Lost in Leros 1/11/08

I took Tzouma for a walk the other day. We went on the bike, having had a long walk the day before in the hills with friends.

I had intended to go to our usual beach, Vromolithos, but found the road closed, presumably they were doing their interminable roadworks which is plaguing the island at the moment.  Quick decision required… I went a little further on and turned up left towards Vourlida and Castle Vigla. I hadn’t been up this way before but had long been interested in having a look. I rode about a mile up the road which ascends gradually, turned right at a “Vigla .3km” sign and parked on a dirt road.

Tzouma and I got off and headed up to the right onto some terraced land. Those of you who know me well will remember I have a hopeless sense of direction. Bearing this in mind, I kept a mental eye on my backwards route. I realised that, when wishing to return, heading downhill would bring me to the bike.

We had a marvellous walk, up hill and down… well not dale perhaps, but down and around paths, seeing evidence of goat, horse and cow, loads of olive trees and shrubs. Springy weeds were underfoot and the usual stones that threatened to slip or trip you up. I kept an eye on the time as a friend was coming to the house at 10.30 for my help on the computer. There was a marvellous view of Lakki harbour, Temenia with its boatyard and miles of sea with tiny islands.

At 9.40 I knew I was doing fine for time and decided it was time to return home.

I confidently turned around and after 10 minutes of an ambling walk, saw the road in the distance and headed towards it. I came unexpectedly up against a wire fence that hadn’t been there before. Hmm, so I tried to go further down the hill to bypass it. I found a dry riverbed I hadn’t spotted earlier and couldn’t easily cross. No matter, I bumped down it on my behind, with Tzouma watching with interest then heading off on her own mission. Asking her where the bike was proved fruitless. It was great for her because there was no danger, no road, no other dogs.

The landscape was now unfamiliar. I passed a cow and a horse. I came to a dead end. The path just – ended in a bank of rock. I turned around and made my way upwards this time, not forgetting to keep the fence in sight and going above and around it. I was now thoroughly and completely lost although I could still see the road off and on.

I eventually reached the road. Great! I stood on it… looked left and looked right. I had absolutely no idea which way to go. There were unfamiliar houses but not a soul in sight. I had to choose one way or the other, so turned right. There was an occasional dog behind a wall which barked at us of course. There was an apparent holiday home or two. After 10 minutes I came to a T-junction. “Now what” I thought. I stood there in indecision and then, oh joy a truck came towards us. I waved my hands and the truck stopped. I said to the driver “where am I?” in Greek of course. He looked at me and grinned. He was very helpful and it wasn’t his fault that I described so badly where I had left the bike  He kindly directed me down to Lakki. I forgot that I didn’t actually want to be in Lakki. I sent a text to the expected friend at 10.10 explaining I was lost but hoped to arrive home roughly at the same time as she.

The kind truck driver had been right in his directions and I duly made it to the Lakki road after 10 minutes. This was where I had turned off the main road. Sighing, I retraced my steps, this time at least knowing I would be going the same way that I had come. The same truck came towards me, presumably on his return journey. He stopped with an international gesture of hands up, palms upward – “what the…”. I said I thought I knew now where the bike was and that I would be fine now. He drove off waving. I wonder how the conversation would go that night across the card table.

After another 15 minutes I decided to phone Richard at home as I was beginning to wonder if I should get a taxi home. How on earth I was going to explain… no… that wasn’t going to work. I said to Richard when he answered “um, I’m lost, can’t find the bike” he (reasonably enough) said “you what?”. I said “I can’t find… oh, there it is!” I had found the turnoff and there, just where I had left it, was the bike. Relief flooded over me. My friend was already there and hadn’t yet received the text but all was well and she and Richard were having a cup of coffee. I was only 20 minutes late.

Moral of my tale? Well if you’re going to get lost anywhere, make it Leros – after all with only 12 sq miles of island, you’ll eventually find your way home even if like me you have a terrible sense of direction.