In the morning my father and I walk over the beach again before it’s open and have a quick swim and then head back to wake up the rest as we are leaving early. It’s a long sail back past the Seven Capes and the weather forecast is a bit iffy. When Randy is up we talk about the mutiny and about Fethiye versus Coldwater Bay. He really want to see Fethiye and the Lycian Tombs so we prepare to sail to Fethiye. We all leave in opposite order from which we arrived to avoid crossed anchor chains and we got off smoothly. We set oue main with one reef in as it looks windy outside. We get out and around the corner and the wind is steadily dropping so we soon shake out the reef and have a rousing sail along the Seven Capes.
We are beating up wind in about 18 knots of wind in a fairly choppy sea. I am lying in my under the stern of the boat. We have the jib shortened but are still heeling over pretty far. I have a small window and I am seeing mountains and sky alternating with dark blue water as my port occasionally goes below the surface when we get a strong puff of wind. My bunk is almost as wide as a full sized bed but the ceiling is too low to sit straight up with out hitting my head.
I am lying against the curve of the hull and I can feel the water rushing past and hear the creaking of the steering gear and I smell a little diesel fuel so I have my other little port that leads into the cockpit open and I can hear the rest of the crew in the cockpit above talking and walking around. It takes a little bit of getting used to before you are comfortable lying below the surface of the water in a fairly small space. I enjoy feeling the motion of the ocean! We have now rounded point and are not heading so much up wind so the boat is closer to level now so we must be on a broad reach instead of close hauled. That means we are sailing into the bay and closing in on the town of Fethiye.
There are Lycian tombs carved into the mountain above town that we are interested in seeing. There is also a tour to learn about carpet weaving. My father and I went on such a tour last time. It is very interesting to see the women hand weaving the carpets of big looms. But I am sure there will be a hard sell at the end. There was last time. They weave incredible beautiful carpets. I think Martha is interested in seeing the weavers.
I am looking forward to a swim. Sailing with the boat is heeling over a steep angle is hard work as you are always holding on with one hand and your body is working against the angle. Moving around the boat is hard is everything is at an angle. We were heeling over enough that all the clean clothes and bedding of Estill and Winfree have fallen on the floor in the main cabin.
We finally get up and turn the corner and onto an easier point of sail as we head into the Fethiye harbor. The wind is still blowing hard and when we call the lead about about docking Will says to pick him up on the way in as he wants to help us dock into this wind. We pick up and then execute a perfect landing on the dock! Nice!
We get the lines stowed and cockpit straightened out and then all head ashore for hot showers. We are docked at a pretty fancy resort. It has showers and a fancy hammam. I get all scrubbed and head back to the boat. I make dinner for my father and I out of all the leftovers. Bread, lentils and sauce. After dinner he and I head to our cabins to read. It has been another exciting sail and we are tired. Good night!
Friday, August 5, 2011
Kas to Kalkan
I was awake right at dawn and got up and walked onto the shore to use the land bathroom and looked at all the boats. When I got back my father was up.
We started breakfast and everyone else got up and we had cereal and cherry juice. Then Martha and Randy went with Nellie and some others into town for a Hamam ( Turkish bath) I read my book and wrote in my log and as it heated up I went ashore and took another cold shower. In the afternoon we weighted anchor and headed back to Kalkan. It was windy enough for a nice sail. I steered for a while and then Randy took the helm and I headed below for a read and a nap in my bunk. It was a nice sail and soon Winfree comes down below to tell me that I am needed on deck as we are about to enter the harbor. It’s hot again so we must be in Kalkan. Randy says he is buying cold drinks at the “beach”. We drop and anchor and back to the dock but when I pull in the slack it doesn’t hold so we go forward again and drop it and this time it grabs nicely. We grab our suits and head for the beach. My father and I swim and then Randy and crew show up and they sit on the lounge chairs and the guys comes and asks for 6 lira each.
