2016 - explore Greece by small RIB again :)

[MatFromPoland]

Hello folks.

Tow RIB to UK seems to be expensive (B&B, marina, trip, ...)
So I be in Greece again in 2016 (if be alive still ).

Warsaw - Triest (Italy) 1100 km by highways (14 hrs of driving)
And ferry from Triest (Italy) to Patra (Greece Peloponese) 26 hrs in cabin and sunbed ( very tired )

Small, light RIB, good for tow, for such long distance.
When I use it in Greece I wish to have 0,5-1m longer boat
When I look at petrol consumption and tow it I wish I have a little smaller one so I think this one is optimum for me

- I'm going to go with trailer for service, they will check bearings, brackets
- They will add shock dumpers and tool to flush brakes (now I do not have it)
- I'm going to have spare bearings and brakes with me (and some knowledge "how to change it".

I'm going to be in 4 places. 1 week per each place:
Between each place is about 3-4 hrs of drive and tow the RIB




1. Messina Bay Ag.Andreas
World’s 1st visual travel website


2. Laconian Bay (Plitra or smaller one village 10 km South from Plitra)
World’s 1st visual travel website


3. Corynthian Bay ( https://www.google.pl/maps/place/Lim...c63f4d!6m1!1e1 )

4. Mitikas Greece continent in front of Lefkas and Itaka Islands
World’s 1st visual travel website


There is 70% of probability that friend of mine join me with motorboat STING 530 (and 3 kids also) in point number 3 and 4. It be much safer to explore Greece in 2 boats than 1 I suppose. Maybe someone from RIB.net join us ?

[MatFromPoland]

Place number 1, a trip in South direction (From Ag.Andreas to Pylos)



On the way Koroni:

World’s 1st visual travel website


Small islands with wild goats (have to be careful to avoid be eaten by them - avoid tubes to be eaten)

World’s 1st visual travel website

Methoni:

World’s 1st visual travel website


Pylos:

World’s 1st visual travel website


Some beaches near Pylos

World’s 1st visual travel website

[MatFromPoland]

I'm boring of winter so I'm preparing some plans (I have already booked tickets for ferry and made some bookings, places to sleep). In places, 1,2,3 marinas are for free.

In 4 probably the same

Ok, Place number one and trip in opposite direction:



They call it MESSINA. Nice unusual architecture called TOWER buildings, small villages.

All flags there are places to see for snorkel like this one mentioned below:

World’s 1st visual travel website

[MatFromPoland]

I have not any money for promote Greece but I like to spend here vacation.
(Maybe I have to ask Greek government about it )

Place number 3. A trip by boat and 10 km by bus, taxi whatever to visit Delphie:








We will try to "go fast" to Kirra, visit Delfy, and enjoy Sea and beaches on the way back

World’s 1st visual travel website



World’s 1st visual travel website



World’s 1st visual travel website


To refill petrol, eat something we plan to stay at Galaxidi

World’s 1st visual travel website

[MatFromPoland]

Place number 4 is to explore Itaka, Kefalonia, Lefkas (I know that West coast is open for waves so I must be lucky to visit Porto Kaski), maybe will make a trip between Kefalnia and Zakynthos to visit famous wreck beach

[steco1958]

You have been a busy boy today, love the pictures, especially Pylos

[MatFromPoland]

Click on links. They will open TripInView tool and show these pictures.
You can fly over these places.

One day in the week I do not teach students at University and it is Wednesday I made some investigation, use google and TripInView in December. I found some places where nobody speak English (like number 2). So if someone think about visit them be happy to share my research. Some places have really reasonable prices and I do prefer area without big hotels and a lot of tourists. I like to see local people around.

I have bought tickets because ferry from Triest to Patra offers 30% discount for early bookings. You can shift a little day of the departure further if you be not able to be on time (for example) by simple phone call. I like to keep my plans in some secure place like RIB.net if admin don't mind.

[jeffstevens763@g]

that will be a great trip mat enjoy

[Jeff]

Another great adventure Mat ... look forward to seeing the photos
You make me feel so lazy - I'm just dragging the boat to Paxos yet again and simply lolling and diving around the island with the odd jaunt across to the mainland; Sivota, Ammoudia and possibly Parga ;;;; perhaps we will finally get round to a couple of days down to Lefkas this year ? who knows ;-)
Jeff

[MatFromPoland]

Unfortunately Jeff I'm old man but "boater" since 3 years only. Have started very late and I'm sorry about it. So I'm still excited. And I have 3 kids and try to fill the days with adventure (explore empty places, snorkel, a little fishing, look for treasures use MINELAB metal decoder and Garret pinpointer), explore places by boat. There is not any fun for Family to go by car and see some city and ruins. But they excite to go by boat and explore them from the Sea site. My personal win: 6 weeks in Greece and kids (2x13 and 1x16) have not smartphones and laptops (during this stay). All the days on fresh air not use any electronics (except navi on boat). I even have 3 persons kayak Gumotex and kids use it in quite area.

