1013 – Tuesday 13th March 2015:  Coast to Lake

We reluctantly left Monemvasia; a really lovely place.  As we’d stayed 3 instead of 1 nights, we had no time to continue exploring this peninsular.  James has a flight on Thursday to Nice to visit one of his daughters and family and we have to stop in Corinth to pick up Corrie’s Pet Passport.  The young lad at Athens Adria had told us about a lake not too far from Corinth, so we headed there.  

It was a stunning drive up through hills to Lake Doksa.  The lake itself was pretty enough but two factors meant we won’t go back.  The whole place was infested with processionally caterpillar pods.  I took the dogs for a lead walk around the lake, only to be followed by some old codger in a battered old car.  He followed at distance, but kept flashing his lights at me.  Thankfully, that was all he flashed.  Fortunately I had a phone signal, so James walked fast to meet me.   It was super quiet at night.

Sunrise from our Monemvasia Parking…

We had climbed and climbed and then through a pass, cut out in the rocks and then the view opened up to the valley below.

Our parking on Lake Doksa.  45 minutes to walk around, slightly faster if you get a wiggle on, as being followed!

Back up nearly level with the snow.  The heating came on for the first time in quite a while.

From tugging at Oscar’s stick, Corrie is now chasing him for it …

… He’s getting a lot more exercise!

1014 – Wednesday 14th March:  Leaving the Peloponnese

We had another pretty mountain drive down and then through Nemea … worth coming back to as we spotted signs for wine routes and lots of wineries that we could visit for sampling and purchases.  Into Corinth for the Vet … Pet Passport and microchip registered for no additional charge … a gift, with a smile and a very firm long farewell hand shake.  Rather than come back to this vet for the rabies blood tests, which will take about a month to come back from the Government laboratory, we will try to get this done in Crete.

We headed onto Athens, as we wanted to be near the airport.  I was driving and discovered that the Colin Co-Pilot had taken us through the centre of Athens!  I had to wake J to help with the navigation, as I was too busy spotting cars, pedestrians and buzzing motorbikes.  I don’t suppose many motorhomes have been through the equivalent of Parliament Square in London … but actually it was fine. 

We stopped at a lovely beach front in Ag Marina.  Pretty sure I’ll come back here.

Lake Stimfalia on our route towards Athens.

Ag Marina.  Beach restaurant for a glass whilst we watched a flotilla of tinies (boats and kids).

1015 – Thursday 15th March:  J to Antibes and K to Porto Rafti

Leisurely start and then I dropped J at the airport.  I then went onto Porto Rafti, which we’ve visited before.  

I took a walk along the coast and found a lovely small beach.

How’s that for a bonnie baby?

My evening view.

1016 – Friday 16th March:  South to Sounio

My plan for my solo weekend is to explore the peninsular SE of Athens. The Temple of Poseidon in Sounio being at the point.  En route I planned to Lavrio, which had been a major mining town, including silver, and a port.  However, the museum I had wanted to visit was shut and although driving through the town, it looked quite smart, I didn’t fancy a coffee.  Being ‘towed’ by two dogs through the town did not appeal, so I continued south to the Temple.

This was the first time we’ve left dogs home alone.  I came back after a speedy 35min tour of the Temple and no sign of the dogs.  Usually Oscar is on the dashboard. I crept up and peered through the window.  Both were sat facing each other as if in conversation!  No damage 🙂

I drove down to a parking by a couple of restaurants.  The one I intended using had coach party of late teens deposited inside … change of plan … into the other one. Having checked with the lovely waitress that I was OK to stay overnight, I ordered wine and a Shrimp Saganki … absolutely delicious and I was not charged for the water or the coffee.  And I sat right by the water’s edge looking up to the Temple.  Perfectly romantic, except for one thing … James was not with me.

Temple of Poseidon.  Right at the edge of a cliff.  Little else remains of the fortifications and habitation, but it is very striking.

These ground birds were making a complete racket … no idea what though.

My overnight with the Temple looking benignly on.  My super lunch was in the restaurant on the water’s edge.

All lit up at night time…. taken with my phone.

Afternoon walk along the coast.  Nothing like as spectacular as the Peloponnese coast.

1017 – Saturday 16th March:  Sun and Snow

I had intended to stay somewhere along the coast … but it really is not appealing.  The road quickly became dual carriageway with pedestrian underpasses from hotel complexes to the private beaches.  Very built up and it must be hideous in high season. So I kept going and ended up back at Ag Marina. I’ll stay put for 2 nights.  

I had lunch in the beach restaurant … second Shrimp Saganki in 2 days!  Not as good as yesterdays.  I also managed to do some hand washing … not something I would normally do, but there is no where to replenish my water supplies and the twin tub uses too much.  

James meanwhile was earning lots of grand-dad brownie points.  The family had driven up into the hills in search of snow.  Sarah said he had to be persuaded to get in the car to leave.

What a big kid!