Randy pays and we ask Nellie why the charge as it was free last time. She explains it’s extra for the lounge chairs. Oh! Father doesn’t want to stay so he heads back to the boat. I soon go back and he and I walk to the store for supplies. When I get back I start making supper and Randy and his family have gone for a walk. Nellie comes by to say there is a captains meeting in a few minutes and where is Randy? We don’t know but I have dinner in the oven so I go over in his stead. I am offered a gin and tonic by Neil which I accept. All the Brits have been drinking and are having a rousing time. We have the captains meeting and then I walk back to Silver Lightning and serve dinner to my father and I. Eventually the rest all get themselves off for dinner. After we have finished our pasta with lamb meatballs and cucumber salad I head back to the café with internet and get a cold beer and load some pics on the web and then Connie is on so we talk on Skype for a while.
I see Will, Nellie and Josh stop for a drink in the next café so I cash out and go next door to join them. I buy a round of Raki which is a Turkish favorite. It’s a harsher version of ouzo. I enjoyed it on my last trip and wanted to have another on this one. It’s is just as I remember and we are talking and all of a sudden some of the other crews show up and present Will with a notice of mutiny. They don’t want to go to Fethiye but back to Cold Water Bay which is just around the corner. It is presented with lots of laughter and more drinks. My father and I were talking earlier with Sarah about maybe skipping Fethiye but we haven’t talked to Randy and company yet. I have a beer with Sarah and then bid all a goodnight and head back down to the harbor. The temperature has finally cooled and I roll into my bunk with the fan on full and soon am fast asleep.
We started breakfast and everyone else got up and we had cereal and cherry juice. Then Martha and Randy went with Nellie and some others into town for a Hamam ( Turkish bath) I read my book and wrote in my log and as it heated up I went ashore and took another cold shower. In the afternoon we weighted anchor and headed back to Kalkan. It was windy enough for a nice sail. I steered for a while and then Randy took the helm and I headed below for a read and a nap in my bunk. It was a nice sail and soon Winfree comes down below to tell me that I am needed on deck as we are about to enter the harbor. It’s hot again so we must be in Kalkan. Randy says he is buying cold drinks at the “beach”. We drop and anchor and back to the dock but when I pull in the slack it doesn’t hold so we go forward again and drop it and this time it grabs nicely. We grab our suits and head for the beach. My father and I swim and then Randy and crew show up and they sit on the lounge chairs and the guys comes and asks for 6 lira each.
Randy pays and we ask Nellie why the charge as it was free last time. She explains it’s extra for the lounge chairs. Oh! Father doesn’t want to stay so he heads back to the boat. I soon go back and he and I walk to the store for supplies. When I get back I start making supper and Randy and his family have gone for a walk. Nellie comes by to say there is a captains meeting in a few minutes and where is Randy? We don’t know but I have dinner in the oven so I go over in his stead. I am offered a gin and tonic by Neil which I accept. All the Brits have been drinking and are having a rousing time. We have the captains meeting and then I walk back to Silver Lightning and serve dinner to my father and I. Eventually the rest all get themselves off for dinner. After we have finished our pasta with lamb meatballs and cucumber salad I head back to the café with internet and get a cold beer and load some pics on the web and then Connie is on so we talk on Skype for a while.
I see Will, Nellie and Josh stop for a drink in the next café so I cash out and go next door to join them. I buy a round of Raki which is a Turkish favorite. It’s a harsher version of ouzo. I enjoyed it on my last trip and wanted to have another on this one. It’s is just as I remember and we are talking and all of a sudden some of the other crews show up and present Will with a notice of mutiny. They don’t want to go to Fethiye but back to Cold Water Bay which is just around the corner. It is presented with lots of laughter and more drinks. My father and I were talking earlier with Sarah about maybe skipping Fethiye but we haven’t talked to Randy and company yet. I have a beer with Sarah and then bid all a goodnight and head back down to the harbor. The temperature has finally cooled and I roll into my bunk with the fan on full and soon am fast asleep.
