High and dry - Kos Marina

Sunday 14 September

Kos Marina 

We wandered into Kos Town with Sue and Andy on Wednesday for coffee, shopping and lunch and spent the afternoon relaxing on the boat before their evening flight home.  We were sorry to wave goodbye to them and had a very quiet evening on the boat.

We spent the next two days catching up with chores and enjoying the sunshine in the afternoon. There is always a lovely breeze here so not too hot in the sun despite it being 30 degrees at least each day.  Saturday is change over day for the charter boat companies at Kos marina and we spent early evening on Friday watching all the yachts come in.  It appeared to be complete chaos and very noisy with the marineros shouting at the skippers, at each other and anyone else who got in the way.  We even heard one of them on his VHF radio shouting Sequel's name a couple of times as we were obviously taking up charter boat space.

On Saturday we were advised that we should be ready to leave for the boat lift at 9.30 a.m. and then we were told the lift people needed another half an hour - but we left our berth and went and hovered nearby the lift while a boat was put back in the water.  We have decided to cut short our trip by about ten days.  This decision being a mutual one - non-contentious - there is not a problem - honestly. Our flight is at 1 p.m. tomorrow - Monday 15.

Getting some help putting the dinghy back on the front deck

Since then we have been doing the usual things that need to be done to pack up the boat.  Half the winter covers are on - we are waiting for it to be cooler later on today to finish putting on the rest - the engines, generator and outboard have all been flushed through with fresh water and the Captain is happily rubbing down and dealing with rust spots on the hull.  I have packed our bags and now at a bit of loose end so thought I would tie up this one.

We are looking forward to being home as usual and the Captain is especially happy as we will be able to visit the Southampton Boat Show which we haven't been able to do for the last four years.  He has a whole list of things he wants to look for and at. We also have lots to look forward to in the next few months starting with the wedding of the year on 27 September - have a little more time to get ready for it now.

Are we heading in the direction in which we are going?

Thursday 04 September

Kos to Patmos - Dolphins

The Freemans arrived late on Wednesday night and were immediately treated to a huge downpour.  It had been very hot and muggy all day so it did provide a little relief even if it was a slightly damp welcome.  We had decided to leave as soon as possible after breakfast, and after buying bread for lunch, to take advantage of a southerly wind.  We wanted to get as far north as we could while the wind was blowing from the south and then make our way back down the Dodecanese islands when the wind changed back to a north westerly, which is the predominant wind at this time of year and the one that brings the Meltemi, and would, therefore, be behind us all the way back down the islands.

We managed to leave Mandraki without any mishaps. I was anxious about crossed anchors but all was ok.  Before long Sue spotted two dolphins, which we have never seen in the Aegean, so it seemed like a good omen.

We reached the island of Patmos after a trip of six hours and the Captain elected to go into a bay across the headland from the main town of Skala.  We picked up a mooring buoy, which is so much easier than anchoring, had our first swim and then all four of us heaved the dinghy off the front of the boat into the water and the Captain and his new First Mate (have been demoted again) sorted out the outboard.

Ormos Grikou, Patmos

We set off for a taverna in the bay for our evening meal after celebrating our first day with a bottle of fizz provided by our guests and which helped Sue's attempt to get into the dinghy from the back of the boat go swingingly.

Friday 05 September

Marathi - why are pirates called pirates?

Went round the headland to have a quick look at Skala and decided we had made the right decision not to stay there and then headed for Arki, the next nearest island.  Really not very far and had a  quick peek into a small bay to decide it was not big enough for us and so we crossed to Marathi, an even smaller island very close by where again we picked up a mooring buoy.  The mooring buoys are usually provided by the tavernas along the shore and it is only polite then to eat in that taverna.  The mooring buoy we picked up belonged to the Pirate taverna. Another lovely afternoon and a swim before a much shorter trip in the dinghy to the taverna in the evening. The taverna had been packed all afternoon with passengers on a tripper boat, which slightly shattered the peace, but by the time we got there everyone had long gone and we ate on our own waited on by a swarthy old pirate.  The Captain kept telling us Effie's joke about why are pirates called pirates? Cant tell you the answer now as actions are needed.

