It’s 11.30pm on Saturday 21 April and our flight to Corfu has just taken off! I’ve never yet missed a flight, but it felt like a real possibility today ….
Back in February we had a clear plan and lists of all we had to do to be ready for our 1st summer cruise. For our usual 2 week charter in July, packing is a doddle: 3 bags, 1 each for clothes, books, toiletries, my handbags and ever-growing selection of bikinis, etc. plus the 3rd bag of beach towels and boat stuff that makes life easier and isn’t always provided on charter boats, such as our own binoculars; pilot book; handheld VHF; sailing gloves; flags; bits of rope, which always come in handy.
For an initial 3 months on board we needed a rethink. Some warmer clothes for cooler weather at the start of the season, clothes for working on the boat on the hard, supplies of things we may be able to get in Greece, but don’t yet know for sure. And more things for the boat. Our February plan was to have everything packed by yesterday …..
What actually happened was that stuff was still arriving by courier on Friday, we were utterly exhausted and sleep deprived after weeks of trying to do everything and today was frantic!! We needed to leave at 6.30 to get our train and at 3pm I realised that everything wouldn’t fit into 3 bags, and the bags were all near or over the weight limit. John could barely lift one to weigh it! I keep thinking ‘the boat’s already got a kitchen sink’ (or should that be galley sink?) Despite having done on-line check-in, I discover I can still buy another hold item for £33 and Bingo! at 5.30 we’re packed! Just time for a quick shower and change before our lift to the station. On the train we register that we haven’t had lunch and I haven’t had breakfast either. Really looking forward to getting through security and sitting down to a meal before the flight.
Oh! 9.10pm and nowhere is serving hot food now 🙁 A sandwich, banana and a glass of wine it is then. Boarding gate called, only about 25 of us on a 737! We see the lightening of the approaching storm as we take off. It’s lovely and quiet, we begin to let go a little and doze.
After all these years dreaming and then planning, it doesn’t seem real. We really are on our way to start getting to know Loulouditsi , our very own boat. Through the exhaustion, some excitement begins to bubble up …..