Polemos Boku to Kas
After a nice early swim and breakfast my father and I paddled our poorly inflated dinghy over to the Innes boat and borrowed their pump and was able to get our dingy correctly inflated. It really paddles much better at the proper air pressure. We agreed to meet on shore in an hour for our walk. So we paddled back and got everyone started on getting ready for a hike. When all our great we packed we eased all six of us into the dinghy. (Now just possible with the extra inflation)
And Randy and I paddled us to shore. The restaurant owner’s son came out to greet us and helped us tie off our craft. The other group landed right behind us and the restaurant owner showed us the trail head. We headed out and the sun was getting but there was a nice breeze and when we stopped in the shade it was not bad. We walked across a flat plain and into the compound of a small pensyion where owner was sitting in the shade with his tiny daughter. We greeted them and headed out the other side. I notice that the trail markers her the same as in Beycik. So we are probably on another section of the Lycian Way. We walked until we could see ruins up ahead and the trail started up hill.
My father, Sarah and Winfree wanted to look for the sunken city so they headed down to the shore and the rest headed up into the ruins. I found a place to get up onto the ruin wall and was able to get a great view out into the next bay. The other joined me and then we all headed back by different paths but eventually finding the swimmers and joining them for a cooling swim. There was not much to see of the sunken city so half the group headed back across. My father and I arrive first and were greeted by the restaurant owner with a bucket of cold fresh water from his well which he proceeded to pour over our feet and heads. Man! Did that feel awesome!
We sat in the shade of the café and had a cold drink. The Innes family ordered dinner but we carefully piled back into the dinghy and paddled back to Silver Lightning and had more leftovers for lunch. Then we set sail for Kas. It was blowing nicely so we had a nice sail most of the way but then had to motor into the wind into a huge new marina which was on the other side of the hill from Kas. It had fancy showers which was very welcome as my father and I were salty from a week of salty bathing in the ocean and Randy plugged us in and I filled the water tanks. I ogt my computer plugged in and charging again.
But it was a long walk to the grocery so my father and I decided to join the others for dinner. We gathered for the half hour walk to see another ancient theater and then to the restaurant. Kas was hopping as there was a big Turkish Greek Festival going on with a stage we could see from the restaurant which was called Smiley’s. There was live music and dancing. My father and I sat with a group we had really spoken to and I enjoyed Neil and his wife and Alan and his wife. They were lots of fun. I ordered a shrimp casserole that was excellent and I saved the three fresh bay leaves that were in it as garnish and took the with me for later use. My father got a kick out of that. We decided that I had taken the Loyd’s to a new low of taking food home form dinner out! We were shown an old cistern which was under the restaurant. It was nice and cool down there but the roof was sagging way down in a couple of places. There were some beautiful old pots on a shelf in the corner.
After dinner my father and I headed out and the restaurant owner offered to have someone drive us home which was really nice. We ran into the shop next door for milk, bread and cherry juice and then were chauffeured back to the Marina. We put the milk away and headed for bed. We were both very tired after all the walking and sailing! I long but good day. Night!
And Randy and I paddled us to shore. The restaurant owner’s son came out to greet us and helped us tie off our craft. The other group landed right behind us and the restaurant owner showed us the trail head. We headed out and the sun was getting but there was a nice breeze and when we stopped in the shade it was not bad. We walked across a flat plain and into the compound of a small pensyion where owner was sitting in the shade with his tiny daughter. We greeted them and headed out the other side. I notice that the trail markers her the same as in Beycik. So we are probably on another section of the Lycian Way. We walked until we could see ruins up ahead and the trail started up hill.
My father, Sarah and Winfree wanted to look for the sunken city so they headed down to the shore and the rest headed up into the ruins. I found a place to get up onto the ruin wall and was able to get a great view out into the next bay. The other joined me and then we all headed back by different paths but eventually finding the swimmers and joining them for a cooling swim. There was not much to see of the sunken city so half the group headed back across. My father and I arrive first and were greeted by the restaurant owner with a bucket of cold fresh water from his well which he proceeded to pour over our feet and heads. Man! Did that feel awesome!
