‘ Not to waste time the skipper navigates to feet from the quay, the ramp is dropped and, as no vehicles are embarking, the captain dispenses with the need to moor his ship which is kept on station using engines alone. Within minutes Samaria is reversing before thrusting forwards in a gentle arc westwards.
We find a seat at the rail on the upper deck among the backpacks, poles and other paraphernalia of sleepy hikers.
A full moon is already in the sky, as though gatecrashing the titian splendour of the sun’s party, arriving to chase it over the horizon. It is a short 40 minute sail home along the coast where Samaria concludes her day’s work.’
An extract from More Hidden Crete, out now for Kindle with paperback release scheduled for later this month.
