Goinground PELEPONNESE 2016
Personal review about the circumnavigation of Peleponnese by sea kayak
Personal review about the circumnavigation of Peleponnese by sea kayak
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Day 14 11.10.<strong>2016</strong> Korinth 37.94386,22.93117 28,6 km<br />
A misty morning with the promise of autumn being close. I paddled in the Korinth direction<br />
with the distant view of big freight ships anchoring close to the area where once the Greek<br />
fleet faught the Persians in the battle of Salamis. And then I saw it in about 5 km distance a<br />
slit, a cut a gap in the silhouette of low lying hills – the canal of Korinth. Getting closer the<br />
wind picked up still a tailwind bud with a good force four whipping the sea with reflecting<br />
waves to a choppy mood. Suddenly a splash of water – and a Monk seal appeared to watch<br />
me paddling a long. Later in the day I realized how rare this occasion was. There are just a<br />
few hundred left of these seals in the whole Mediterranean Sea.<br />
Had a short landing at an hotel beach as I did not know exactly where I was and got I call<br />
from Giorgios who had arranged for me to paddle the channel with the channel authorities<br />
asking how long I needed to the entrance of the channel.<br />
I then discovered that it was just round the corner. Soon some officials appeared asking me<br />
if I was THAT kayaker. As I could not see anybody else I said “yes”. “ Watch that white ship<br />
over there. When this has passed it is your turn – and please be quick” So after choppy<br />
conditions and howling winds I entered silence, and I could not believe it. Giorgos had<br />
managed that I could paddle the channel for myself – a modern miracle, and absolutely<br />
amazing, paddling in a passage just 20 m wide and up to 80m high. At the end of the<br />
channel I turned westwards and landed at a beach of Korinth close to a diver´s shop. The<br />
owner picked me up, like the other Italian kayakers who went around the Peleponne tow<br />
years before me. I t turned out that he was an acquaintance of Vasilis who was a close<br />
friend of Giorgos. Later on Vasilis picked me up and gave me the opportunity of a shower<br />
and the warmth and comfort of a family home. And even later Giorgos appeared - so we<br />
had a nice evening with lots of food and full of paddling talks.<br />
©Christian Dingenotto 2018 24
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