Milos - Friday, Cape Vani in the sunshine

Light winds (W or SW 2), sunshine and good company - a very relaxed trip of about 14k

Launch from Plathiena

Passing 'The Bears' (as featured on a recent cover of Ocean Paddler)

Rescue practice - Mike rescuing his sister

Catherine volunteers. Note the black tipped Anglesey Stick - epoxy coating then paint

Kontaro beach

A bit livelier around the headland of Cape Vani

Some of us are ready for lunch

Post prandial swim

Martin seems to have been converted to using a stick

Towing practice on the way back including the 'dog-leg' tow and a couple of contact tow examples.

As Catherine says, more like a dog than a bear from this angle

Milos - Thursday, a trip down the East Coast

Voudia bay to the sulphur mines and back. SW6 with some pretty fierce gusts.

Voudia Bay, North East Milos

Rod wanted to use the large Anglesey Stick in tougher conditions, so I tried the Northern Light 'Aleutian inspired paddle' which has two rather different faces - more on that later.

Not the sort of weather we are used to in Greece - bit like home really

Two very strong Norwegian paddlers with us on this trip - Vivi and Martin

Not all the trip was exposed to the elements

but, you kind of knew what was coming ...

Cruising along with the carbon 'Aleutian'

The clouds are gathering

and the wind is still building

Using the sliding stroke ....

So, I had been getting on pretty well with the carbon paddle until this point. In the stronger wind conditions I wanted the extra power that comes from using a sliding stroke. Because of the profile of the shoulders on this paddle, you can only really slide with the flat (slightly concave) face away from you. Unfortunately this face 'snatches' in the wind and the paddle becomes very difficult to control.

Lunchtime. How many BCU stars does it take to light a fire

?

Back on the water

On the way back to Voudia Bay

About 12k paddled. Torrential rain just after we had the boats loaded on the trailer.

Milos - Wednesday, Mandrakia to Firapotamus and beyond

West along the North Coast with SW5/6 winds.

Getting ready to launch

The harbour at Mandrakia

A big cave

Catherine has a new chauffeur - Dave

Who likes rock hopping as much as her. Bizarre 'attack' from a rock monster as they were lifted out of the water by a rock pillar that everyone else seemed to miss

Jumping at Firapotamus - this is Rod upside-down - well he is Australian

Statler and Waldorf watch the jumping- actually, we don't look grumpy enough

OK, I got talked into a jump with Catherine - nobody mentioned you had to swim as well

then it was out round the headland to play in the lumpy stuff before lunch and some rolling practice - notice Catherine has swapped to yet another back seat paddler.

Mike setting up

and on the way back up

Me - is that paddle too far from my chest?

About 10k paddled

Milos -Tuesday, North Coast - Mandrakia to Pollonia

The forecast was West or South West 4/5 which precluded going far offshore, but offered a nice one-way trip starting in the relatively sheltered environment of the North Coast caves.

Getting the group on the water at Mandrakia

Staying within the mini reef

Then touring the cliffs

and caves

Sarakiniko as you will probably never see it (minus several hundred tourists)

Jumping for the brave

Diving for the braver

Pleasant cruising before lunch - Anglesey Stick style

 

Lunch and kayak gymnastics

More exposed to the wind now. Sammy (Green boat behind Mike) lost his hat and sunglasses when he swam, but was relieved to discover how simple a deep water rescue was

but still very pleasant paddling

in perfect surroundings

With a nice headwind to finish at Pollonia - what more could you ask for?

About 13k paddled

Milos - Monday, The West Coast of Kimolos

A bit of a change really - visiting Kimolos with no house-sized waves. This is probably one of the best trips around Milos with an open crossing, rock-hopping, caves and spectacular deserted beaches.

After the crossing from Milos

Cool or what?

Simon in front of a camel

Rock stacks

Nattering about the 4 star leader award (is it actually any use) with Dave - no, honestly

Rod returns to rock-balancing

Lunch after a massive beach clear-up

After lunch some rolling practice. Simon learned to roll with 10 minutes instruction from Rod - much to Sue's chagrin - I think she wanted to punch him.

Homeward bound - a perfect day

About 12k paddled