The Captain and Crew

Saturday 06 September

Lipsos

Another fairly short trip, all trips about an hour and a half so far, to Lipsos where we dropped the anchor and tied up on the town quay. The Captain was very happy to find electricity available as by now worrying about Sequel's batteries which do not seem to be holding their charge.  The fridges have defrosted over night at least twice which if nothing else means the galley floor gets a wash when I open the door. We all loved Lipsi: small and neat, all white washed buildings and blue roofs and a beach where we whiled away the afternoon. I think we might all have been happy to stay two days but felt we needed to attempt to visit all the islands en route back to Kos.

Lipsi Village

Sunday 07 September

Leros

The Captain wasn't happy to have the crew sitting around idly so put Galley Slave Sue to work sewing a ripped canvas cover, along with a button missing off his shorts (thought that was a bit much but Sue seemed to be happy to pay her way). Meanwhile the new First Mate has been learning the ropes (literally) and has listened attentively to the Captain along the way - good lad! I have been able to put my feet up and read most of the time - very grateful to him.

Busman's holiday?

Had a quick look at Pandeli on the east side of Leros but no quay to speak of and still worrying about batteries not charging so sailed round the other side of the island to Lakki.  Berthed at Lakki marina with electricity available but having said that have almost said it all.  Most disappointing place with little or no character but famous for being the last decisive battle which the British forces lost in WWll and that the German forces won. We decided to take our life in our hands and get in a taxi to find a taverna back across the island in Pandeli (only ten minutes away) but only got as far as Vromolithos where we had an excellent meal with fabulous views across the bay and the same taxi driver got us back to the boat in one piece.  

Two thirds of Egg Sandwich Club

Monday 08 September

Kalimnos - Emborios

We were all happy to leave Lakki and the very noisy motorbikes and headed for Kalimnos but not before we stopped in the middle of Lakki bay to try to extract bits of black bin liner stuck in the port stabiliser.  Of all the islands we were the least certain of whether we were going to find a good place to stay but after a slight detour we found a bay lying on the SE of the island which we all decided was the best place we visited.

Again we picked up a mooring buoy with a dolphin on it this time. After an afternoon lolling about again(Book Club time) the boys set off to see what went on in the small village on the shore and Sue and I had a swim. The boys were gone some time having found it necessary to test one of the bars and later we all set off in the dinghy to the Dolphin restaurant to eat which was again set high up and we had terrific views across the bay lit up by a full moon. The only drawback was a swell coming into the bay and we (or at least Sequel did) rocked and rolled all night.

Tuesday 09 September

Kalimnos - Kos Marina

The Captain had decided to email the Marina to 'reserve' a place for a few nights and at last we received a positive response that we could return to the marina rather than the harbour. The trip took approximately four hours and we enjoyed sitting in the sun on the front of the boat (the galley crew, that is). The title of this blog comes from a remark made on this particular trip and the guest Galley Slave will probably never be allowed to forget it.  Apart from the first night the weather has been fantastic all week and we (that's the Captain and I) cannot believe that we could have had two weeks with our two different sets of guests this year and have had such good weather and such good company. 

We took the, no longer new, crew to our favourite place to eat in Kos called 'Never on a Sunday' and they loved it - so much so they paid for dinner!  

Wednesday 03 September

The last few days have merged into a blur of boats coming in and out, washing the boat again, little bit of shopping etc etc and now looking forward to Sue & Andy's arrival later on tonight.

I have totally lost count of the boats on our starboard side but do know that every one has been Turkish and big.  The Turkish thing is preplexing as I really dont understand why they want to come here when they have the whole of their own fabulous coastline.  In the harbour here we have once or twice, especially over the weekend, been packed in like sardines and, as I have said before, with a constant stream of people passing the back of the boat. What is the attraction?  Most Turkish people seem to chain smoke and being down wind of them means we have their smoke wafting over us.  To add insult, to keep their boats nicely air conditioned they leave their generators on all the time which are usually old and, therefore, added to the cigarette smoke is a strong smell of diesel fumes, and they are usually noisy. Aaaaargh! Apart from that we quite like it here - maybe that's why they do too? To be fair the Captain has asked them to turn off the generator close to our cabin window at night and they have. The first time he did have to threaten them with leaving our starboard engine on if they didn't and they soon turned it off, which was a relief as it would have been equally horrible for us if he had.

