Go Your Own Way

MODERN CLASSICS

Η Ρετρό επανάσταση

Δεν είναι μόνο η αυθεντική ρετρό σχεδίαση των κλασσικών γραμμών του που θα σας ενθουσιάσει, αλλά και η μοντέρνα τεχνολογία τους που κάνει τον μοτοσικλετισμό διασκέδαση

Sodden Socking Saturday

Seven days to go to the Bikesafe assessment day and the amount of time on the boxer barely renders me competent to make it to the venue......oh dear. So 30 minutes has been spent in the car park practising slow speed control during a 20 minute rain break. Let's hope for some fine evenings next week!

The sponge diver's song that became a worldwide hit

I quote from a Kalymnos website:

"Everybody knows the song "Dirlada" since it was a worldwide hit at the beginning of 70ies.
But only a few know that it is a sponge diver song from Kalymnos.
It's career started when Domna Samiou (a Greek folklore music legend) discovered Pandelis Ginnis, a sponge diver's boat captain, ho sung it on a very special way and recorded it.

Then it was recorded by Dionysis Savopoulos. It became his best commercial hit.
Our big musician Nikos Xilouris followed along with many Greek and foreigner musicians.
In the 70ies it became a worldwide hit and it was danced for many years in Discos.
The last version we found is a Techno!!!! version from the French band "Les Bronzes".

You can see lyrics and descriptions in next pages. From here you can download:

The "5+4=9 Pente kai tessera ennia" a version of Dirlada before it becomes a record. The first recorded Dirlada by "Pandelis Ginnis" . Dedicated to my friend IVAN who did not believe me when I informed him that Dirlada is coming from Kalymnos and I promised to prove it to him." POOR BASTARD.

Does Anyone Actually Look at this Stuff?

Easycruising again?

Could I stand 7 days in an orange cabin on the good ship Easycruise One?

Athens by bike

I like the way that the C90's skate out of the way....

Frankincense, burning wax and the prospect of eating fresh fish for lunch following the necessary full immersion in the Aegean Sea (i.e. swim to cool off) - heavenly - Efharisto poli Aghios Nicholaos.

Icing Sugar Church at Heronissos

The Road Ends

The Easythrowmoneyawayjointheherdcoachtour was heading towards "the popular" southern beach on Sifnos. Nikos scooter tours (r) headed north to the beautiful Heronissos region.

Caiquesteering

Fellow blogger Highwaylass has recently pointed out similarities netween sailing and biking. Here I can show that these forces are evident in caique driving too - see how the centrifugal, sorry, centripetal forces on Kapitano are balaced at 3 points whilst leaning into the corner and applying counter rudder. Apologies that this blog is somewhat out of synch but I was'nt blogging then ?

The Joys of ISO 3200 (2)

Here is another night scene - not Paros, this time but Waterford airport last Christmas.
I rather like flying in prop aircraft - they vibrate and shake just like something else I enjoy -;)

The Joys of ISO 3200

I really like these night scenes made possible by the fast ISO settings available on the Fuji F30.

Drying Washing - a Contrast

Here in Guildford this weekend the washing has been sitting on the line for over 36 hours and has become measurably wetter.
In Southern Greece today equivalent washing is reported to have dried in 10 minutes.
Never mind the loos, I'm moving to Greece soon.

Reflections on Urban Athens

Athens still retains wonderful family owned shops. Just take a stroll past Hadrian's gate for example and find the pharmacist.

Saddle for Sore eyes

I admit to having loaded this by mistake. I just wish it could be 30mm higher.

Easycementworks

The Sifnotian menu translator has an evening job at the road sign factory.

The Mystery of Greek Loos

Wikipedia remains silent about







SOVARO PROVLIMA.

A pity.

Easycruising

Buy a worn out cruise ship, slap some orange paint on, recruit Philipinos and bum around the Aegean. Fantastic.....

Where is Top Gear?

I took Billy for her first run today. To be exact, not her first run but the innaugral with me "in charge". Call it a proving trial with all luggage on-board to investigate stability at the edge of my "envelope". I can report that I found it quite difficult to get my leg over with all that tupperware on the back and that I need to look into how to wear glasses and avoid them and the visor steaming up. Oh, and the art of smooth throttle/clutch control was quite allusive at times - a touch of the old PIO.

Crocs in Guildford

A special mention regarding inappropriate footwear worn by Mr.Highviz scooter rider as spotted y our roving patrolman entering the Guildford one-way system yesterday.
Those crocs are great on the beach, are very light and comfy and streets ahead of flip-flops for jumping on and off yachts but on a scooter?

Winds in Greece

A small note for keen sailors of Aegean and Ionian waters:
Northerly wind = TRAMOUNDANA or VORIOS
North easterly wind = GREGOS or VORIOS ANATONIKOS
Easterly wind = LEVANTES os ANATONIKOS
South easterly wind = SIROKOS
Southerly wind = OSTRIA or NOTIOS
South westerly wind = GARBIS or NOTIO DITIKOS
Westerly wind = DITIKOS or POUNENDIS
North westerly wind = MAISTROS or VORIO DITIKOS
Wind at Vassiliki = ERIC

The Long Way Down

to Vassiliki around the mountain and down the loose shingle track.........ooh ahh.
Hardly Charly and Ewan but we all have our personal goals to conquer.

Essential gear - motorbiking (Ionian) Standard issue.

The Little Cat from Lefkas

A perfect beggar covering Miramare restaurant Vassiliki Harbour. No solicitors thank you very much.