Below are details how we have spent the donated money and my pension! Plus the lovely volunteers who have given their time to helping me keep the trails open. I am very grateful to them. It just wouldn’t be possible to keep going without them.
Pera Karia hamlet could be called the second monastery area of Skopelos; situated among Ag Moni, Ag Georgos, Ag Efstanthias and the Analipsis (Ascension). It consists of six kalivia (two habitable), a prune oven, a winnowing ground and a spring. It nestles in the foothills of Sendoukia and it’s a magical place!
Together with volunteers Baiba from Latvia and Robert from Canada, we have made a start in clearing and reopening the trail that runs through the hamlet, over to the Kriavrissi/Djelili ravine.
After much deliberation, I decided to go for it and offer T shirts and logos for sale. The outlay was much and the return will be slow but it’s fun to see the Skopelos Trails sign emblazoned on the front of a T shirt and the logo hanging proudly on my rucksack and not just on a tree!
So if you want to support us, here’s another way of doing so without taking even one step.
At last night’s award ceremony the Deputy Mayor presented an award to Heather for her work over many years protecting the kalderinas and footpaths on Skopelos and for establishing Skopelos Trails as a sustainable project enhancing the natural environment of the island. In her reply Heather gave thanks to the many volunteers from all over the world who have helped to clear the pathways with their hard work.They include an Evzones guard from Athens, a Japanese train driver and a winner of Masterchef! Thanks were also given to the local householders and hoteliers who help with accomodation for the volunteers. Over 80 people attended and well wishers from around the world sent messages of support. Lisa Manley and Keresia Tamouridou gave an interesting history of Skopelos Trails as well as an interesting ‘day in the life of Heather when hosting’. Heather was presented with an award, certificates and flowers.
At long last Heather will be receiving recognition for her years of hard work on the footpaths of Skopelos.Come along to the Orfea on Sunday evening at 8 oclock to cheer her on! I know many of the work away volunteers as well as local supporters of her work are really pleased for her. (Anne P)
Our last volunteer this spring was Wouter from Belgium. This is what he wrote about his experience working for Skopelos Trails.
The last volunteer leaves today. We started this season on 13 February. Alex and Mitchell cleared away a fallen tree at Kimissia then worked very hard reopening a very old trail at Kyperisi, Pirgos from 14-18 February. It may have only been 225meters long but was utter jungle. On 19th February we moved on to Ag Ianni Skleri forest where 4 fallen trees were removed, then on 20th we worked at Moutero. On 25th and 26th we worked at Kangelia,Raches. Although three volunteers arrived on 9 March, we couldn’t work because of the snow until 15th!!! Together with an independent volunteer, we worked at Prof. Ilias and then Glysteri Monks trail part II until 17th (329m). On 19th we worked at Abuzali for a couple of days and on 24th at Polymistria Kambos to remove a fallen tree. Back to Abuzali on 25th and 26th. The girls left on 29th March. On 4 April we strimmed the Skalas Variola and on 7th/8th April Vromoneri. On 13th we worked on The Loop Vouno Klima until 16th. From 27th-29th April we cleared behind Episcopi . From 10th-13th May, with a new crew we continued the work at Klima and even installed some steps. 18th May Panormos valley towards Moutero and 19th and 22nd Retsina trail strim. That’s all folks! See you in September.
December drew to a close the eighth year of hosting volunteers via www.workaway.net.
Anne, a very fit 70 year old from America and Simon from South Africa were the last volunteers of 2021. During their month’s stay, we reopened a closed trail between Sotiros monastery and the lower mast road, carried out maintenance on part of The Retsina Trail in Pirgos and and made a start on reopening a long disused trail between Pirgos and Kyperissi spring.
Luckily there were no volunteers booked in for January. Luckily because the weather was so bad we wouldn’t have been able to work anyway. Just as the weather became drier (although sadly not warmer) two new volunteers arrived; Alexandra from France and Mitchell from Australia. Our first day straight in at the deep end was cutting a fallen tree from the Kimissia trail (see pic). It went surprising well, first cutting off the branches and then rolling the trunk away. Job done.
The following day we drove out to Kyperissi which is a little known area of Skopelos, nestling in a small valley in Pirgos. It has several houses and it’s own spring. It’s there that we have been working the last four days, reopening a disused ‘scalapaty’ (ladder path). Thankfully there aren’t too many of these scalapaties on the island; they’re extremely steep.
Continuing the work of December volunteers Anne and Simon, work out at Kyperisi has not been so straightforward as this trail has been abandoned for a very long time. No wonder. It is a straight slog up from the spring to the Pirgos hill. Still, it’s finished now, all 225m of it.
For the non Greek speakers amongst you, here’s your chance to hone your Google translate skills…
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