friends!

As we get closer to the end of the Bay of Corinth, and Patras, we were able to meet up with another American boat on their way to finish their 3-year circumnavigation around the world on their sailboat, Imagine. They are from Chicago and they have three kids, Caroline-12, Grant-10, and Noah-8. Needless to say, our kids were more than excited to hook up with them again. We’d first met them in Israel and we left at the end of April a day apart, them going to Turkey, and us to Cyprus and then on to Greece. They sailed literally right out of the bay in Chicago and though the Great Lakes, Hudson River and down the East coast and on and on and on! Please check their website at the bottom of our page.

It was fun re-connecting with them and we plan to stay together the next couple of weeks until they head north to Croatia and we head west to Italy and Sicily. So it’s fun times for all of us and makes life seem somewhat ‘normal’ being able to hang out with another family and not struggle with language or culture. So far, we’ve had BBQ’s, games and water fights (wars!), campfires on the beach and ‘sundowners’ a cruising term for happy hour.

We also met a friend of theirs, Martin, from Austria who is also finishing (technically finished) his circumnavigation and headed back to Austria after being gone for 3 years. He is on an older wooden boat, ketch rigged (2 masts) and set up for single handing. Meaning he’s sailed almost all around the world by himself, except for occasional help from crew. He also LOVES kids and immediately scooped up Miles and holds him whenever he can. He’s built like a rugby player and Miles looks really small in his huge arms! He is website is also at the bottom of the page, Anima 3

So, we are all moseying along up through the Ionian Sea, enjoying the much greener landscape and absolutely crystal clear waters, managing to swim at least twice a day and having some lazy sail/motor days.

~ Hems