Corinth Canal

NE anchorage on Aegina. Loved it here!

We left Aegina for the island of Salamina to top up our fuel tanks before transiting the canal. From there, we made great time with speeds between 10-11 knots! Somewhere along the way, we went through a swarm of flies, which occupied the rest of our trip. The kids and I went to battle, killing over 100 flies (seriously, that is not an exaggeration). It wasn't just us either, as our friends on Plan B, also had a fly invasion. It took about three days to eradicate the little buggers.

Fueling up.

We anchored in the bay at the eastern entrance to the canal and settled in for the night. While the canal functions 24/7, we wanted to wait for daylight for photos and to get a good look at what our money was buying us. Not only did this save us time and 150 nm, it was also a nice piece of history to observe.

Entering the canal.

The following morning, we dinghied over to pay 200 euro and complete the paperwork. An hour later, we were going through the canal. It is about 3 miles long and is full of interesting things to see, such as landscaped flower beds, waterfalls, and little caves. The sunlight makes the water glow a neon blue in spots. The canal was started by the French and completed by the Greeks in the late 1800s. Before its construction, ships were rolled over the isthmus to the other side.

Little waterfall.

We had smooth seas into and through the canal. Upon exiting, it was chaos! Winds around 30 knots and very choppy seas. We motored for about 12nm. After that, it was calm and smooth as glass out in the gulf. We had enough wind to sail and set course for Galaxidi to the anchorage near the town. Music was going as we arrived. We dropped the hook and had a nice dinner listening to the music. Next day, we sailed over to the old harbor of Itea to tour the sanctuary of Delphi to consult the oracle (all about that in the next post).

Galaxidi

Island Hopping Around Greece

Made it to the top of the Minoan site! Amorgos, Greece.

From Crete, we made quite a few hops along the island chain. We stopped at Astipalaia, Amorgos, Koufonisia, Naxos, Mykonos, Delos, Rhenia, Paros, and Antiparos.

Dolphin at the entrance to Astipalea lagoon.

Astipalaia was our least favorite, due to all the trash. This island had trash dumps on every beach, and while it had a reputation for its lagoon, it was nowhere near what Spinalonga was like. We spent two nights here until we had a good enough weather window to head to Amorgos.

Amorgos was better. The guide book mentioned it was an excellent fishing spot and known for dolphins visiting. We tossed out the fishing line and no sooner had the dolphins paid a visit, we had a fish on the line! It made for a delicious dinner and lunch the following day. 

Our first fish caught aboard Roundabout while on passage

We anchored in a few places, saw bioluminescence at night, and weathered a windstorm in the port. We were invited to a traditional Greek wedding ceremony and hiked up to an ancient Minoan site. 

Climbing to the top of the Minoan site. Amorgos, Greece

From there, we were scheduled to meet up with some other sailing families, so we hopped over to Naxos for a night and then on up to Mykonos.

Temple of Apollo on Naxos.

Temple of Apollo and little cave at Naxos.

We met up with the crew of Wiz and Aleasea. All the kids had a blast playing together. After weathering out another meltemi (wind storm), we hopped over to Delos to explore the ruins. Wow, what an amazing place! This was our most favorite ancient site of all. It is expansive and you need at least two days to explore everything.

More kid fun!

Pondering the ruins at Delos.

A temple at Delos. This tree marks the exact spot where Apollo and Artemis were born (at the sacred lake).

Dolphin mosaic at Delos.

Lots of furry friends at Delos.

From Delos, we spent a night on Rhenia and then sailed back to Paros to meet up with another kid boat, Abaco. Having four kid boats together was awesome. We hiked, played, and enjoyed each other’s company. Such fun times! 

All the kids hanging out around Roundabout and the other kid boats. Rhenia anchorage near Delos.

Our fleet sailed over to AntiParos to explore the cave and met up with yet another kid boat, Wildest Dreams. That night we had a fun beach potluck. Cadence and a friend made cupcakes to celebrate one of the other kiddo’s birthdays, lavender swirled vanilla cupcakes with lavender frosting. Yum!

Antiparos cave field trip with all the boat kids!

Boat kids from s/v Roundabout, Abaco, Alesea, and Wiz (Wildest Dreams arrived later that day).

Making cupcakes as a birthday surprise.

Another meltemi was coming, so our fleet went back to Paros to ride it out. The crew of Abaco went with us to take windsurfing lessons. That was a great day and so much fun! IF you are ever near Paros island, check out Paroskite.gr. You can anchor in the channel between Paros and Antiparos to take lessons at the school or check out their gear. I found a new wetsuit for Cadence and I for a great deal. George G. is the owner and is very nice. 

