We were shocked out of our somnolence at 3am by the most spectacular storm, the air had been heavy and headachy all day with high humidity and general grumpiness, we were hot and restless when we went to bed and the first clap of thunder was the loudest sound I have ever heard, it shook the house, I thought it was another earthquake.
The night was black and very heavy and sheet lightning was lighting up the sky to day brightness. This went on for hours, R went to stand outside and watch but eventually he came back to bed and we managed to get a bit of sleep. We love thunderstorms and watching one over the sea is amazing so when we woke up we gathered up Sunny, who had slept through the whole thing and got into Vanley. It started to rain enormous raindrops, they appeared as a torrent pouring from the sky like a waterfall, the wipers couldn’t keep up, what with the pot holes, general lack of road and zero visibility, it was lucky we were the only ones stupid enough to be out in it.
We zig zagged across the island following the storm, although it was early morning it was half light, almost dusk the clouds were heavy, fat and a strange yellow grey. It was like a firework display, we felt safe and comfortable in the van driving up into the mountains, at one point the sky cleared and the clouds were funnelled between two peaks like steam from a kettle, we were above as this happened and I hopped out of the van to take a photo, while I was out a flash of lightning made me jump and I nearly fell over the cliff running through the puddles and ducking just in case, this was when I remembered that the roof was made of plastic and if we got struck it would go straight through, not so feisty now.
At about 2 in the afternoon the rain stopped and we were at one of our favourite beaches, the sun had come out and the sea was perfect for surfing, I had left my body board at home so was suitably peeved. I took Sunny across the top of the beach and found the remains of the taverna where R and I had spent every day of our holiday 32 years ago, the rain had washed the sand off.
Within an hour of the rain stopping the whole island was bone dry as though it had never happened.