I'm so sorry that Paxos is out of my range. I have chosen Mitikas because a lot of things are in the range and return to Patra is easy.



From example from Mitikas to Poros (Kefalonia) I have 70 km. In Poros be other Polish family having boat. On the way Itaka.

From Poros there is only 30 km to Zakhyntos and famous beach with wreck:



This is the place on South part of attached map

[MatFromPoland]

Mitikas is my last stay in my 2016-en trip (number 4). In front of Mitikas there is an island and there is abandon village to explore. Desert (after the 1953 earthquake) Porto Leone village on Kalamos island Porto Leone on google maps

[MatFromPoland]

In place number 2 (Lakonian Bay) we would like to:

1. Snorkel over ancient ruins of Pavlopetri (snorkel is allowed, dive not)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pavlopetri

2. Be again at Simos beach Elafonisi island



from Gythio where we were in 2015 it was 80 km, from current location 30 km only

3. Petrified forest http://www.visitvatika.gr/nature/petrifiedforest.html

[MatFromPoland]

Please find mentioned below map of the trip from place number 2 to petrified forest.



It is only 40 km trip but I know that after Elafonisos island it is more like "open Sea" so depending on conditions we will try to finish this trip or not. Not sure also about mooring/anchor conditions near petrified forest. I have not seen any marina on google. Maybe RIB.net members from Greece can tell me if I can anchor here safely to visit this nature phenomena.

[Andre]

Mat, Great holiday plans. You are one of a kind and I very much look forward to meeting you in Warsaw during the Wiatr i Woda Boat Show early March

[MatFromPoland]

I'm really "normal" person (if person love ribbing can be normal ...)
A lot of Polish families go to Greece by car (not like me by ferry) and during 2-3 weeks they are in 3 places and make some car trips to see/explore something.

We prefer to trips use RIB which is more expensive (petrol) but you do not need AC when drive 30-40-50 km/hr.

Of course between places to stay we tow RIB.

This year maybe will have some companion with other family and small motorboat (very good one made for Norwegian customers STING 530)

Let me remind you places to stay


Place number 3 has a lot of positives for me. It is a lake 2km x 2km connected to the Sea. Please find mentioned below small channel:



Only few boats. Not any hotel, only some bungalows and one small camping. Only Greek tourists (not a lot of people). It is a lake surround by mountains so kids can use inflatable kayak.



And I would like to make a trip through Corinthian channel. Cost is 50 EUR per small boat but I hope that view is worth of it:


Here is a route about 50 km to Korfos (some small village)



If wind blow not so much and we find it safe we can try to visit Aponisos which is private small island open for tourists.


It is only 18 km longer trip:


Aponisos Agistri - The Location

[MatFromPoland]

Originally Posted by Jeff

Another great adventure Mat ... look forward to seeing the photos
You make me feel so lazy - I'm just dragging the boat to Paxos yet again and simply lolling and diving around the island with the odd jaunt across to the mainland; Sivota, Ammoudia and possibly Parga ;;;; perhaps we will finally get round to a couple of days down to Lefkas this year ? who knows ;-)
Jeff

SIvota is really nice and you have a lot of small islands near Sivota.
There is about 80 km between Mitikas (where I be with kids) and Paxos.
Unfortunately mostly open Sea exposed to waves and wind until you reach Lefkas (if there is a path under the bridge).

So maybe some meeting and real English style steak from the grill ?

First 3 places on my map are packed of some ruins, historical places.
The last one Mitikas is for relax only and explore nature. I have never been at Ionian Sea by boat so will compare to South Crete and Peloponese this year.

[MatFromPoland]

Ok, so we are alive Were week in Messina Bay

Free of charge marina in Ag.Andreas:



Rich breakfast and you eat outside in the marina (lloking at boats - paradise is it not )



You can order scramble eggs with bacon for free


DO not get anchors. There are plenty of them everywhere


Nice places:


Selfie (made by one of my boys)


And nobody around 20 km

[MatFromPoland]

Next place Laconian Gulf ... How to park ??



How to slip ?



OK, owner of the bungalows (speaking only Greek language) show us (mostly by mimic language) how to slip, helped us so we are here


View to marina (free) from bungalow:


First trip:

[MatFromPoland]

Water temperature is about 28 C base on my watch temperature sensor

[MatFromPoland]

Snorkelling in Greece: