Kids Play

This week has surely seen Grace's most challanging guests as the Simpson family descended on the Agean. First instrucion for Archie (3) and Benji (8 months) was that the boat was not a playground on the sea (perhaps a grown ups playground), but this is difficult with lots to pull, turn and clamber over.

Second lesson was that it was the sea, not a giant river. Third lesson was the bowline, thinking rabbits coming up holes round the tree and back down was a manageable concept for as toddler, but hey of course it was greeting with the obligatory why, why does it go round the tree and not climb up it. Final lesson was that not all large boats are pirate ships, although Archie does already posses a dislike for large stinky motor boats, who should "get off the sea" in his words.

We really liked the Agean islands we visited - and Vathi on Kalimnos and Port Augusta on Arki stand out as beautiful fishing villages with dramatic backdrops of cliffs. Also some lovely peaceful bay anchorages. As for adventures - it was all pirates, fishes the size of sharks, monster goats, spooky fishermen and Scooby Doo deserted towns (the seemingly uinfinished Art Deco town of Lakki particularly). Well those adventures were mainly instigated by Archie, but maybe not all, check out the fisherman on the photo of Vathi.

 

Finally we'd like to thank Sara, Phil and Grace for their customary hospitality and patience. I really think skippering a boat with an excitable inquisitive toddler and a screaming hungry baby should be a Yachtmaster module, must be harder than any night sail or man overboard under sail. We are so lucky to have such good friends; they were on top form, seemed so content with their summer and it was great to see them in their natural habitat. Their on board culinary skills definately better the taverna's; so a night on board with food and "radio phil" is a real treat, fish curry and 3 mushroom risotto particular highlights. Oh and despite a few attempts we didn't sink the boat, noone got majorly injured and we got to see a beautiful part of Greece and had lots of fun on the way,

 
Mark, Laura, Archie and Benji x