Corinthian Gulf

The Gulf of Corinth (Greek: Κορινθιακός Kόλπος) is a deep inlet of the Ionian Sea separating Peloponnese from the western mainland of Greece. It is bounded in the east by the Isthmus of Corinth and in the west by the Strait of Rio.  The length of the Gulf is 81 miles and its width varies from 5 to 20 miles, while its maximum depth is 3,068 feet (935 m). 

We departed from Patras with a guest captain at the helm.  Although the clouds were ominous and the wind was picking up, George, my brother’s 12-year-old son was unperturbed and his hand at the tiller was steady. 

We first crossed under the impressive Rio-Antirio Bridge, which since 2004 joins Peloponnese with the west coast of Greece. 

We reached Corinth’s canal that joins the Gulf of Corinth and the Ionian Sea with the Saronic Gulf and the Aegean Sea at dawn.  The first attempt to build a canal in the 1^st century AD was aborted as it was too challenging for that era.  Almost two millennia later construction got under way in 1881 and was completed in 1893.  The canal is a mile long and is 21 meters wide. 

It was early morning when we reached the east end of the canal and while our skipper went to pay the fee of $ 200 Kostas when ashore and befriended several stray dogs.

Well dear friends, today is June 3^rd the one-year anniversary when four brave or foolish men, depending on your point of view, replete with optimism and enthusiasm embarked for a trip of a life time.  Our epic passage created memories I have described on the posts beginning in August 2015.  Although most of the journey has been described there are more to come as I intertwine our impressions, memories and adventures with those of the legendary Greek hero, the most complete of all men, Odysseus.