On Sunday our Italian crew were joined by three older men with a touch of the mafiosa about them, and probably one was the owner, but before their arrival they (the crew) had an incredible argument which lasted at least 20 minutes - I just wished I could have understood what they were saying. Unfortunately when they did set sail on Monday morning not only our anchor chain, but the (Turkish) boat on our port side's anchor chain, was over the top of their anchor chain which caused a certain amount of drama.  I was happy that they didn't start shouting at us too. I had to deal with letting our anchor chain out and back in again on my own as the Captain was talking to a technician about the VHF radio at the time. 

Monday morning chaos in Mandraki

The problem with the VHF has not been resolved as there is apparently not enough time to take apart the black box (VHF control unit - just been informed) where the fault probably lies.  The technician was able to verify that we are neither transmitting nor receiving a signal and we are so pleased that a new portable VHF is on it's way. A better inspection of the black box will be done over the winter - probably just before we return next April/May if anything like Turkish technicians.

Amongst other things having a VHF radio means we are able to communicate with a marina if we want a berth for the night etc. We had hoped on Monday to go back into the marina but although the Captain cycled back to see the Manager as arranged there was no space there. The Manager told him to see him again today but again there is no space.  We are disappointed despite the fact that we have decided we quite like it here. On Monday night we were particularly happy as being a quiet night of the week we did not have a boat either side of us.

The bikes have been very useful especially after discovering that there was a reasonably large Carrefour just on the outskirts of town, not too far to walk but too far to carry shopping back without extreme sweatiness and long arms (although I have always wanted longer arms).  The bikes are sitting happily side by side on the quay at the moment and have attracted so much attention.  At least two people have stopped to take photographs of them - ?!? - but have decided it could be a great ad for Brompton fold up bicycles and might just take one myself.

We actually had a cloudy start today and the wind has changed direction. The daily temperature has averaged in the early thirties but it does seem to have become slightly more bearable at night. Hoping it will stay fine for the Freemans. Oh no - now surrounded by Turkish gulets - massive one on our starboard side.  Captain has been planning trip back across Aegean and closer to home for next spring.

Mandraki and the Castle of the Knights

Tuesday 26 August

Very early start for our return trip to Kos and Sequel.  Despite the fact that we left home at 4 a.m. we still encountered four vehicles on the road between Lymington and Lyndhurst.  Recently the speed limit has been reduced to 40mph - it is a complete puzzle as to why because no-one ever drove at 50 mph and now they drive even slower and even in almost the middle of the night all four vehicles were driving at less than the speed limit. I am convinced it has something to do with living in the New Forest.

Otherwise a routine trip back and at least a short taxi ride back to Kos Town and the hotel for a two night stay before launching Sequel on Thursday 28. We were at the boatyard by 3 p.m. to find a very dirty boat and got cracking straight away removing the winter covers having attempted to wash off some of the dust first. By 6 p.m. however we were seriously beginning to wilt and returned to the hotel.  So pleased we had decided to stay in the hotel as 34 degrees in our cabin.

View from our hotel room

Wednesday 27

A whole day cleaning everything we could outside and with the windows open managed to cool down the inside of the boat a little. Very hot here and I am doing my best to think 'icebergs' which is how my husband tells me he keeps cool and it is not too difficult as I am melting.

Thursday 28

At last Sequel back in the water by midday after waiting sometime to speak to the Manager of the Marina about added costs to our contract which we had not been informed about. Still recovering from our early Tuesday start and working hard to clean up the boat for a day and a half I did lose it with one of the marina staff telling him to speak to me nicely as his manner was so rude. Amazingly he did and was falling over himself to be polite after that.  I am convinced this is the way forward in the Med.  It gets you nowhere being reasonable and polite - the more demanding you are the better they seem to re-act. Quite the reverse in the U.K.

