Sikati Cave

On our last visit, the guidebook had a picture of a huge cave on the Northeast side of the island, with some text suggesting that it might become the next major area on the island. This was in 2005 and there was actually route development already starting in the cave (called Sikati cave). Videos have been circulating ever since, and Chloe and I had basically been waiting for six years to check it out. A friend of ours had recently been to Kalymnos and had done the somewhat crappy hike out there and told us that it was stunning, and that there was a wonderful and empty beach just below, with perfect sand (a bit of a rarity on Kalymnos). It would be perfect: the kids could play on the beach and Chloe, and I could finally visit the cave to climb. We knew the kids couldn't do the hike, so we asked around at several places, bargained a bit and eventually reserved a boat + lunch for 250E. Not too bad split among all of us, and it would be an adventure! So we showed up this morning at 9:00 at Myrties, met Ionnis at his boat (the Carpe Diem), got all the stuff on board




and we were off!

As we rounded Telendos, Ionnis started up his bitchin sound system and Lionel Richie came wafting over the sounds of the motor and bow spray. Normally I would laugh if someone started playing Lionel, but here in the Aegean on a motorboat bound for a remote beach in perfect weather, it just felt … right. Hard to explain, really.



Soon after, I saw a delicate, tiny bird skimming the waves. It had wispy little wings, almost like … a FISH! I saw a flying fish! So, so cool. Nobody else saw it, unfortunately. Zoe unfortunately got a bit sea sick, but eventually was ok. After rounding the point the beach and cave eventually came into view


After shuttling everything to the beach, installing parasols etc, Chloe, Christine, James and I went up to the cave. James decided he did not want to go down the fixed ropes, so it was soon just the three of us in the cave. We warmed up on a 6 to the left

And then did one more climb to the right: Mort aux Chevres which I did a vue (yes!). It is a spectacular line up huge tufas. Stupendous. The cave was turning out to have been worth the wait. Chloe was climbing strong. This could be her first 5.12… her first of the grade and no better place in the world to do that.




But after only two climbs, we headed back to the beach


Now, we figured most people would consider it pretty cool to be in a deserted Greek beach like this





But there are always people waiting to crap on your parade. Too hot, kids being too kid like etc. So we could only do one more route. It was devastating: Chloe and I were in great shape… the climbing was probably the best place either of us had ever been in our lives (and we have been to a lot of places), but we had to cut it short. Zoe had been bitten by something but was calming down by the time we left. We walked up to the cave again

and got on bar none the best route I have ever been on





Huge tufas, wildly overhanging: the route was Morgan and I almost had the on sight but part of a hold broke. Of course, no time to work the route because of consequences down below, but at least Chloe got on it and was similarly amazed. We quickly got the gear together and got down to the beach were there was even more pleasantness waiting. Nice. So we packed up the Carpe Diem (irony!) and headed back to Myrties