As you will see, most of our adventures take us to beaches. At least this way, we can enjoy the journey there and back as we pass through little villages in very picturesque settings and Rocky and Bobby can have a good run on the beach. Everyone happy.
We are very fortunate in living close to Sami as this makes us quite central for exploring the island. No-where is really too far.
On the 2nd February we had a trip to Petani beach on the Paliki peninsula. It was a little cloudy but very warm.
The beach is set at the bottom of quite a steep road, but as you can see from the photo, the road itself is very good. It's in a curved bay surrounded by mountains. Very picturesque. A lovely sandy/shingly beach, and nobody was around so we had the whole beach to ourselves. Rocky and Bobby loved it!
Petani beach
Rocky and Bobby enjoying the waves
Bobby and his pine cone
Closer to home, and while out on our dog walk along the sea front one morning, we noticed that some eucalyptus trees had been pruned by the council. There were big boughs just lying on the ground. My eyes lit up! Eucalyptus is great for the wood burner. So naturally we collected them. One was so big and thick we couldn't lift it and even if we could, I doubt we could have got it in the camper van.
The route of our dog walk on the left, and one of the eucalyptus trees.
Some of the eucalyptus
We have recently bought a chainsaw, so my first lesson was to cut the eucalyptus into wood burner size pieces to dry out ready for the next winter. I have to say I really enjoyed it, but I think Mark was a nervous wreck watching me! I wore the goggles, but they kept steaming up, so not sure if they were more of a hazard than a safety feature. The wellies aren't really a safety feature - I just like wearing wellies!
When a friend realised we had bought a chainsaw, she asked me if I had completed my "Blue book" on chainsawing. Not realising what this was, I had said,"No - what is this blue book and are you now worried that I don't know what it is?
I have since completed the 'White book" on chainsawing........ in other words, I have read the instructions! I'm still not sure what the blue book is, but I presume it's about how to cut wood and safety etc.
So job done, and the wood store (garage 😂) is filling up nicely . When you walk into the wood store, the smell of olive and eucalyptus wood is amazing - it's quite a sweet smell...
February 8th was a gorgeous day - look at that blue sky! - and we had a walk along the harbour front in Sami. Normally the harbour here is full of yachts in the summer months, but it's empty apart from the traditional fishing boats.
Our favourite is one we call the "Bobbin" boat as it looks like it has lots of cotton reels on it.
11th February was another gorgeous day, so we had a trip to the south of the island and Kaminia beach in Ratzakli just round from Katelios. The winding road from Grizata takes us up and down hills, through valleys full of cypress and olive trees to eventually bring us out at Katelios. Another favourite road of mine.
Before you get to Katelios, as you leave Pastra and before entering Kremmidi, there is a statue of an eagle on the corner of the road. It's quite impressive. It's a tribute to the WW2 resistance fighters of Kefalonia .
Kaminia beach is long and sandy so the dogs love it. What we really like about this time of year is that the roads are quiet and we know that when we get to the beach, there will be no-one there! The down side is that the tavernas associated with the beaches are closed. We took a picnic with us this time and had a fresh brew of tea and coffee made in the camper van.
The view from behind the eagle (Katelios at the bottom of the valley)
When a friend realised we had bought a chainsaw, she asked me if I had completed my "Blue book" on chainsawing. Not realising what this was, I had said,"No - what is this blue book and are you now worried that I don't know what it is?
I have since completed the 'White book" on chainsawing........ in other words, I have read the instructions! I'm still not sure what the blue book is, but I presume it's about how to cut wood and safety etc.
So job done, and the wood store (garage 😂) is filling up nicely . When you walk into the wood store, the smell of olive and eucalyptus wood is amazing - it's quite a sweet smell...
February 8th was a gorgeous day - look at that blue sky! - and we had a walk along the harbour front in Sami. Normally the harbour here is full of yachts in the summer months, but it's empty apart from the traditional fishing boats.
Sami harbour
Our favourite is one we call the "Bobbin" boat as it looks like it has lots of cotton reels on it.
Bobbin boat
11th February was another gorgeous day, so we had a trip to the south of the island and Kaminia beach in Ratzakli just round from Katelios. The winding road from Grizata takes us up and down hills, through valleys full of cypress and olive trees to eventually bring us out at Katelios. Another favourite road of mine.
Before you get to Katelios, as you leave Pastra and before entering Kremmidi, there is a statue of an eagle on the corner of the road. It's quite impressive. It's a tribute to the WW2 resistance fighters of Kefalonia .
