Summer is here

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Thursday, June 17, 2010

Summer is upon Kefalonia. High temperatures have leaped into the low 30°s C (High 80°s F). Days are sunny and sticky while breezy nights offer cool respite. The mosquitoes show no mercy however. Before bed at the villa Jean and I have fallen into the habit of giving ourselves a good dousing of deet.

We had a few departures at the the middle of the month. Helen flew to Amsterdam to meet up with her parents on holiday. Elina left for Finland with Sala, her adopted stray pup that a Dutch couple brought into the Environmental Center. Markus went back to Berlin to continue work of thesis. We also gained several new volunteers including Ellie from Cornwall who volunnteered for seven weeks last year, Jon from Oregon, Rhiannon from the UK, Sarah from Wisconsin and Vanessa, an Italian from Ireland with an American accent. Wrap your mind around that one.

With the influx of volunteers Jean and I are looking forward to a slightly lighter schedule load. Since night patrols started two weeks ago we've been stretched pretty thin averaging 7-8 hours a week, six days a week. Jean and I had a day off yesterday which we spent a good deal of sleeping. No epic kayaks trips this week. We had toyed with the idea of climbing Mount Enos (1642 meters) but after rolling in after dark Tuesday night after a 10 km (6 mile) morning cycle and hike to Koroni, 1.2 km (mile) kayak to Lefka, beach patrol and litter collection, snorkel, kayak back to Koroni, hike and cycle back to the villa in Ratzakli, meeting with Manu and the other volunters, afternoon beach patrol and litter collection, 3 km (2.2 mile) hike to Katelios, sand volleyball game, shopping and hike back to the villa we decided to give it a miss and have a lie in instead.

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