower.  

A donkey patiently stood in the entrance to one house.  He had a lovely thick curly coat but wouldn’t co-operate when I got closer to take a photo and kept stamping a back leg on the concrete ground so I thought it was a good time to move on! 

Back in the car we found a lovely picnic stop out of the wind on the mountain road back to Spilli. We were sitting with the car door open minding out own business when an old man carrying a crooked walking stick came along and asked if we were German.  His dog sniffed the air as he spoke to us, but again language kept us from having a conversation.  When we moved along and caught them up the dog went mad again barking and chasing us along the rough track.  What is it with these dogs?  

At Frati bridge before the northerly entrance to Kourtaliotis Gorge someone has placed a couple of bar stools so this looks like being another beer stop for someone!

At home it was warm but the southerly wind has brought a swell to the sea.  As I looked out of our window whilst Keith was talking to Theo, who is still working on the great wall of Plakias, I saw something in the water.  After much discussion it was decided it was an animal.  Lambros joined in using a pair of Theo’s binoculars and pronounced it was a buffalo! Whatever animal it is I only hope it doesn’t land on the little beach next to 'Creta Spirit' as it is so bloated it must have been in the sea for days.