We sailed the short distance round the Castle of the Knights, to Mandraki Harbour (think Mandraki actually means Harbour) so we sailed round to the Harbour Harbour finding out on the way that the VHF radio, although beeping merrily away when the Captain tried it, was not receiving any signal. Fortunately the berths on the castle side of the harbour are owned by the marina and they had already let them know we were on our way. We are on the quay in the Harbour (and, therefore, right in the middle of Kos Town) as the marina is fully booked all weekend with a regatta.  We have everything crossed that they will find a space for us on Monday.

We were told to squeeze in between two boats with absolutely no room to spare and I had to drop the anchor.  Really not my favourite job and certainly not less than half an hour of getting on the boat for the first time in over two months but we did it without mishap and very pleased with ourselves.

Sequel by the wall of the Castle of the Knights

Celebrated with lunch out and then traipsed around looking for phone shops (we could write a guide to purchasing wifi in the Med).  Along with his camera (not a problem as we quite often take the same shots) the Captain has left our mobile wifi thingy at home - along with there always being a problem on the boat it is customary for the Captain to leave something we need at home. Unbelievably all three of the main service providers in Kos Town: Wind, Costmote and Vodafone, did not have one between them.  We were reluctant to go with Vodafone but the Manager pulled out all the stops and called the Vodafone shop on the nearby island of Kalimnos which just happened to have one and he arranged for it to be sent over by Friday afternoon. We love him.

After our evening meal out we lurked for a while outside the hotel where we had stayed and used their wifi to download any emails and messages.

Friday 29

The Captain decided that the solution to the VHF not working, having spent some time checking all the obvious things it could be and still being without a clue, is to buy a hand held mobile VHF receiver and therefore we spent a couple of hours in a cafe with free wifi so he could get on-line to research the best one and to ask Ross to order it and get it to the Freemans to bring out next week.  Now all sorted - just have to tell Sue and Andy.

Couldn't face another stuffed aubergine so ate on board - lovely big G&T to start.

Saturday 30

Decided to write this as the Captain has gone to visit the Port Police. This is required when you check into the country, which we had done previously in June in Symi, but our Greek cruising log which we first acquired two year's ago in Lefkas in the Ionians, had been left in the UK (?!?) and the Symi Port Police didn't have any  for us to start again.  He has now been gone for some considerable time and I am beginning to wonder if they have locked him up.Funnily enough, as I was writing that, he re-appeared and has been chuntering on about it since.

Part of the experience of being in the harbour is watching the other boats coming in and out and we have now had three different boats on our starboard side.  We only go for a walk, shopping etc. if the boat next to us isn't going anywhere as it is necessary to be around to fend them off.  We are also situated on the main pathway to the large ferries that visit the island continuously throughout the day so there is a constant stream of people going past the back of the boat. Fortunately we are far enough away from the centre of the harbour quay, which is a large circular shape, to be away from the traffic and bright lights of restaurants and their music all along the front. Although  on our port side we have a very nice Italian sailing boat with two Italian crew members who either play very loud, awful music or, as all day yesterday, appear to have fallen out and there is complete silence. All very entertaining.

Kos - August 2014

Sunday 24 August 2014

After a fantastic summer in England we are getting ready to return to the slightly higher temperatures of Kos.  We have had a brilliant time and the last ten weeks have flown by.  We were home for a week before flying off again (whoever thought that was a good idea?) to Majorca to celebrate our friend Bob's retirement and had a great four days, despite watching our hired car being towed away. We have celebrated the arrival of my Senior Railcard with a lovely lunch with girlfriends, another party at home with family and friends, trips to the theatre in London, Heather's 30th barn dance party, Henry's 1st birthday Mad Hatter's tea party, a lovely wedding and catching up with new and old friends. We are going back to the boat for a rest before it all begins again on our return with another wedding, birthdays and lots more.  Beginning to think that this is sounding like one of those Christmas round robin letters so think I'll stop now.