Learning how to windsurf.

In the end, we all had to go our separate ways. Two were going to Turkey and the rest of us were heading west. The kids really loved hanging out with other kid boats and spent most of each day playing in the water or swimming from boat to boat. It's hard to leave such fun times, but we've got to make tracks towards Croatia!

Science lab:Acids and Bases

Supplies (my vinegar is in a spray bottle, as I use it for cleaning)

Here is a fun and easy lab to learn about acids and bases. Most of the ingredients are probably already in your galley / kitchen. I've modified it a little for homeschool use.



Materials:

white paper
scissors
pencils, crayons, colored pencils
*science journal (optional)

1 Red cabbage for indicator solution (Boil the head of red cabbage in water for approximately 10 minutes, let the liquid sit until cool. Pour into a large pitcher.  This can be made ahead of time and stored for one week in the fridge).

Boiling cabbage to make the indicator solution.

a few clear containers (whatever you have on hand, such as tupperware, glasses, etc).
•pH scale chart (print out one you like online, laminated, or placed inside a clear plastic bag)
•pH paper strips (see list of resources for making your own pH paper strips down below) *optional

Substances to test:

lemon juice (can also test lime, orange, or other citrus fruits)
baking soda
white vinegar
marina water or the water in the anchorage
your boat's water-maker water
dish soap
clear soda (can also be soda water)
(feel free to add to this--ask the kids, they always come up with different things to test, such as toothpaste, shampoo, laundry detergent, etc).

Vocabulary: acid, base, neutralize, precipitate, pH, scale, substance, indicator

Asking Questions: What do you know about acids and bases?

Plan and carry out the investigation: what materials will you need to conduct this lab? What other materials would you add or substitute?

Conduct the experiment:

1. Using a clean sheet of white paper, draw the number of sections correlating to the number of substances you will be testing. See example.

My daughter's example testing mat

2. Take a clear container and add a small amount of the indicator substance (cabbage juice). Draw a picture of the control (cabbage juice before you add a substance to it). Note the color.

Indicator solution.

3. Next,  add the first substance you are going to test. Record any changes to the indicator. Use the pH paper and dip it into the substance. Compare the pH paper to the pH chart and record the number.  Set the used testing strip next to the label on your sheet of paper.

This was the color after adding the first substance we were testing (in this case, lemon juice).

Substance tested:_________   Color when added to the indicator:___________ pH level:__________ Observations/Illustrations:

4. Next test: use a different clear container or you can simply empty the container you used for the first substance into the sink and rinse it out well. Then add more of the cabbage juice to the container. Next, add the second substance you are testing. Record your observations. Note the changes in your observations.

Second substance we tested (in this case, baking soda)

Substance tested:_________   Color when added to the indicator:___________ pH level:__________ Observations/Illustrations:


5. Repeat the above for the remaining substances you are going to test.

Analyze data, interpret observations:

What happened to the indicator when an acid was added?

What happened to the indicator when a base was added?

What happened to the indicator when tap water was added?

Questions, planning further investigations, creating a model: 

How can you apply the knowledge gained from this investigation to our planet? For example, think about your local watershed and how pollution may be impacting it. Write your thoughts here:

Focus questions:
1. If the pH of the ocean becomes more acidic or basic, what might happen to the flora (plant life) and fauna (animals)?

2. Why would a higher or lower pH level in a local river indicate a problem with the watershed?


Resources:  Here are some extra resources to help make this lab successful (without spending a lot of money).


 1. Making your own pH paper (you can do this ahead of time or along with your kids as a separate activity!

Here is how I did it on the boat:
1. Cut the white paper into strips as shown.

Preparing the strips.

2. After making the indicator solution, pour some into a bowl and toss in the strips. Make sure they soak at least 20 minutes. Take out and set on a paper towel to dry overnight. They will be ready to use the next day.

Soaking the strips in indicator solution.

Setting them out to dry. The color will lighten up a bit.

A couple of other resources I found:

http://chemistry.about.com/od/chemistryhowtoguide/ht/makephpaper.htm

http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Homemade-pH-Paper-Test-Strips

Litmus paper: Mostly made from wood cellulose. Easier to purchase than to make. *You don’t have to use litmus paper for this activity. You can use pH paper with great results.

