Log: September 15th to October 2nd

Today, September 15, at 6 am Gemini left for Venice and Soleil and Boundless
headed for Santa Maria di Luca and around the heel of Italy.  We actually
had all three sails out and the motor works!!!!  When we got to Santa Maria
di Luca, Rudy and I climbed Mussolini's steps, which were a real work out!!!
To reward ourselves we had an Italian ice!!

The next day we arrived in Ciro Marina where the oldest wines in most of
Europe are produced.  That morning before we got started at 6 am, I started
to get symptoms of the Italian Flu.  However, because the seas were so
rough, I wasn't sure.  We had winds from 28-30 knots and waves 6-10 feet
crashing over our dodger.  We pulled alongside in the Ciro Marina harbor and
waited for our guests Bob Freda and his brother-in-law Nicola Pascolo to
arrive.  Bob Freda is the father of one of Jaclyn's best girlfriends from
Princeton.  Bob always wanted to sail in these waters and since he and his
wife were here on business and pleasure (visiting Lilly's family) this was
his chance!!!

The next day my symptoms stayed the same and I thought I would try to ignore
them!!  Just before our guests arrived, a young man came along and asked us
for money to stay in the harbor.  Since Bill and Rudy talked to the
harbormaster and there was no mention of money, we weren't going to hand
over money to a stranger.  We told him to come back when we had our guests
on board.  Well, as soon as Bob and Nick came on board, the fellow showed up
again and did he get a blasting from our Italian friends!!! I could tell by
his body language that he wanted to RUN!!!   Nick who lives in Naples was so
angry that he and Bob went to the police and reported the incident to them.
The police were very glad they did and sent a patrol car around immediately.
After that excitement we all went to dinner.  Since the restaurant was
filled with about 50 children aged from 8-10 we tried to find another
restaurant.. There weren't any!!!  We asked if we could take some tables and
eat outside.  After some discussion, tables were moved and the six of us
were eating in the parking lot.  Two other people came to eat and asked to
be seated in the parking lot too!!!  We had started a new trend for this
restaurant!!

On September 18th, we left Ciro Marina and headed for Le Castella with a
stop in Crotone (where we passed Pythagora's column) to get fuel. We had
crossed the instep of Italy.  Nick went right to the task of fishing on our
boat along with Jean on her boat.  Jean caught two fish and Nick caught one,
but it was bigger!!!  Nick cooked a delicious tuna pasta dish with all the
fish and there wasn't a morsel left!!! (My mouth wanted to eat, but my
stomach couldn't do it!!)  That same night Bob went with Rudy and I to see
the doctor to find out if my symptoms were serious.  I thought it was the
flu and I was correct.  The doctor did not charge us anything and at least I
felt more peace of mind.  The next day Bob and Nick left our boat to take a
bus back to their car in Ciro Marina and then back to their home.  We really
enjoyed their company and information concerning Italy.  A special thanks to
Nick and Bob for all the translating they did for us!!

On September 24th, after Truant II with John and Pru, Magic Carpet with
Chris and Karen, Soleil and Boundless went to visit the castle.  That night
there was a horrendous electric storm with hailstones the size of a golf
ball. It sounded like the inside of twenty drums all playing at once!!!
Only our wind gauge was damaged and we had enough ice cubes for the next six
months!!!

Just a little note about this little town; it goes back to Hannibal's time
and the Second Punic War (208-202 B.C.)  The castle that sits on it own
island has been reshaped and remodeled by the Turks, Spanish, Greeks,
Italians, and just recently it has been discovered that the castle's
foundation appears to be part of the Hellenic era.


We stayed in Le Castella until September 27th because I was down with the
flu and then the weather got bad. We finally traveled to Rocella Jonica with
Soleil Sans Fin, Magic Carpet , Truant II and Water Music with Dave and
Deborah.  The entrance is a little strange.  There is a silted sand bar in
the entrance and with no sun it is very hard to see and of course we had no
sun. Bill had explained had to get in to the marina and two Italian
fishermen told us to follow them as we were approaching the entrance.  This
is a free marina!  According to the locals, it is free because the only
bidder was the Mafia and the Italian government would rather it be a free
marina than under their rule!!  It is fine with us!!!  We took our bikes and
explored the town and ate at the restaurant at the marina..pizza by the
meter!!!


We finally left Rocella Jonica on October 2nd for Messina where my paternal
grandfather was born and came from to America.  We were planning to stay a
week or two, but with all the delays we are thinking to shorten our stay to
two or three days.

Next log will be from Messina, Sicily and ports on the mainland as we travel
to Gaeta our winter home!!