As mentioned already temperatures in Kos at the moment are warmer than here at around 30 degrees and I have persuaded (perhaps not the word he would use) Bruce that we should spend the first two nights in an hotel especially as Sequel is out of the water and it will be as least as hot inside the boat as out and also because she doesn't go back into the water until Thursday.  Actually had a little bit of a paddy and if anyone is wondering where my granddaughter gets her foot stamping from ............  It is also extremely windy in the Aegean at the moment and we are really hoping that by Thursday the wind will have settled down at least a bit.

We will then have a few days to get ready for our visitors, Sue and Andy, and then we are hoping to discover more of the Dodecanese.

The Dodecanese consists of 12 larger islands and over 150 smaller islands and islets in the eastern Aegean, close to Turkey's Western Anatolian coast. Many of the islands can therefore be considered to belong geographically to Asia, though ethnically all are very Greek. 

We have already visited Simi and Nisyros, albeit briefly, and intend to travel north to Samos, which is not part of the Docadanese but in the Northern Aegean, and then work our way back to Patmos and Leros.  This is, as always, completely dependent on the wind.

Leaving Turkey for Greece

Monday 09

Finally we left Marmaris Yacht Marina, our contract expiring today, and we headed for Sogut where we had been previously with both Greta & Rob and the family only last week. The trip took approximately five hours and who should be there on the pontoon but Sandpiper with Nicky and Andy, so first tea, then drinks, then dinner. But before all that a little drama with a sailing boat eager to come onto the pontoon immediately after us and before we had properly sorted out the lazy line and in their excitement scraped their anchor along the edge of the boat underneath the handrail - aargh! A little patience on their part and it would not have happened.  

Tuesday 10

After coffee on Sandpiper a fairly short trip to Datca to check out of Turkey. Very hot by now and decided we didn't like Datca very much.  It is necessary to use an 'agent' to do the checking out process and the whole thing was completed in under an hour.  We stayed the night on the town quay as it was too late to get anywhere else.

Wednesday 11

Out of Turkish waters and back into Greece.  We headed for Symi (Simi) where we had been almost two years ago now.  It is such a pretty town but massive ferries arrive each day and many other visiting yachts, large and small arrive during the course of the day, but usually in the afternoon after the last ferry has gone at about 4.30 p.m.  Despite the narrow road which goes round the harbour there is an alarming amount of traffic and many very noisy bikes.  Not painting a great picture here as it is still, amazingly, a great place. 

Up until now this blog has been very mundane and really not much drama over the last five weeks and just when you are thinking its time to relax and enjoy the last week: although it was a lovely sunny day there was quite a strong breeze blowing down the gap in the hillside surrounding the town.  There is a harbour master who uses a very shrill whistle at the boats coming in and then directs the boats to a place on either side of the harbour.  After we had tied up in a good spot on the right side of the harbour,  the harbour master's parting words to the Captain were to check the anchor as it didnt look as if it was holding, and we werent entirely sure that it was either.  Initially the Captain was more concerned about checking back into Greece and had to visit the Police (to show passports), Customs and the Port Police (to check in the boat) all in three different places from one end of the harbour to the other (a horseshoe effectively).  We then had lunch and finally at about four when the wind was really blowing more strongly than before and the dinghy was perilously close to crashing continusouly into the harbour wall we decided we would have to go out and reset the anchor. As luck would have it a Turkish skipper had just come in beside us on our port side and offered to help - OMG - so with me at the back of the boat and TS taking up the anchor and Sequel's Captain on the helm we made our first attempt to do so. First the TS had no idea how our windlass/anchor/who cares/remote control worked and in an attempt to come back to ask a question managed first to pull up the anchor so fast it wedged sideways in its roller and he couldnt get it out.  I looked forward to see him trying to climb over the front of the boat to dislodge it with his foot.  Eventually he managed to get a rope around it and pull it straight again.  Meanwhile we were in the middle of the harbour drifting all over the place.  We tried again but unsuccessfully to reverse into our slot but the wind was too strong and then TS asked if he could take the helm. It took TS two attempts but Sequel and her engines have never been used, and probably never will be again, like the TS did. 'Gunning the engines' springs to mind.  Sequel's Captain is very cautious. We zoomed back into our slot ............... but not quite close enough to tie off and get the pasarelle in place so SC (now on anchor duty) had to let out some more chain and then we were too close and the dinghy got completely scrunched up on the harbour wall. But at last it was done and amazingly no damage to dingy although one of the webbing straps which held it in place had completely snapped in two making an alarming noise when it did so and I thought it was the dinghy breaking in two. There was another Dutch steel boat on our starboard side whose skipper had also been very helpful - I was throwing the lines to him - and he joined SC and TS on board to sort out the anchor chain which had now stuck firmly as it had twisted. Hardly surprising as the boat must have swung round a few times before TS actually reversed - the Dutch skipper's wife was very disparaging about how many men it took etc. 

