The Greek Adventure

Our Latest Greek islands trip pictures from last may. We invite you to join our next trip in greece this summer

A group of ten Americans in Greece

< Picture:Stan in the Yellow Explorer A group of ten Americans and two American guides, Bobbie & Michelle, showed up at the Greek island of Kos on May 5th to begin our kayaking adventure with Omer & Hadas, our Israeli guides. We all had a short meeting, had aMythos local beer and fitted our kayaks. The next morning we were off to the Isl of Leros and began kayaking to a small vilage were we stayed with our Greek hostes, Maria and her family. What a wonderfull place with olive trees, asmall vineyard and a vegetable garden that grandpa tented and grew the vegetables for the daurghter restaurant, Aloni. We dined there for two evenings (and did we ever dine!) This was truly the 1st of many awesome dining experiences. Omer & Hadas knew just what to order for starters for us all.........I had to fight Hadas for the last piece of bread! If you've never had Greek food the way the Greeks fix it you don't know what Greek food is all about. The next morning we were off to the town of Pandeli were we wached Bobbie and Michelle roll the double kayak, hike to the castle and had an unplaned skill session from Omer & Hadas while paddling as the winds were such that most of us were having a hard time turning into our Bay. But with good sweep strokes we all made it back. Our longest day of paddling- 28 km along the remote east coast of Kalimnos, big cliffs, lunch picnic on a secluded beach and a little side hike to a large cave. The next day we visited a monestery on the hil, the girls had to wear skirts provided at the monestery and l will have to say they looked cute! Roll, roll, roll your boats- We had lots of skill sessions for those wanted and I think that we all improved and learned alot as well as learning to be comfertable up side down... In this trip we were lucky to have with us a great folk singer from Montana- Jack Gladstone who took his giutar in a large dry bag and sang for us every evening in the Taverna! In Telendos Isl we stayed in a beatiful hotel that Omer & Hadas got to open just for us! Their connections in the Greek islands were invaluable! We will never forget them and the awesome time that they showed us. They provided great accommodations, food and teaching as well as showing us great kayaking in the Greek islands! But the best part of the trip was that it was more fun than I ever expected and I gained new friends! Thank you Omer, Hadas, Bobbie and Michelle for an experiance of a lifetime! Stan and Janie Pine kalispell, Montana

NORTH DODECANESE ISLANDS TRIP. MAY 2007

The wind was blowing from the South as we were eating our breakfast in Hotel Porto Potha on Telendos Island .Looking at Telendos straits from the balcony we saw the white caps on the water and and looking up we could see the dramatic Mountains on the Island of Kalimnos. Only yesterday we were climbing to one of the caves above the village of Emborios after a long paddle along its limestone cliffs & Rock Gardens .
Kalimnos, the Island of sponge-fishermen is completely rocky with high mountains. The biggest one is Profitis (676 m) and the follow Kira Psili (620 m) Galatiani (590 m) no wonder this Island becoming well known for climbers.
Drinking one more coffee with the friendly family that owns the Hotel, "The wind is changing & it's now coming from the N" I said.
"Well, normally it means that in one or two hours the clouds and rain will be gone and the sunny weather will come back" said the Lady.
I told her that I hope she is right but this is not what our "Weather man" Karel is reporting....Karel is sending me the weather reports to every trip we go to every place in the world by SMS and most of the time he is right....this time it was: N,NW 5- 6. Waves- 1.5 m, showers (NO SUN...) 1 hour later the group is ready to go paddling on Telendos straits.
This channel of water was created on the disastrous earthquake of 554 A.D., Telendos was until then united to the land opposite to it (Kalimnos) and was not a sepa­rate island.
The area that has sank is belieνed to haνe been the central part of a large city.
4 paddlers are going to paddle with my Colleague/ Friend/ Instructor- Hadas. They are going to Cross the channel and around the 1st Headland into the sandy bay of Kantouni.
The 2nd group with 4 paddlers as well, those who want to Rock & Roll will paddle with me around Telendos and meet the 1st group in Kantouni for lunch.
I asked my group to stay close together. "We are going to paddle hard against the wind, the N side will be lumpy & then we'll surf all the way along the W side of the Island!!!"
All of us were exited & happy. After 15 m of paddling the wind calm down & then changed.
"It's coming now from the E" to bad- we are now paddling S along the W coast and NO SURFING.
The guys are angry with Karel. You must understand that some of us are sure that he is not only giving us the weather, he is responsible for it!!! Without any warning the E winds are gliding down from the Mountain and hitting us hard. Later on we were told it was Force 8 +. We are paddling as hard as we can into the beach only 500 m away. But with those gusts it became a very very long 500 m!!! On the beach all of us are exited. We run to the other side of the Isle, to the only village of Telendos.
There is one coffee shop open. Some guys are trying to anchor a fishing boat without much luck...
On the wall we see paintings of the owners grandparents. On the coach an old lady in black sitting and watching a sexy model in a bikini on the TV. We all try to warm up with hot tee while the wind is shaking the windows. Hadas's group is safe in Kantouni after a small epic, the wind got them as well and one guy capsize while looking back to see his friends...but all good. I told her we would cross if it will calm town a bit. Karel sms- all weather reports were wrong, there is a strong cyclonic wind in the area.
I write back- Yes and we are in it!!!
Karel- it will calm down later.
I- time for some beer...
Later on we paddle to Kantouni and met with our friends. There were lots of stories and and we found a nice Hotel on the beach for the night, not before hiking up to an old monastery to get closer to god and to thank him for being here in this romantic yet exiting place. Looking west we could see the red sun set over the Dodecanese Islands and hiking back to the village we could smell the herbs growing on the mountains.
That night while eating fish & Calamari in the local Tavern we drank a glass of Uzo for Poseidon!
The next morning was our last day of paddling and Poseidon gave us a nice present: Calm Blue sea.
This was the 6th day during our 7 days trip around the N Dodecanese Islands of Greece May 2007. In this trip we circumnavigate the Islands of Leros, Kalimnos & Telendos. In this trip we paddled with 8 terrasanta's club members. All of them are experience paddlers paddling all year round and wonderful company! During the trip we experienced calm magical water as well as the kind of weather in this text. See you on the next trip. Omer