MILOS 2020

— FROM SEPTEMBER 13 TO 21 —

9 DAYS . 4 PADDLERS . EXPERIENCE #4

Following a Covid-infested Spring, what better way to welcome the incoming Winter than by embarking on a week-long stroll in the Aegean? In mid-September, the summer meltem winds traditionally calm down and the Milos island seemed the ideal travel destination for our French-Greek team.

A Plan-B was also envisaged (or, rather, a Plan-Z, Z for Zante in the Ionian Sea), should Milos become impractical, for various reasons.

Team

Last November, at the NSKS symposium on the island of Naxos, Fanis met and befriended a group of French participants. He had proposed to Pierre to try some paddling in Greece sometime in the future and the response was positive. All that was now needed, was a place, a date and a small team.

Milos was rapidly chosen, because of its unique geography, its small size, its proximity to the Kimolos and Polyegos islets and its thriving seal population. Furthermore, Fanis had already paddled around Milos and had identified all its magical spots. Yves T. had paddled in the Aegean waters before, with Aegean Paddlers, and was instantly interested in participating. Soon after, Thierry joined our little team.
Having arranged the flight details, the transfer to Piraeus port, the kayaking equipment and food supplies, all that was now needed was a window of opportunity regarding the Covid-19 restrictions. Eric P. was our fifth member and in charge of setting up the relevant website.

Having aboard a local paddler, a keen bird-and-whale watcher, an avid photographer and an old kayaking hand, seemed to be the ideal combination for this 7-day expedition.

Fanis I

Ancien kayakiste des eaux vives, récemment converti au kayak de mer, et toujours friand de découvrir les plaisirs de la nature en milieu marin ou montagne.
Je navigue un Valley Nordkapp avec une pagaie Korryvreckan.

Yves T

Kayakiste de mer basé à Marseille pratiquant depuis 2002.
J’aime le mix Sport / Nature / Technicité / Solidarité de cette activité et les horizons insoupçonnés qu’elle dévoile à ses adeptes.
Très content de pouvoir participer à cette petite Odyssée en espérant que les Dieux Grecs sauront être cléments et même charmeurs.

Thierry J

Thierry du Brusc… Petit dernier de la bande ! Après quelques années d’interruption il se remet tranquillement à une pratique plus régulière et aventurier dans l’âme il aspire à vivre de belles virées avec l’équipe. La randonnée kayak/bivouac sur plusieurs jours sera une première pour lui.

Pierre O

Retour pour Pierre vers ses grands amours, avec infidélité égéenne de plus aux Iles ioniennes, pour l’ile de Venus où il faudra tout de même deux bras, pour cette expérience #4, 5ans après la #1, Un bol d’air du large et de racine, qui fera du bien loin des masques.

SOCIAL NETWORKS

Inui.kayakingbynature is the Facebook place to visit in order to follow this, their fourth journey and the third in Greece, but their first outing in the Aegean.

Of course, kayak de mer en mediterranee would also promote this venture, helping the ‘’Grande Bleue’’ kayakers keep in touch with each other.

Monachus-Monachus Seal

We really hoped to meet the famous Monachus-Monachus Seal, as we had had this pleasure in our two previous journeys in the Ionian Sea and at Naxos, in the Aegean.

Milos is a highly symbolic place, as J-M and C. Daste, the founders of the Mariolos Moines Monachus Assn, with the help of locals Yannis H. of the Milos Diving Center, had long stayed there, in order to observe, study and protect this mammal.

Canoë Kayak Magazine

Déjà en 2018 et 2019, cette optique méditerranéenne avait permis à Pierre de naviguer avec l’athénien George K d’Aegean Paddlers dans le Dodécanèse en compagnie du saxon Daniel U puis avec Yves T dans les petites cyclades.

Canoë kayak Magazine nous avait fait l’honneur de publier notre expérience #3 dans le N° 248 “La Sardaigne Hors saison” par P. Olivier & E. Poncet (avant d’en accepter un deuxième – hors inui experience – de P. Olivier avec D. Uhlig “Autour d’un volcan Égéen” N°250).