We sat in the shade of the café and had a cold drink. The Innes family ordered dinner but we carefully piled back into the dinghy and paddled back to Silver Lightning and had more leftovers for lunch. Then we set sail for Kas. It was blowing nicely so we had a nice sail most of the way but then had to motor into the wind into a huge new marina which was on the other side of the hill from Kas. It had fancy showers which was very welcome as my father and I were salty from a week of salty bathing in the ocean and Randy plugged us in and I filled the water tanks. I ogt my computer plugged in and charging again.
But it was a long walk to the grocery so my father and I decided to join the others for dinner. We gathered for the half hour walk to see another ancient theater and then to the restaurant. Kas was hopping as there was a big Turkish Greek Festival going on with a stage we could see from the restaurant which was called Smiley’s. There was live music and dancing. My father and I sat with a group we had really spoken to and I enjoyed Neil and his wife and Alan and his wife. They were lots of fun. I ordered a shrimp casserole that was excellent and I saved the three fresh bay leaves that were in it as garnish and took the with me for later use. My father got a kick out of that. We decided that I had taken the Loyd’s to a new low of taking food home form dinner out! We were shown an old cistern which was under the restaurant. It was nice and cool down there but the roof was sagging way down in a couple of places. There were some beautiful old pots on a shelf in the corner.
After dinner my father and I headed out and the restaurant owner offered to have someone drive us home which was really nice. We ran into the shop next door for milk, bread and cherry juice and then were chauffeured back to the Marina. We put the milk away and headed for bed. We were both very tired after all the walking and sailing! I long but good day. Night!
Fokkaya Limani to Polemos Boku
My father and I woke up early and went for a swim and then sat on deck and watched the other boats rise as the sun warmed. We watched the Innes family get picked up by Nellie and a local guy in a speedboat to go to an ancient site. We were going to go but the fee was 50 TL a person for a boat and car ride. We decided that was too much so we begged off. Sarah and David’s kids Jamie and Louisa looked very hung over, but made it into the boat and off the y went at high speed. I hope they have a good time.
We lazed around, swam and read or books. It was afternoon when we saw The Innes clan return. We lazed around some more and then finally good ourselves organized and raised the anchor and headed out of the sheltered bay. The wind was blowing hard so we put a reef in the main and headed out. We had an exciting sail up wind and around the headland and into the bay of Polemos Boku where we found a space with good swinging room and dropped our anchor. We again reversed it hard to set the hook and when it felt good let out some more chain secured the engines and jumped over the side for a swim. Just as we finished our swim Sarah swan over to tell us that we were wise to skip Nellie’s expedition. It was way to expensive for the transportation. The ruins were good but not worth the cost.
We offered her a gin and tonic and had a nice conversation in the cockpit. Sarah proposed that we all get together in the morning and walk across to the ruins on the other side of the isthmus. Sounds like fun so agreed to meet on shoe after breakfast and Sarah swam back across to her boat. Martha had cooked up some lentils to go with the leftovers from last night and we all squeezed around the table in the cockpit for dinner.
Lentils, sauce, salad, bread and olives. Plain noodles for the girls. I played some uno with Winfree and then headed to my cabin to read. I am now reading Enders Game which I bought for Estill at Christmas and she has just finished. So far it’s off to good start. Good night.
We lazed around, swam and read or books. It was afternoon when we saw The Innes clan return. We lazed around some more and then finally good ourselves organized and raised the anchor and headed out of the sheltered bay. The wind was blowing hard so we put a reef in the main and headed out. We had an exciting sail up wind and around the headland and into the bay of Polemos Boku where we found a space with good swinging room and dropped our anchor. We again reversed it hard to set the hook and when it felt good let out some more chain secured the engines and jumped over the side for a swim. Just as we finished our swim Sarah swan over to tell us that we were wise to skip Nellie’s expedition. It was way to expensive for the transportation. The ruins were good but not worth the cost.
We offered her a gin and tonic and had a nice conversation in the cockpit. Sarah proposed that we all get together in the morning and walk across to the ruins on the other side of the isthmus. Sounds like fun so agreed to meet on shoe after breakfast and Sarah swam back across to her boat. Martha had cooked up some lentils to go with the leftovers from last night and we all squeezed around the table in the cockpit for dinner.
