It’s been a very busy and successful year. We’ve had 20 volunteers from 8 difference countries: Australia 1, Canada 1, France 1, India 1, Italy 3, New Zealand 2, Sweden 1, UK 4, USA 6.  We also had help from 3 UK and 4 German ex pats, 1 South African and two regular tourist visitors.

We have cleared and reopened all of the Skopelos to Panormos trail which was blocked throughout with fallen trees, the small portion of calderimi at Profitis Ilias, portion of trail below Sotiris monastery, part of the trail from Mili hamlet up towards Ag Marina, portion 2 and 3 of The Monk’s Trail, Glysteri, the trail to Petrovrissi, the Petrovrissi spring itself and a spring on the Old Stafilos Road, part of the Retsina Trail at Anania and Pirgos, the calderimi above Palio Clima toward Ag Iannis and the calderimi between Machala and Palio Clima.

Thanks must also be given to hotels Dionysos, Regas House and Pension Sotos plus Glossa Houses for donating accommodation, all the people in Glossa and Skopelos town who provided meals and last but not least, to Nick Orfanos for sharpening the chainsaw blade etc. We also received a donation which enabled us to buy two new pairs of loppers to replace the two pairs of Gardina ones that snapped.

We will be back again 1 March 2018. Have a good winter!

I was recently invited to a wonderful, gastronomic evening, together with volunteers Hamish, Flaminia and Emilie,(Sophia from Del Sol was also there). This was a personal ‘thank you’ from Sofia for the work that Skopelos Trails does. Thank YOU Sofia.

http://www.skopelos39steps.com/sofias-blog/4557804331

Together with Emilie and myself, these volunteers worked so hard on The Monk’s Trail and I thank them so very much. As if the wasps weren’t enough, we had to contend with invisible, biting insects, smilax vine and household rubbish. The exit/entrance to the trail was totally overgrown and it took us a few hours of chopping and garbage removal to find it. This was particularly unpleasant as there was the constant pong of rubbish in the air. But they never complained and just got stuck in. Once the trail had been found, it was full steam ahead. We are so close to meeting up with cleared trail approached from the Glysteri valley but encountered a mass of fallen trees in a gully that blocked our way. Such a pity they won’t be around personally to see the final chop that will join the trails together. Bon voyage/kalo taxithi guys.

Thanks also to Regas House hotel for donating their accommodation.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B3gnVLzsuZGbYWFpa3JGc0xZM1k?usp=sharing

http://webtv.ert.gr/ert3/epikoinonia/10okt2017-epikinonia/

We’ve been working hard on the Machala trail. It’s very beautiful and much wider that I though. Yesterday many people came to see us! Tasoula brought us frappe, juice and snacks, Tom came and helped (he chopped brambles back and found a wall), then Harald and Martina passed by and finally Lisa came and helped. We feel very supported. The evening meal system is working well too. Thank you so much.

A beautiful stretch of calderimi running between Machala and Palio Clima has been selected for clearing. Arriving on Monday 2 October will be Kate and Abbi from the States and Emma from the UK. We will all be staying as guests of Roger and Jo of Glossa Houses, without whom this clear would not be possible. Thank you so much for the opportunity.

All are welcome to give us a hand, if you live or are staying in the Glossa area. Gloves and equipment provided. We are also looking for donated dinners (take-away or in your home) for the volunteers between 3-7 October.

Please contact Heather on 6945249328 if you are able to help.

This trail has had essential maintenance carried out and is now reopened. Thanks so much to volunteers Cristian and Fabio. We still couldn’t find out why there is no longer any water flowing at the spring, in spite of our best endeavors.