Trail portion Ag Reginos Pirgos is now open.

Today was spent clearing the forest trail of fallen trees from Ag Ianni Skleri towards Moutero. It is now clear and open for use.

Walk 18 to Elios. The portion of trail from Pirgos up to the tiny church of Ag Reginos, page 63 picture 69 of Skopelos Trails, is now open. It’s about 1km long and took the two of us 5 days to clear. About 3/4s in, the path disappears. I believe there must have been a landslide. So we had to create a new track; but you’ll have to make your way up a rather step incline to join the main road and the church. HOWEVER, upon inspection of the track FROM the church down towards Elios, there are many fallen trees, so we have to make a start there now. Our work is never done! Thank goodness for the chain saw. This type of clearing would not have been possible without it. Thank you so very much again, to all the people who donated. The balance of the money is being spent on fuel and oil for the saw.

Together with Henni from Germany, the first volunteer of the season, we have made a start on clearing a beautiful stretch of calderimi that runs in the forest at Pirgos towards Ag Reginos. The stones are in very good condition but the trail is very overgrown. Tools were purchased from the donation money collected via the crowd funder; a chain saw, long handled loppers and sheers. Thank you very much to all the backers and thanks also to Nikos Orfanos for providing gloves and fuel free of charge.

With only 3 days to go, the Crowd Funder project target of £700 has been reached! Thanks a million to all those who donated. If you haven’t, it’s not too late. Just follow:
www.crowdfunder.co.uk/trail-clearing-project

I have also FINALLY finished my mad quest to reopen the old calderimi to Taxiarchion on Palouki. This is the section from the big goat station, which branches off the newly opened track up to the top of Palouki at the white cross, all the way past Triada (branch off there is also open now) and ends at the start of the new calderimi going down to Agios Anna and Taxiarchion. It’s taken about 5 years in fits and starts! I couldn’t bear to leave it there all closed up, as most of the way it is really clearly defined. The last section nearly defeated me, as that was not at all clear – but by working from both ends with several false starts I suddenly found the route running straight and its now clear!! Marked it with your signs! I hope a few people use it.

BRAVO JOHN!!!

The volunteers for 2016 have been arranged via Workaway but we need more waymarker, clippers, saws, shears, gloves and I’d really like to buy our own cordless chainsaw. Please help us keep the trails open.

I’m happy to report that the first Workaway volunteers have been booked for next Spring. They are Matthew, Michael and Anthony from New York and they’ll be arriving 22 May and will stay until 31 May. It will be good to have some actual ‘man power’ as until now, with the exception of my very first volunteer three years ago, I’ve only had girl power! We’ve managed but sometimes, only just (we had to move a lot of fallen trees recently). I’m assuming I’ll still get help from the Hotels Union as three strapping lads won’t fit in my little house!

Here’s the recipe for my popular energy bar. It’s perfect for a packed lunch snack.

Mash 4 bananas in a large bowl. Add 3 tablespoons honey, 4 tbsp crunchy peanut butter, 200g mix of any of the following: raisins, dried fruit; cranberry/apricot, nuts, dates. 300g oats. 3 tbsp olive oil. Mix well. Put in greased swiss roll tin and press down. Oven 200c for 15 minutes. Cut to size.

Enjoy!