Lentils, sauce, salad, bread and olives. Plain noodles for the girls. I played some uno with Winfree and then headed to my cabin to read. I am now reading Enders Game which I bought for Estill at Christmas and she has just finished. So far it’s off to good start. Good night.
Kaleüçağız to Fokkaya Limani
I have an early swim and sit reading in the sun on deck with my father while we wait for the girls to stir. We have our breakfast and gather walking shoes, hats, sun screen and snorkeling gear. We are going on an expedition this morning first to see and old Fort and then to a sunken ancient city.
A local woman in a small boat picks us up and transfers us to one of the local Gulets, which are the local sailboats that have been converted to tourist boats. We are joined by a few of the other crews and head for Kaleüçağız which is a village of about 400 people. We were anchored at a small town in the next bay and we can see the Kalekoy Fort up on the hill above the town. We are soon backing into and old concrete pier at the town of Kaleüçağız. We wind our way up the tiny streets of the town through a series of booths and people selling food drinks, scarves and bags of fresh herbs and teas. We hit the ticket booth as all important ancient sites are controlled but the government now. We pay and walk through the ticket booth. It’s a funny feeling as there is no fence. You could just as easily walk around!
Up into the fort and up a long stairway to the top of the hill. The view is magnificent! You can see all up and down the long bay that skirts this area. This would have been a very defensible position with the view and the steep approach to the fort. After we have looked around for a while we are herded back down the hill towards the boat by Nellie. The Loyd clan stops for ice cream and then wander back down. We end up in a different alley from the one we started up but I can see the boat and am able to work my way there along the waterfront over people’s porches.
Soon we shove off and head to the other side of the bay to see the sunken ruins of Kekova. The Gulet coasts right along the shore and through a glass port in the bottom of the boat we can see the ruins and piles of amphora and pieces of broken pottery. Amphora are the ceramic jugs the Greeks used to transport wine, oils and other products. We were not allowed to snorkel on the ancient city but so our gulet anchored with a bunch of other gulets in the next bay and we snorkeled there. Mustapha who own the gulet was fascinated by my underwater camera and had me take a series of photos of him, which I emailed to him later.
Then we were returned to our boat and the wind began to blow hard. We had a bite of lunch and watched a big catamaran drag it’s anchor down on another boat. Luckily they were on board and got the engine started before they hit another boat! After lunch we were getting ready to leave when I realized that our anchor was dragging and we were getting close to the boat down wind of us. We quickly started the engine and wound in the anchor and headed out for a sail. We put a reef in the main and let out the full jib and headed out into the open Mediterranean.
We were roaring along close hauled and the wind was building to the point where our jib was over powering the main. So we put a reef in the jib and stabilize the boat and tack west along the coast. We get past the island and head into in the another bay that is known for it’s coldwater springs that feed up into the bay. We circle around and drop our anchor once but are too close to another boat so we reel it in and try again and settle into a good spot. We get the anchor down on a good length of chain and give her full reverse to make sure it’s well dug in.
Then we have a swim and explore the rocky shore off our stern. You can fell the cold spring water welling up there and see the wavy water were the fresh and salt water are mixing. As usual there is not much in the way of fish to look at. Most of the sea creatures in the Mediterranean have been eaten. There were a few small fish but not many. I returned to the boat and dried in the sun and then we all are dinner. Martha made lentils and veggies over rice. We ate some olives with it. It was pretty tasty and plenty of it. The girls helped my father wash dishes after dinner. Then we all headed for bed. It’s been another busy day.
A local woman in a small boat picks us up and transfers us to one of the local Gulets, which are the local sailboats that have been converted to tourist boats. We are joined by a few of the other crews and head for Kaleüçağız which is a village of about 400 people. We were anchored at a small town in the next bay and we can see the Kalekoy Fort up on the hill above the town. We are soon backing into and old concrete pier at the town of Kaleüçağız. We wind our way up the tiny streets of the town through a series of booths and people selling food drinks, scarves and bags of fresh herbs and teas. We hit the ticket booth as all important ancient sites are controlled but the government now. We pay and walk through the ticket booth. It’s a funny feeling as there is no fence. You could just as easily walk around!