Kaminia beach is long and sandy so the dogs love it. What we really like about this time of year is that the roads are quiet and we know that when we get to the beach, there will be no-one there! The down side is that the tavernas associated with the beaches are closed. We took a picnic with us this time and had a fresh brew of tea and coffee made in the camper van.
Eagle statue
The view from behind the eagle (Katelios at the bottom of the valley)
The valley of Katelios. The road to Ratzakli just visible on the hillside. (moving camper van view)
Looking back at Katelios (moving camper van view)
Kaminia beach (another moving camper van view!)
Kaminia beach looking back towards Katelios in the distance
The 14th February was another gorgeous day. We didn't venture out too far - just our local beach - Antisamos - scene of the Italian encampment in Captain Corelli's Mandolin. You don't get much better than this! Again - nobody around. We've been to this beach many times now and every time we stop at the top of the hill, get out of the camper van, and take the view in. Breathtaking!
Antisamos
We were out and about on the 15th February as this too was a lovely warm sunny day. This time to Atheras beach on the Paliki peninsula. Beautiful, and our favourite so far. The colours captured by the camera are true to life.
The view of the valley, the harbour just visible
Atheras beach
A beautiful old house and church next to some ruins
The view of the beach from the old house and church
Rocky and Bobby like nothing better than a sandy beach! Snorky in the distance.
When the days haven't been so sunny, we've been doing some gardening. There are lots of plants already in the garden but friends have given us an olive tree, a bay tree, an oleander, palm trees, marguerites, and a jessamine so there have been numerous trips to the local garden centre for tubs and compost as we like to have tubs on the patio around the house. We've also taken some cuttings from almond trees, and I also collected some eucalyptus pods while out on our dog walk in Sami. I forced them to give up their seeds (I'm just cruel!) by placing them on the fireplace above the wood burner (I googled this bit and it seemed to work) then put the seeds into compost and hey....three seedlings have emerged! Mark says they will just be weeds - no positivity there! Time will tell.
Eucalyptus pods
One seedling
The garden is starting to spring into life - the blossom on the plum tree is gorgeous.
The 22nd February was a beautiful day, so it was off to Foki beach near Fiskardo.
The drive to Agia Effimia hugs the coastline then it was up into the hills. The views of Ithaca were amazing as we passed Neochori and all you could see below was the crystal clear sparkly blue water.
We've travelled this route a few times now and every time we pass Neochori I want to jump out and take a photo as it looks so picturesque. Well, this time I did as the roads were so quiet. I love the photo, but actually seeing it is something else. Captivating. Have you noticed the little cemetery bottom right?
Neochori, overlooking Ithaca on the left with the mainland in the distance.We've travelled this route a few times now and every time we pass Neochori I want to jump out and take a photo as it looks so picturesque. Well, this time I did as the roads were so quiet. I love the photo, but actually seeing it is something else. Captivating. Have you noticed the little cemetery bottom right?
There is a road that takes you around the village of Neochori and a very windy road that takes you down to a beach. We tried this last year but unfortunately, it was unsuitable for our camper van. We didn't even get around the village! This is where a scooter comes in handy. Not that we've got scooters.....but looking into it!
The long and winding road
We continued up towards Fiskardo and we drove right past Foki beach as it's on a bend in the road hidden by trees, the only tell tale sign being a taverna on the roadside which was closed, as most of them are at this time of the year.
Foki beach has natural shade with the olive trees and a carpet of wild flowers which Rocky and Bobby thoroughly enjoyed!
Looking down towards Foki beach
Foki beach has natural shade with the olive trees and a carpet of wild flowers which Rocky and Bobby thoroughly enjoyed!
Rocky and Bobby
The last day of February and it was a lovely blue sky day and really warm. Off to the north west coast and Jerusalem beach. We took a picnic and also had a swim!
Jerusalem beach - there are two of them.
First beach
Second beach - where we had a swim (Snorky in the distance)
The beach is named after a chapel standing at the side of the beach. Unfortunately there is what appears to be an old chapel and also the ruins of something, so not sure which one it's named after.
The chapel
Ruin
View from the ruin and blue sparkly sea
Rocky and Bobby having been for a swim
We will have been living on Kefalonia for one year in April this year, so I thought in my next post I would give an honest opinion about life here - the good bits and the not so good bits. (Notice I didn't say bad bits).
What will they be?
Find out in my next post........
