Greece finally is the word
Brian has been up super early and fitted his new shiny Fuel Pump Controller. My emergency one is cast back into the top box parts department.
After a good breakfast we take the walk around the bay at Sarande to the Port.
Sarande Port
Much to see on the walk. Chap selling mussels in a mineral water bottle.
‘Caution: Driver Texting’
I’m reminded to take V5’s and Passports, and this is a good move as we would have had a wasted half hour walk otherwise. For around 40 Euros we get tickets for us and the bike and we’ve to be at the port around 2pm. That’s about three times the cost of the mainland Greece option to Corfu from what I can gather, but in itself that’s another decent ride so under the circumstances and considering dad its money well spent. Brian has decided he’s going to have another day in Sarande and head to Corfu via Igoumenitsa. He’ll meet us there.
We wander back to the hotel, ask for a late checkout which we’re kindly given so we rest back in the comfort of then air conditioning for a while before eventually getting ourselves together. I recall that Petrol is vastly more expensive in Greece, so take the opportunity to nip into town and fill up, which is easily done, and I’m back for dad and we’re promptly at the port. We sit under a gazebo thing at a peaceful quayside, listen to music for an hour and talk about mum.
The ferry awaits..
After an hour or so we can shift ourselves to the port building and have a coffee, where things are now starting to move. We go through immigration and passport control and are brought out to where the boat is. I’m then walked back through a set of gates to collect the bike.
Ater five or so minutes I’m toddling on to the tiny ferry and a cheerful guy ties it down doing a very nice job.
The ferry is tiny. A grand total of two cars, one bike and three scooters aboard.
It whiffs badly of diesel on the decks and outside but there are grand views.
The Sarande – Corfu Fast Ferry. That makes a noise I can tell you.
An hour and twenty minutes pass and we’re making our way into Corfu town harbour.
Disembarkation is a typical Benny Hill show-end affair, with passengers hurrying to the immigration hall, huffing wheelie bags and suitcases. We accept we’ll be at the back end, so basically we’re last in the queues time I get the bike out and off the ferry. Vehicles are directed to line up side by side in a sort of beauty parade outside the arrivals hall and then go inside. We’re told to wait while other passengers pass through. The process isn’t quick, I guess the price of this being a border crossing. After a while a genial guy appears and summons us back to the bikes. I told Dad to go through immigration as a foot passenger, to get out of the sun and I’d meet him on the other side. The genial chap begins to inspect the beauty pageant, and my form of transport is obviously one that catches his eye. He comes to me, inspects passport and V5. Do you have any alcohol? He asks. ‘Not yet, but I will do’ is my answer. He likes that answer, beams and laughs, pats me on the shoulder and tells me that all is OK and I can go. ‘I have a Yamaha 660’ he tells me. Ah, a victory for biker mates no less. I’m off, much to the seeming annoyance from the glaring Italians with their scooters and the two car drivers.
We leave Corfu town and take the main road bearing right along the coast towards the town of Kassiopi. I have used that favourite app again and sourced what looks a nice place with a pool. We’ll haul up for a couple of days as we prepare for the next phase of the journey.
The ride is pleasant in the now early evening and uninterrupted by traffic. There are some excellent views. We play music in transit, including Zorba Zorbas to get us into the greek mood and it works. Fun had.
At Kassiopi we find our hotel. The manager, Stelios gives us a typical warm greek welcome. He rides a GS and directs me to a shady spot to park next to his. We’re in good hands. We’re given a nice room with no flights of stairs and carrying to do and are made very comfortable.
What other bike could take me, my dad and basically Lincoln Cathedral strapped to it and do all this eh?
We’ll just have to make the best of this place I suppose.
Kassiopi Harbour. Sarande is just across the other side on the mainland.
We go for dinner at the harbour, which is OK and nothing special.
Later we watch the Tyson Fury fight. I think it was supposed to be boxing, but it just looked like some fat wobbly bloke hitting a midget. My dad was a professional boxer as a younger guy and finds the so called boxing pretty amusing.
I cross over to the Dark Side..
We have a good day off and Brian arrives by coincidence at the same hotel the following day.
