When I was 15, I moved from Ireland to London, at that time I was already used to working hard n long hours, so London was a logical step for me, also I had a few older buddies already living there. The year is 1984.
My only address was a 15 bedroom Squat off the Kilburn High Road. The day I arrived, it felt like the beginning of a new chapter in my Life, and it was. It was exciting times for a kid my age, and I loved Adventure. I being me, settled in no time at all. Being the youngest I also had to go through many pranks and hard times but I was well up to it, and knew it was all good n growing up. I was thrown into the deep end, n had to learn to swim fast, that I did, n took everything in my stride. Through friends got into many different jobs n loved earning and being independent.
Few years into me living n working in London, I got to know lots of people, friends of friends that became also friends, and many were tanned and just back from some great n wild foreign Adventure. As I listened to their stories of mad Adventure, I said to myself, I want to look that tanned n weather beaten n have stories just as good to tell, so that was now my plan. So with that in mind n excited, I got a new job, worked hard n saved enough to have my first real foreign holiday to Greece. The work went fast n happy, as I had a plan n couldn’t wait to get going and in the Air.
I left the UK in Spring, perfect for arriving in my chosen island destination, Crete, chosen because its the largest of all the Greek islands. After four + hours the flight landed north of the island in Chania. It was nighttime when we arrived n I remember when the plane door opened a stream of hot air hit us and I was thinking, ahh this is a good start, that and the cakada crickets, it was a different world to cold n wet England just left behind n most welcome. So my first foreign Adventure had begun, would be the first of many.
I decided to wait around the Airport, until first light, to really start out exploring. I didn’t have a hotel booked, only my trusty sleeping bag, n it was enough, for me anyway, I didn’t need luxury on an island that rarely sees rain or cold. Just walking in one direction in the morning Sun, looking for my first beer stop was great and living the Adventure my way. After a few days hiking n exploring n talking to a few people, found out that my best chance of a job would be down South, where lots of veggies are grown in many many greenhouses, and it was good advice.
So one morning I decided to catch a bus down South to Agai Gallini, I got myself a bottle of good local wine for the journey, n was v.glad I did. The last part of the journey was all down mountain, sharp turns n corners n no barriers or anything stopping the bus join the many vehicles below, that had misjudged the treacherous deadly corners n sudden drops, I was glad I had my wine, just in case, but the driver was well experienced n got us all down the mountain safely, n thankfully. I and everyone else were very relieved to be safely on solid ground again.
So I went to a local Taverna for a meal n pint of cold icy beer, n found out my destination village was way over the beaches maybe 5 miles, 12 by road, so I went for the beach route, and it became a route I used many times again, even in different years to come. After a hard hike I arrived in Kokkonos Pyrgos village/town, in English the name means Red Castle, the cliffs were red orange colour n it was always hot, I was home!! I didn’t know then, but this was to be my home for the rest of the year.
I found a beach hut that had been here a long time, but now empty, so I spent a few hours cleaning it up n making it liveable and this would be my home on this first year of my foreign Adventuring. The town wasn’t large, more of a Village, but a good vibe n no hostiles, which when you are on your own, in a foreign country, is very important, when you are picking a new location to call home, even overnight, it must be a peaceful vibe. So it didn’t take me long to walk the length of the town n find the shop, where I got fresh supplies n cold beer. Then I walked along the beach road out to the end about a mile long, n by now the Sun was going down. I found a beach bar at the end, no lights on n door ajar, there was no one inside, or around, the robbers weren’t after wine or the full tall beer fridge, so I couldn’t believe my luck, this was a nice Welcome surprise. So I started taking wine n beers out, down the beach, behind some shrubs, I buried them in a hole I made in the sand, n went back for more, I did this a few times n got it all down, n covered it with sand n my sleeping bag n settled in drinking 4 the night, admiring the full moon rising across the bay, n the waves came in about 30 or so metres n it all felt great to be there and it was certainly turning out to be quite an Adventure already. Moments like this, is what travelling is all about, well for me anyway.
Can’t remember getting off 2 sleep but I do remember the morning, I woke early and noticed two figures in two sleeping bags not far away, one was going for a morning pee, n I said hey do you like beer, he came over n I got us both a beer from my hoard in the sand, we clicked the bottles together n with that sound the other sleeping bag moved n sat up, he said ahh my alarm clock, he spent no time joining us 4 a brekkie beer, n I found out, the first man was French n the second, English. Turns out these two became good friends, n had lived on Crete many years n would teach me all I would need to survive. I was glad to meet them, especially when the owner of the Taverna turned up n started shouting! Luckily they knew some Greek and informed the Bar owner, I was their friend just over from UK n had bought the beers we were enjoying in Timbaki the next nearest town, all in Greek, so lucky I found these two lads, to help me out, and it was a great introduction, n lots of free beers n wines, we became good buddies n even ended up working together later that year. You couldn’t make it up!!
I really enjoyed living in Kokkonos Pyrgos, n got to know lots of good people, including Egyptian fishermen, that had 3 boats, n came from Egypt every year to fish off Crete n Paximada island. I got work many a night fishing with these good men, and any time they didn’t have work for me, I got a free bag of fish, they were great guys, n I became known as the crazy Irishman who lives in the Bamboo hut on the beach, Priceless times, especially Now!
This was the beginning of one very memorable year, and I certainly had plenty of stories as a result. When I eventually made it home, I became one of those well tanned guys with mad stories, I used to look up to!
Kevin Brennan
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