 2. Brain Pop video and lesson activities about the pH scale:

http://www.brainpop.com/science/matterandchemistry/phscale/preview.weml

3. Chem4Kids.com : http://www.chem4kids.com/files/react_acidbase.html    4. Chemistryforkids.net: http://www.chemistryforkids.net/help/ph-scale


 4. Environmental Protection Agency  extensions

 http://www.epa.gov/acidrain/measure/ph.html

 http://www.epa.gov/acidrain/education/site_students/index.html


Copyright © 2018 Stefanie Pechan  All rights reserved by author.


For the full write up of the lesson plan photos, and student worksheet packet: http://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Mrspechan 

No commercial use without written consent from the author: contact@mrspechan.com

Boat Bread!

Fresh out of the oven! Yum!

I've finally found the perfect recipe for bread. Seriously, this stuff is SO good we hardly buy bread anymore. Besides, few things are as good as fresh, hot bread right out of the oven!

Believe me, I've gone through my share of recipes. A lot of recipes. This one is super easy and does not require much attention at all. You can simply toss the ingredients together and put it in the oven. We've also used it to make pizza crust, rolls, cinnamon rolls.... it is very easy to modify to suit your tastes. It's what we always bring to cruiser's potlucks and we get asked for the recipe so often, I decided to just post it on the blog. =)


Ingredients:

1 package yeast (or 2 tsp yeast)
2.5 cups hot water
1/4 cup sugar
6 cups flour
1/4 cup oil (whichever type you prefer/ I use olive oil, but only because that is what I have in the galley)
1 T salt

1 egg (egg wash: crack an egg into a cup or small dish. Use a pastry brush or whatever similar tool you have in the galley and mix the egg a little. No pastry brush: Use a spoon or something to create a light coating of the egg wash on the loaf. You will brush this onto the loaf before baking).

1 small handful of flour to sprinkle on a clean surface for shaping the loaf.
optional: parchment paper

Steps:
1. In a large mixing bowl: add the yeast, sugar, and water. Stir until dissolved.
2. Add 3 cups flour and mix. (I hold the bowl with one hand use my other hand to mix the dough, as it is faster and easier than using a spoon).
3. Add in 3 more cups flour, oil, salt, and mix.
4. Cover with a clean towel and let rise.
**In a rush? Sometimes, (mostly because I need it fast) I have simply mixed it all together, shaped it into two loaves, and baked it right then, without waiting for it to rise. It tastes just fine.

5. Set aside and wait for it to rise (maybe 20-30 min or so, depending on the temp of your galley--or set it in the sunshine on the deck), give it a stir with your hand to mix it down a bit.

6. Sprinkle some flour on a clean surface (I use parchment paper for fast and easy clean up).
7. Take 1/2 of the dough out of the bowl and shape into a loaf. Transfer to your baking sheet (I line mine with parchment paper for easier clean up)
8. Cut 3 slashes in the top surface of the loaf.
9. Brush the top with an egg wash, if desired.
10. Bake at 325 for about 25 minutes or until the top is golden and you have that delicious fresh bread smell coming from your oven.
11. Repeat for the other 1/2 of the dough.

Other ideas for this dough:
1. roll it out thin for pizza crust (we do this a lot) or make empanadas/calzones
2. form into dinner rolls
3. add various things to it: olives, jalapeno and cheddar, cinnamon and sugar, etc. Whatever floats your boat. =)
4. Only need one loaf? Put the other half into a ziplock bag and place in the fridge. It will get a more sour/yeasty taste the longer it sits. It is fine for up to one week this way.

Crete

We left Santorini for Crete around 7:30am. It was an all day downwind sail, flying the spinnaker and just lounging around on the trampoline. The water was like glass as we scooted along, and we had the pleasure of dolphins paying a visit. 

We arrived to Spinalonga lagoon around 5:30pm and dropped the hook in a nice calm bay, across from the town of Elounda. We didn’t know it at the time, but that would become our home base over the next few weeks.

There wasn’t much wind the following day, but we needed to provision and pick up parts in Agios Nikolaos. We were told that it had the best grocery store and deliveries come right to the boat. 

This was about an hour motor-sail away. We tied up to the transient dock and set off to explore the town. After packing away our provisions, we took the kids to play at the beach. Jared and I sat in a cafe and enjoyed a coffee, our toes in the sand, while the kids ran and splashed in the sea. We returned to our home base in the lagoon and settled in for schoolwork, getting the washing done, and an overall clean up of the boat.

Over the next week, we explored the lagoon, town of Elounda (there is a large chandlery there), and spending time on various beaches. Our favorite was what we named Sea Turtle beach (Almyros beach). There is a salt water marsh and a river that runs out to the sea. This place had a fine sandy beach that was shallow halfway out to the boat, water toys, and a pool nearby the beach bar. We spent quite a few afternoons here. 