Sequel in Symi town

We stayed two nights. Thursday was very hot in the harbour and we cowered underneath our bimini all day hardly venturing out until the afternoon when we discovered if we had just walked to the headland we would have found more of a breeze. That evening the Captain received an email from Breakaway anchored in a bay on the other side of the island inviting us for drinks on Friday night, possibly with Sandpiper, who we had seen briefly come in and out of the town earlier in the day. Beginning to feel like we are being followed.

Friday 13

We left Symi town and headed round the island to Panormitis, aka Monastry Bay as, not surprisingly, it has a huge monastry. Had a lovely peaceful afternoon relaxing in the sunshine and even the Captain had a swim. We had drinks on Breakway, not with Sandpiper who we had passed earlier in the day heading back to Symi town, but with Petronella, a lovely green French classic ketch which/who (I get confused) had left Turkey also and were heading eventually to cross the Atlantic in January 2015 - they are very, very welcome.

Monastry Bay

Saturday 14

A quick trip in the dinghy to buy bread from a bakery at the Monastry and we set off again for Nisiros where we are now.  We have been told what a lovely island this is - it is an extinct volcanic crater which pokes out of the sea.  We will return to view the volcano properly later on in the year but heading for Kos tomorrow and our last few days.

Palon, Nisiros

Turning 60 at Piynar Villa Hotel, Turunc

Saturday 31 

We had been promised a lift at 11.30 a.m. by Avis car rental to take us to their office in Marmaris to collect our hire car for the week and were slightly embarrassed at how much we had to take with us - including a high chair, changing mat, lilos, etc.and we were so pleased that we were collected as we would never have found the Avis office left to our own devices.  It was miles away but fortunately in the direction in which we were eventually heading.  Spotted a large supermarket on our way and headed back there to stock up with things for the villa and nappies etc. for Henry.

Arrived at Piynar Villa Hotel in time for lunch before the family arrived.  The hotel consists of ten villas, each with it's own pool and two bedrooms, a small kitchen, living room etc. It is quite a small area with a club house for meals etc, quiet high up on the hillside and overlooking Turunc Bay with terrific views  Claire & Gordy and the children had one villa and we shared another very close by with Matt & Heather. We had to wait sometime for our villa to be cleaned and were finally able to move in less than half an hour before they all arrived. They had had a good trip although a very early start.  Dinner in the club house as all shattered from 4 a.m. start.

Sunday 01 June

Bruce & Matt had to return to Avis to organise an additional driver and because Bruce had left 'secret' things on the boat! But a lovely morning and everyone happy to swim in the pool while they went and returned for lunch with more provisions. The forecast for the whole week was not promising but stayed fine for most of the day. Dinner delivered to C&Gs villa by the hotel restaurant - we had felt uncomfortable the previous evening as hardly any other guests and the children were slightly disturbing the peace.

Monday 02 June 

My birthday - 60 today!!

