A small problem with the daily morning ferry from Paleochora to Sougia and beyond during early July\u00a0 –\u00a0 there wasn’t one.\u00a0 With the ‘Samaria’ out of action, the larger vessel ‘Daskalogiannis’ operated a different schedule, arriving from Sfakia around 1.30pm, and setting off back almost immediately.\u00a0 This, though unsuitable for walkers descending the Samaria or Agia Irini gorge, who could not return “home”, was perfect for my plan to kayak along the coast from Sougia to Loutro, with an overnight camp on one of the many beaches.<\/p>\n
At 3pm, with the distant ferry now heading for Agia Roumeli, I paddled steadily out of Sougia in the same direction.\u00a0 I’ve described this journey before (see ‘Explore’ – June 2009), so suffice to say that I stretched legs at Tripiti and the far end of Domata beach before approaching Agia Roumeli in the cool of the evening.\u00a0 I was tempted to go ashore briefly, but there was every chance of meeting Andreas (Stavroudakis) at the Tarra restaurant, and leaving with a raki-spinning head an hour later.\u00a0 I hoped he wouldn’t see me paddling by and be offended!<\/p>