CHRISTMAS

I'd just like to wish all the Skopelos walking fans and those of you who plan to visit in 2009 a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Heather

Parasol, Ink-Cap, Smooth Chanterelle, Red Cage

Hi ya-all!

Went for a l o n g walk today and tried to find the Palouki path from the goat shed (near Ag Barbara). Not possible. That's going to have to come out of the next edition. However, a new route has been marked (with my yellow footprint signs). Taking the road up from Sotiros, on the bend where the asphalt stops and a dirt road goes off sharp right, take the marked track entrance. (Thank you very much Jane and John).

I then drove over to Djilili and walked along the valley to Glysteri beach. That route is already getting overgrown again and will have to be given a haircut before next April for sure. Took these images of fungi enroute.

WISH YOU WERE HERE

Autumn colours

HERE COMES THE SUN....

After days and days of much needed rain, today... gentle sun. Went for a short walk to Prof. Ilias, passing Ag. Constantinos church. Wish you were all here to enjoy it too.

NEXT HIKE

The next hike will take place on Sunday 21 September. Contact me for further details.

EVENING HIKE

An Evening Hike of three hours duration will start from the National Bank, Paralia on Tuesday 16th September, 5pm. E15.

See you there!

one of my little friends!

PANORMOS HIKE

Hi Hikers
I'll be guiding a hike to Panormos beach this Sunday, 7th September, starting from the Internet Cafe (Post Office street) at 9.30am. We should arrive at Panormos around 1.35 where we can have a swim and lunch. Return to Skopelos by municiple bus. Cost E20.
See you!

SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER

Hi there walkers! Just to say I'll be back on the island at the beginning of September and ready for business, assuming the bulldozer hasn't been too busy this summer. Glad to say that whilst walking in the UK, I've found a great site that's given me inspiration regarding the sign boards I want to errect.

See you in September!

WALK 22 GLOSSA VOUNO

This route has totally gone back to nature. Together with 4 volunteers, I have just spent many hours in the heat, trying to clear a way through from the bottom of the Vouno hill on the Old Clima side, through to image 87, but it's going to take many man-hours to do this. There is however a dirt road that goes around the hill but it is very steep in places and a much longer route. I'll let you know when I manage to get the track open.

DJILILI SPRING TO GLYSTERI - WALK 6

For the last three days, workers paid by SCAN, have been doing their best to clear the track from Djilili spring, down the valley to Glysteri. Whilst it could be better, I can say that it is now passable. Being so lush, it was like a jungle and included fallen trees and a dead sheep! If the path access is still blocked by an illegal fence just down from image 30, continue on the asphalt road for about ten minutes and look for a yellow marker on a tree. This track leads down to the old stone building, image 24. Just further along the lane is the spring. About 5 minutes along the valley floor is a good area for orchids and at the time of writing, Heldreichii subspecies are out. At a point about 5 minutes into the track from the spring side, branches have been put across the path. I have been told this is to keep sheep from roaming, so please don't dismantle it. If this is truely the case, a stile will be erected at some point. ENJOY!

BEAUTY

Heart-Flowered Serapias Orchid

NO COMMENT

WHAT CAN ONE SAY?

Take a good look at this image. It no longer exists. Instead we have.......

Orchids

Now is the time to be here to admire the orchids; they are enjoying a good season.
I still haven't managed to do the sign boards for the Panormos trail but maybe I will manage to gps the route at least. Where does the time go?

A new artificial lake is being created at Loutsa (on the right hand side going towards Panormos) which friends have said has destroyed one of my trails. I haven't been there as I find such things too emotional! So it could be that part of Walk 32 is not as per the book.

April News

The final part of the Panormos Trail has now been cleared! This means that one can walk from Skopelos to Panormos on an open trail. One will have to use the road however, now and again, as development destroys portions of the old path system. Also, the new, yellow, footprint signs have been put into place on this trail. All that needs to be done now is to GPS the trail and erect sign boards at either end.

I had hoped to get more trails cleared before the start of the walking season but I just haven't had any volunteers to help me achieve this. The one in particular I wanted to clear was Djilili to Glysteri. Sorry folks, this one is still impassable. And, the illegal fence is still there. Feel free to cut it!

Here are some images of the wild flowers now out. Hope you enjoy them!

THE NEW WEYMARKS

Hi. The weymark signs have arrived and this is what they look like. All we have to do is put them up now. Anyone with a cordless drill, please form a line here! The clock is ticking. Will we be able to get everything done before the start of the season?

SNOWED IN

Hi. For the last two Sundays the weather has been so bad, we have been unable to get out and about. Last night, a snow blizzard started up and is still in progress. We also had a power cut from 10pm last night until 10am this morning. Yesterday, the supermarket shelves were half empty as no boats have been able to deliver for several days. Oh the joys of living on a Greek island.

NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS

Thought I'd better let you know that no path clearing was carried out during January. The lawyer has sent a letter to the guy who errected an elligal fence across one of the routes but so far, no response. The yellow, arrow markers have not yet arrived. So, I've been gardening up at the cottage every Sunday instead! There are many paths to clear and the plan is to get them done before the walking season begins. Watch this space!