A fine day but in a bit of a rush as a boat trip provided by our tour operator and a 9.30 a.m pick up to take us to Kumlubuk Bay.  The boat was big enough for eight adults and we were pleased to have it all to ourselves.   We were looked after by the Captain and his first mate, a Turkish girl, who provided us with drinks and a great lunch and took us to two or three bays where we stopped to swim.  By the time we had had lunch the wind picked up and we had a bumpy trip out of the bay to head back.

Back in time for tea and birthday cards and lovely presents and then a special dinner organised by Bruce which we ate outside C&Gs villa again.  The family pulled out all the stops and had decorated the garden with bunting and balloons and all my cards - have never had so many smuggled here. And before dinner 'the video' - Heather had put together clips sent secretly to her from family and friends and it was brilliant.  I started laughing, slightly hysterically, at my niece and her family in Hong Kong and my nephew and his family - all in fancy dress??? - singing Stevie Wonder's Happy Birthday and ended up crying and laughing at the same time as there was so many surprises. (Had to watch it all again on Tuesday but managed not to cry quite so much).

Had a fantastic day and so many people to thank but will do that in a more personal format - eventually.

Tuesday 03

A little shopping in Turunc just down the hill but not changed much since Bruce and I were here seven years ago.  An overcast day, although very warm, and we relaxed at the villas all day. Decided to eat in the town in the evening and found a great restaurant, family run, who looked after us very well and Henry slept in his car seat.

Wednesday 04

Far too windy to sit by the pool although warm and sunny so we decided to set out on a trip to a bay across the headland to escape the wind - ha! Bruce drove me, Matt, Heather & Effie to a place called Bayir, about half way, where there is a plane tree which is almost 2000 years old and then he went back for the Bighams.  Not much going on in the small town square but walked round the tree three times and made a wish which is the tradition.  Effie wished for a motorbike.  We had told her not to tell her wish as it wouldn't come true but Heather overheard her make it and then she was so disappointed that the motorbike didn't materialise.

Biyar - 2000 year old plane tree and three youngsters

Matt then took over the driving and the first contingent set off to Sogut where we had been last week with the Pasteiners. It was only 16 kilometres but on a steep mountain road with some very scary hairpin bends - the whole trip began to seem more like a mission and Matt had to return to get the others - we nearly called the whole thing off, especially when we finally got down to Sogut and it was blowing a hooley there too. But Matthew, well known for his love of Grand Prix racing - at least watching it - returned to bring the others and we had a good lunch and managed a couple of hours on the 'beach' and a swim in the sea before the return trip,. We decided to take a taxi as the journey was too tricky to keep going back and forwards - we should have hired a mini bus instead of a car.

Thursday 05

A storm over night and very overcast this morning.  Matt & Heather took the car to discover a bit more of the Bozburun peninsula and we set off with the Bighams for a stroll around Marmaris. We had planned to take a dolmus but two full ones trundled past our stop and at least half an hour to wait for another one so as a large taxi went by we hailed that instead and then arranged for him to pick us up later. Perfect.  As luck would have it we had no more rain and the sun came out.  We enjoyed a stroll along the waterfront and a great lunch out.  In the meantime M&G had a good day too and Heather managed to swim under a waterfall.

Dinner by the villa again but M&H had gone shopping for more provisions and we had a BBQ (courtesy of our Cobb from the boat) of kebabs and salad.  

Friday 06

Our last day - and a lovely one.  Spent the whole day swimming and by the pool and got very excited when Effie (3 years & 8 months old) discarded her arm bands and swam across the width of the pool. Henry loves the water (but actually freezing in the swimming pool) and spent sometime sitting in a 'toy box' filled with warmer water - Matt escaped to our pool to read his book and so everyone was happy.  

Saturday 07

The week has flown by and we were sad to leave at around 10 a.m. - the Absaloms and Bighams back to Dalaman Airport and we had to return the car and head back to the boat. Needless to say very warm (31 degrees and no wind) and sunny today after a week of mixed weather.  Our plan is to set off on the final stage of this holiday on Monday, when our contract at the marina expires, towards Kos - weather permitting.