Beach bonfire with s'mores.

Spinalonga is famous for first being a Venetian fortress turned leper colony. At a time when leprosy was an epidemic, patients were moved to the island in an attempt to control the disease. The ill were separated from family and friends for the rest of their lives, so it was not a happy place. Supplies were received through donations, though there was a small bit of farming, by those who were healthy enough to work the soil. A preacher and doctor lived on the opposite side of the island and made visits as necessary. While Mother Nature has taken over, many of the structures still exist and one can imagine what it must have been like to live here.

Hermes parked on the island; exploring the former fortress-turned-leper colony.

We spent a long morning exploring this place, and found it full of interesting history. In addition to the structures, old fortress ruminants, there is a museum consisting of a few small buildings. 

A short dinghy ride from RoundAbout, we left Hermes (our dinghy—named after the Greek messenger god—we are after all in Greece, and Hermes takes us everywhere) on the beach, paid the fee (kids were free, and it was 4 euro for adults), and set off exploring. We were fortunate to have arrived before all of the day tripper boats, as we had the place to ourselves for most of our visit. 

For awhile now, I have been searching for a sewing machine. In addition to mending, I wanted to get one robust enough to make repairs to thick fabric, should we ever need to repair a sail. I found a store in Heraklion, about 1.5 hour’s bus ride away. Zach and I got up early one morning to catch the bus and made our way to the big city. The sewing store was about a 30 minute’s walk from the bus station. We stopped at Starbucks for a cold drink and stocked up on ground coffee for our press (we haven’t been too fond of the coffee in Greece—we’ve tried quite a few). 

Exploring a bit of Heraklion, Crete.

We arrived at the shop and were greeted by the shop owner’s daughter. I already knew the exact machine I wanted (a Pfaff 160s, which can sew through thick layers and has a variety of options). She was happy to sit with me while I tried it out and loaded me up with lots of free accessories for the machine. About 2 hours later, we found ourselves back in the city center at a fabric shop to score some meters of fabric for a few projects I had in mind and made the return trip on the bus.

The fun really began when we met up with another sailing family, No Plans Just Options. They sailed all night to get to the lagoon and we hit it off right away! Such a sweet and awesome family! The kids jumped in the water to swim, kayak, and play legos. They needed provisions and we needed fuel, so we invited them to sail with us to Agios Nikolaos. Many happy days were spent together. We toured the Palace of Knossos, taught them how to make s’mores, had a beach bonfire and cookout, watched movies, and just had a blast! Then came the time when we had to head north and they needed to go east to Turkey. We enjoyed spending time with this family and hope to reunite on our path west or in the Caribbean (miss you guys!). 

Crews of Roundabout and No Plans Just Options

Overall, we really enjoyed our time on Crete and in Spinalonga lagoon. There were fire pits on the beach near the boat, so we had a few beach bonfires with s’mores and bbq dinners. In the evenings, we would listen to the sheep and goats returning to their pasture, led by the nice shepherd, with whom we met on several occasions. There were quite a few newborn lambs, which were so adorable to watch, as they clambered around the rocks and played amongst the bushes. A spectacular show was to be had at night, when we could see the bioluminescence sparkle in the water. Definitely, one of our favorite places!

Torpedo ray the kids found in the lagoon. They thought it was injured, due to the way it was swimming loop-de-loops. A marine scientist friend said it was feeding and not to touch it, as it has electric organs!

A Fleet of Kid Boats!

Cave exploration with 4 other kid boats!

I really have been working on updating the blog, but haven't posted for a a couple of reasons.

1. We now have 5 kid boats together and are having just too much fun! If you have kids, you know just how important it is for them to have other kids around. We've sort of all adjusted our plans so all the kids can play as much as possible.

2. Wifi is not existent where we are (using cell signal to post this, so apologies for lack of photos). I am heading in to an internet cafe, so you've got a few new blog posts coming your way in the next day or so!

All the kids swimming around the boat, playing on and inside...

In a nutshell: over the past few weeks, we have left Crete for Astipalea, Amorgos, Mykonos, Delos, Rhenia, Paros, AntiParos....whew! We have been moving! =)

In the meantime, if you are curious about what we've been up to, hop on over to our blog's facebook page. It is updated daily.

Thanks for following along! Check back in a day or so for the usual detailed posts! ~Stef

The kids swim from boat to boat. Such fun times!