Welcome aboard. Pace yourselves (or not).

So we got all the work done and I met our guests for the week - 4 strong swimmers - at the cafe which is our rendezvous point. The minute before I left, uh oh an issue with the generator….oh dear. No problem, our team kicked into action. Simon and I met the guests and treated them to a fantastic lunch at the Meltemi cafe in small Skiathos town, while Richie and Lulu found the problem, found the engineer and got it fixed. A short delay and we were on our way. A hiccup like that might have paralyzed a lesser crew. Just one more bit of evidence that we have the right people for this job. Even more impressive and appreciated was the roll-with-it-just-happy-to-be-here attitude of our new guests. They dug into the small plates Simon and I ordered and fell into easy conversation. Just as the last bit of Saganaki was scooped up, we got the all clear from Richie and Lulu and we moved down the dock as a group of already-friends. 

Our easy going swimmers this week include 3 SwimVacation alums and one newbie. Deb has traveled to swim with us in the BVI at least twice, Hawaii, and now Greece. She spent last week hiking in the Greek Cyclades islands, and came to us ready to cool off in the water. Sean and Laura spent the last week cycling in Tuscany, riding up and down hills. They, too, arrived ready to get wet. And new to the SwimVacation experience is my dear brother-in-law (but I just call him Brother), Don. Don swam in college and has done some open water swimming in our beautiful freshwater bodies in Maine, but with the exception of one triathlon swim, has never done a proper swim in salt water. It’s a delight to have him here this week and show him what swimming beyond the pool can really be like. 

We pulled away from the sweaty dock and made our way to Skopelos and our first swim in a bay new to us - Paralia Kastani (Kastani Beach). The wind has picked up since last week and the water was a little choppy and bouncy. No matter, this group plunged in with purpose and we all headed for a rocky point at the far end of the beach. Well what do you know, a cave. Oh, and a swim through or three.

The first underpass we came to was tight - Simon dove down to scout it and declared it “an advanced swim through”. I actually swam through it and agreed. I announced that there would be plenty more of these and hey, let’s take it easy and pace ourselves, we have all week to swim and explore caves and tunnels. Fogettaboutit. Buoys off and at least two of them went through. Next a cave with a pass through into another chamber. Everyone went - no questions asked! We passed a few big jellies, no one panicked, they stopped and observed the pulsating dance. Don spotted a small sting ray on the bottom - something I have not yet seen here in Greece. Laura and Deb plowed ahead for a speedy swim through the chop, stopping for the occasional spelunk and covered a mile quickly, while Don, Sean and I bobbed in and out of a few more caves then made a bee line against a current to the boat. There was wind and chop and current and jellies and advanced caving and these 4 approached it all like they’ve been swimming this way their whole lives. So much for easing into a long, unique week of experiences - these 4 are ready to ROLL.

Lulu prepared some Meltini Sparklers which mix local spirit (in this case Metaxa) with champagne. Welcome to your yacht in Greece. Cheers! Dinner was two kinds of fantastic fish, wedged potatoes with yacht-made tartar sauce and dijonaise and my personal favorite, red salad. It has lots of healthy and delicious red things in it and it’s yum. Dessert was a lemon posset, which Lulu always says like everyone should know what a posset is. Google it if you like but what it is is delicious. 

So the fab 4 are out on the bow now in a gentle breeze under a just about full moon. They are relaxed and chatting like they are somewhere familiar with friends. No nerves, no questions, just being in this moment in this balmy special place. Well done.

I’d like to crawl into my nest soon, but I don’t want to disturb this easy gathering on the bow. These kinds of moments set the tone for the week. So maybe I’ll just do a little more paperwork and editing until they are ready to call it a night. I like listening to the laughter.

Kali Nikta, from Greece.

Heather