Saturday 14th May

Rich and I had omelettes in the self-service cafeteria and got ready to disembark in Patra. Getting our cars was funny and awful. Some bloke was supposed to get off at another stop (Igonoussis or something) but his car wouldn't start, so the crew had to shove him out of the way, somebody else was shouting at him.

Eventually we drove off the ferry, turned left towards Athens and off we went. Horrible journey. Much too hot and we couldn't find anywhere to stop other than a shop that looked as if it sold everything. Got ice creams which Rosie certainly enjoyed! Alan and Ian apparently found a super place with seafood and a place to paddle.

We got to Piraeus in a horrible temper and we still had to buy the tickets for the ferry to Leros. We bought the tickets for the ferry to Leros in Piraeus. I was driving and some horrible youth took exception to my changing my mind and hit my wing mirror yelling as he did. I yelled back (in Greek and English!). It was a nightmare trying to park, or turn around, or to find anything. Please God let me not have to drive in Piraeus again especially on a Saturday! The travel agent said everybody drives up and down the streets for fun on a Saturday afternoon.

In a backstreet I found a small shop to buy bread, cheese and a beer. The lady kindly made the bread up into baguettes and that helped. Rosie was as hot as anything but as always, seemed to cope and take things in her stride. We drove onto the pier early. We'd had nowhere to park in the shade and it seemed like a sensible idea. We met a nice chap with a neautiful German Shepherd (who fancied Rosie rotten, despite her operation at 3 months).

I played football with Rosie - and her ball rolled down the slope I hadn't noticed and into the sea! Some kind man went and got a fishing net from a Danish ship and eventually, with patience, got the ball back! So kind of him. The ferry eventually arrived, and on time, and pulled out of Piraeus 11.30pm on our last leg to Leros. We found a table in the lounge, but Rosie was dismissed by an officious waiter to the dog deck. She was not amused to be put in a cage. I kept visiting her and eventually at 3am took her out and sneaked her back to the lounge and into a corner. 6am a different waiter thought about dismissing her again but shrugged and pretended he hadn't seen her.

The ferry arrived at 8.15 Sunday morning. Oh the joy of journey's end!! We drove off the boat onto Lakki harbour and led the way to our friend Panos's house who has a dive school and campsite - that's how we met him, diving. We were so excited, it definitely felt as if we'd arrived "home". So, we've arrived in Leros to live. Would I drive again? NO! Would I recommend it? Maybe, but with more and better planning and without the worry of a dog dying of heatstroke!