Day 111

3/21/2014

I woke up this morning with a headache.  Maybe I didn’t drink enough last night.  I tried to make up for it.

I paddled the glassy smooth waters between the mainland and the archipelago.  I crossed a bay, then continued under rocky precipi and forests.  Small bays with sandy beaches broke up the rugged coastline, and as force four headwinds crushed my pace, I hugged the coast as tightly as possible.  Any temporary escape from the wind was a good one.

The wind died down.

Yesterday I ate my last cracker package.  I haven’t been able to find them in Greece, so I switched to whole grain toast-like bread.  I ate one slice an hour, until I crashed.

I had no energy.  Every stroke, even on the clear blue flat water, was a colossal struggle.  One struggle at a time, I pushed forward.  I increased my toast dosage by 50%.  Slowly, some of my strength came back.

I paddled through rock gardens and in tight spaces between islands and the mainland.  Tiny fish leapt out of the water ahead of me.

I was still really tired, so I paddled up to an anchored boat in a bay to ask how far.  A canopy on polls covered the small fishing boat.  Soothing Greek music floated over the water from a radio.  A hefty bald man with a big white mustache slept in a chair, slumped against the closed door of the tiny cabin.  I called “ahoy”, but not loudly enough to wake him.

I continued on my way.

With much relief I pulled into Parga’s pristine bay.  I had only paddled 13 miles, but I was more than ready to call it a day.

I’ll be here for the Sabbath.  I really hope I find a shower.

[gallery type="rectangular" ids="4033,4041,4045,4050,4052"]

Miles paddled: 13

Current location: 39.281317,20.388068