Up into the fort and up a long stairway to the top of the hill. The view is magnificent! You can see all up and down the long bay that skirts this area. This would have been a very defensible position with the view and the steep approach to the fort. After we have looked around for a while we are herded back down the hill towards the boat by Nellie. The Loyd clan stops for ice cream and then wander back down. We end up in a different alley from the one we started up but I can see the boat and am able to work my way there along the waterfront over people’s porches.
Soon we shove off and head to the other side of the bay to see the sunken ruins of Kekova. The Gulet coasts right along the shore and through a glass port in the bottom of the boat we can see the ruins and piles of amphora and pieces of broken pottery. Amphora are the ceramic jugs the Greeks used to transport wine, oils and other products. We were not allowed to snorkel on the ancient city but so our gulet anchored with a bunch of other gulets in the next bay and we snorkeled there. Mustapha who own the gulet was fascinated by my underwater camera and had me take a series of photos of him, which I emailed to him later.
Then we were returned to our boat and the wind began to blow hard. We had a bite of lunch and watched a big catamaran drag it’s anchor down on another boat. Luckily they were on board and got the engine started before they hit another boat! After lunch we were getting ready to leave when I realized that our anchor was dragging and we were getting close to the boat down wind of us. We quickly started the engine and wound in the anchor and headed out for a sail. We put a reef in the main and let out the full jib and headed out into the open Mediterranean.
We were roaring along close hauled and the wind was building to the point where our jib was over powering the main. So we put a reef in the jib and stabilize the boat and tack west along the coast. We get past the island and head into in the another bay that is known for it’s coldwater springs that feed up into the bay. We circle around and drop our anchor once but are too close to another boat so we reel it in and try again and settle into a good spot. We get the anchor down on a good length of chain and give her full reverse to make sure it’s well dug in.
Then we have a swim and explore the rocky shore off our stern. You can fell the cold spring water welling up there and see the wavy water were the fresh and salt water are mixing. As usual there is not much in the way of fish to look at. Most of the sea creatures in the Mediterranean have been eaten. There were a few small fish but not many. I returned to the boat and dried in the sun and then we all are dinner. Martha made lentils and veggies over rice. We ate some olives with it. It was pretty tasty and plenty of it. The girls helped my father wash dishes after dinner. Then we all headed for bed. It’s been another busy day.
Kalkan to Kaleüçağız
Kalkan to Kaleüçağız
Soon all the crews are up and about as we are leaving early this morning. We determine that some of our anchor chains are crossed so we carefully leave in the opposite order from that of which we arrived we there are no snarls. Thanks for that! Unsnarling anchor chains is no fun. And we are all off heading east again. There is a very light wind so we motor for a while until it picks up and then hoist some sails and drift along. We have to navigate carefully today as there is an island a few miles off shore which belongs to Greece and we have to stay in Turkish waters as the Greeks and Turks are not friendly neighbors!
I assign the girls to keep a look out for the Greek navy! We have our sighting compass out and we reach the first marker island in our route and as we pass it we sight through the compass and set out heading for the next small Turkish island. We zig zag our way along island to island until we are clear of the Greek waters. We have had some wind to sail and now it begins to pick up and we have a nice wind for our leg towards the town of Kaleucagiz. But the nice sailing leg was way to short and we drop our sails and head into harbor. We find a nice spot and drop our anchor. This will be our first night free swinging on an anchor. The girls and I don our swimming suit and do a soda pop. (jump off the bow of the boat and flop your arms around in the bubbles and yell soda pop) And feel almost instantly refreshed.
