In like a Lion, out like a lamb, pretty much says it all about the annual yacht race from Athens to the Rock. Friday howling winds and high seas, these determind boats and crew braved the conditions to participate in the traditional season closing regatta. That was Friday arrival, leaving this morning in near doldrum conditions, so typical of fluctuations in the weather for these parts.

Th-Th-That’s all Folks

The event basically marks the official end to the season, most places will close tomorrow.

The comet staff and management made parole this month and escaped to the northeast coast of the States where we happened upon a pleasant surprise. An island also devoid of motorized transport. Fire island has long understood the value of not allowing mopeds and such, which like Hydra keeps it unique…
Two hours north of New York followed by a half hour ferry. Instead of donkeys most homes have their own “karotsi”, quaint little red wagon types for luggage transport. Grand as it was,  but there is no place home and the greeting of a bray and hee-haw. Happy Fall y’all xx

Quaint as all, but never can beat the Hee Haw welcome of Hydra

Kamini Comet crew on parole.

Instead the KC is getting down to some really interesting news rather than re-telling the who’s who and what of  the island’s August seen and be seen, scene.

You put your new foot out…

Mid-August 2016 called for a new model. Old transportation had done yeoman’s, seven summers, seven months a year, day in night out, seven days a week, visited and tramped three continents without a single sock in sight. I bid my old trusted sandals cheerio, and welcome the new version of same sturdy brand. (left in case you’re wondering) Long may they preambulate with me too. It is not lost on me even after all these years, that it is a gift to only own and need, enjoy wearing a single pair of comfortable odor free footwear more than half a year.

Time and time again the island has had to fight against the wheels, pun intended, of “progress”. We have always advocated that one moped, would be the thin end of an irreversible wedge, and ruin the island. Hydra would no longer be the tranquil and unique place that it is and become like any other run of the mill holiday island destination. Back in the 80’s someone even started bulldozing a road from Vlichos, just one small bus it was rumoured. It took near civil action and a major rhubarb for us to thwart.

Seriously chaps?

The couple of little dump trucks we have lived with for decades, an integral and necessary part of life. As too the acquisition of a small fire truck, and a golf cart type ambulance. That should be it, but no, now the local constabulary want in on the motorized act and have applied to be ‘upgraded’ with a couple of dirt bikes. Presumably so the ‘case of the missing cell phone’ in Kamini can be investigated more expeditiously.
Ironically the cops are not from here, but posted from the mainland. As with all things on the Rock debate broke out on all sides. It was even thought that perhaps a mounted police force would be more appropriate, better, but still somewhat over the top.

Light Brigade Instead?

“Let’s do something different,” she said, “why don’t you call Castello (ex baby-beach) and see if they have sushi, we haven’t had any for at least two years.”

Surprise Sushi Celebration

I called they did have such fresh salmon type on order, which I did, and we went. An overcast but hence beautiful resturant on the beach to ourselves. We splashed out on a single decent bottle of white to round the scenario off. When our wonderfully presented lunch arrived, I said this was so perfct we should be celebrating something. Wife agreed, we ponderd what for a bit, like what day is it exactly? For that mattter what date is it. This phenomenon is not unusual in our little valley, schedules have no meaning, and therefore time sort of gets lost as well.

“Hang on a second it’s June 7th,  the day we got married eight years ago.” This gave us much joy to be celebrating for a reason neither of us had remembered. We only remember Jennifer’s birthday because it is 17 March, St. Paddy’s, and mine May first also an international holiday. Hell one year we knew it was around Christmas because of festive street and shop decorations, not the exact day. So no turkey, but a fairly good pork chop instead. That is just how we roll as they or somebody said. Slainte, cheers, giamas to all.