Brian has been up super early and fitted his new shiny Fuel Pump Controller. My emergency one is cast back into the top box parts department.
After a good breakfast we take the walk around the bay at Sarande to the Port.
Sarande Port
Much to see on the walk. Chap selling mussels in a mineral water bottle.
‘Caution: Driver Texting’
I’m reminded to take V5’s and Passports, and this is a good move as we would have had a wasted half hour walk otherwise. For around 40 Euros we get tickets for us and the bike and we’ve to be at the port around 2pm. That’s about three times the cost of the mainland Greece option to Corfu from what I can gather, but in itself that’s another decent ride so under the circumstances and considering dad its money well spent. Brian has decided he’s going to have another day in Sarande and head to Corfu via Igoumenitsa. He’ll meet us there.
We wander back to the hotel, ask for a late checkout which we’re kindly given so we rest back in the comfort of then air conditioning for a while before eventually getting ourselves together. I recall that Petrol is vastly more expensive in Greece, so take the opportunity to nip into town and fill up, which is easily done, and I’m back for dad and we’re promptly at the port. We sit under a gazebo thing at a peaceful quayside, listen to music for an hour and talk about mum.
The ferry awaits..
After an hour or so we can shift ourselves to the port building and have a coffee, where things are now starting to move. We go through immigration and passport control and are brought out to where the boat is. I’m then walked back through a set of gates to collect the bike.
Ater five or so minutes I’m toddling on to the tiny ferry and a cheerful guy ties it down doing a very nice job.
The ferry is tiny. A grand total of two cars, one bike and three scooters aboard.
It whiffs badly of diesel on the decks and outside but there are grand views.
The Sarande – Corfu Fast Ferry. That makes a noise I can tell you.
An hour and twenty minutes pass and we’re making our way into Corfu town harbour.
Disembarkation is a typical Benny Hill show-end affair, with passengers hurrying to the immigration hall, huffing wheelie bags and suitcases. We accept we’ll be at the back end, so basically we’re last in the queues time I get the bike out and off the ferry. Vehicles are directed to line up side by side in a sort of beauty parade outside the arrivals hall and then go inside. We’re told to wait while other passengers pass through. The process isn’t quick, I guess the price of this being a border crossing. After a while a genial guy appears and summons us back to the bikes. I told Dad to go through immigration as a foot passenger, to get out of the sun and I’d meet him on the other side. The genial chap begins to inspect the beauty pageant, and my form of transport is obviously one that catches his eye. He comes to me, inspects passport and V5. Do you have any alcohol? He asks. ‘Not yet, but I will do’ is my answer. He likes that answer, beams and laughs, pats me on the shoulder and tells me that all is OK and I can go. ‘I have a Yamaha 660’ he tells me. Ah, a victory for biker mates no less. I’m off, much to the seeming annoyance from the glaring Italians with their scooters and the two car drivers.
We leave Corfu town and take the main road bearing right along the coast towards the town of Kassiopi. I have used that favourite app again and sourced what looks a nice place with a pool. We’ll haul up for a couple of days as we prepare for the next phase of the journey.
The ride is pleasant in the now early evening and uninterrupted by traffic. There are some excellent views. We play music in transit, including Zorba Zorbas to get us into the greek mood and it works. Fun had.
At Kassiopi we find our hotel. The manager, Stelios gives us a typical warm greek welcome. He rides a GS and directs me to a shady spot to park next to his. We’re in good hands. We’re given a nice room with no flights of stairs and carrying to do and are made very comfortable.
What other bike could take me, my dad and basically Lincoln Cathedral strapped to it and do all this eh?
We’ll just have to make the best of this place I suppose.
Kassiopi Harbour. Sarande is just across the other side on the mainland.
We go for dinner at the harbour, which is OK and nothing special.
Later we watch the Tyson Fury fight. I think it was supposed to be boxing, but it just looked like some fat wobbly bloke hitting a midget. My dad was a professional boxer as a younger guy and finds the so called boxing pretty amusing.
I cross over to the Dark Side..
We have a good day off and Brian arrives by coincidence at the same hotel the following day.