We start a game where the girls are try to get past me to the ladder and I am defending myself as the Kung Fu Tickle Master! Lots of giggling and splashing around. When we are tired and cool we climb back aboard and read in the shade of the cock pit. Soon Josh comes by in the dinghy and invites the girls to go with him to visit the other boats. I go below and start dinner. I bought chicken breast and thighs frozen last night but they are already defrosted. The refrigerator is crap on this boat. So I get out the onions, eggplant, garlic, olives and tomatoes and chop them while I am browning all the chicken. I put all the veggies and tomato paste and some pepper spread in a casserole dish and after a few attempts I get the top of the oven lit and in goes the casserole. After a while the chicken goes in on top.
Soon dinner is smelling fine and the chicken is nice and crispy so I go to turn off the oven and the knob won’t turn! Hmm… this is a new one. Got it. All boats have an electric solenoid which turns off the gas when flame is not present. Keeps the propane from flowing accidently into the bilges and blowing up the boat. I turn off the solenoid and the oven goes off. Later when it has cooled off I am able to turn the knob off. I sit in the cockpit with a gin and tonic and let the casserole coast. Then make a cucumber and tomato salad and cut some bread. As soon as the rest of the crew leaves for sinner ashore (their choice). I break out the plates and my father and I eat a nice dinner in the cockpit and watch the sun go down and feel the heat flow out of the air and the breeze is so lovely. A few stars begin to show as dishes are washed and we head into our cabins to read and work on the log. I am fast asleep when the other crew returns. We are hoping for better wind tomorrow.
Soon all the crews are up and about as we are leaving early this morning. We determine that some of our anchor chains are crossed so we carefully leave in the opposite order from that of which we arrived we there are no snarls. Thanks for that! Unsnarling anchor chains is no fun. And we are all off heading east again. There is a very light wind so we motor for a while until it picks up and then hoist some sails and drift along. We have to navigate carefully today as there is an island a few miles off shore which belongs to Greece and we have to stay in Turkish waters as the Greeks and Turks are not friendly neighbors!
I assign the girls to keep a look out for the Greek navy! We have our sighting compass out and we reach the first marker island in our route and as we pass it we sight through the compass and set out heading for the next small Turkish island. We zig zag our way along island to island until we are clear of the Greek waters. We have had some wind to sail and now it begins to pick up and we have a nice wind for our leg towards the town of Kaleucagiz. But the nice sailing leg was way to short and we drop our sails and head into harbor. We find a nice spot and drop our anchor. This will be our first night free swinging on an anchor. The girls and I don our swimming suit and do a soda pop. (jump off the bow of the boat and flop your arms around in the bubbles and yell soda pop) And feel almost instantly refreshed.
We start a game where the girls are try to get past me to the ladder and I am defending myself as the Kung Fu Tickle Master! Lots of giggling and splashing around. When we are tired and cool we climb back aboard and read in the shade of the cock pit. Soon Josh comes by in the dinghy and invites the girls to go with him to visit the other boats. I go below and start dinner. I bought chicken breast and thighs frozen last night but they are already defrosted. The refrigerator is crap on this boat. So I get out the onions, eggplant, garlic, olives and tomatoes and chop them while I am browning all the chicken. I put all the veggies and tomato paste and some pepper spread in a casserole dish and after a few attempts I get the top of the oven lit and in goes the casserole. After a while the chicken goes in on top.
Soon dinner is smelling fine and the chicken is nice and crispy so I go to turn off the oven and the knob won’t turn! Hmm… this is a new one. Got it. All boats have an electric solenoid which turns off the gas when flame is not present. Keeps the propane from flowing accidently into the bilges and blowing up the boat. I turn off the solenoid and the oven goes off. Later when it has cooled off I am able to turn the knob off. I sit in the cockpit with a gin and tonic and let the casserole coast. Then make a cucumber and tomato salad and cut some bread. As soon as the rest of the crew leaves for sinner ashore (their choice). I break out the plates and my father and I eat a nice dinner in the cockpit and watch the sun go down and feel the heat flow out of the air and the breeze is so lovely. A few stars begin to show as dishes are washed and we head into our cabins to read and work on the log. I am fast asleep when the other crew returns. We are hoping for better wind tomorrow.
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