tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63583064878579097302024-03-18T22:01:26.254-07:00Coleman Sailing Trip 2015Go For It Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10912426324962893576noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6358306487857909730.post-33069636093126537952015-09-29T14:17:00.003-07:002015-09-29T14:17:39.830-07:00Tuesday 29 September 2015 – Leros Marina<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">A
strange day today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The plan was to
leave Arki fairly early.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite
our worries the anchor held well. But I don’t think it ever dug in
properly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we took the anchor
up there was a huge ball of weed on the chain, but that is jumping ahead of the
game. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
were woken fairly early by the goats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I didn’t mention them yesterday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is a flock of goats that wanders around the bay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They all have bells on and as they go
back and forth they jingle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
an extraordinary sound.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Despite
the goats we didn’t actually get away until 10am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we didn’t have far to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were recommended to go to an anchorage on the south of
Lipso.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jonnie sent us an e-mail
saying that it is lovely and has a nice restaurant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having cooked the last of our fresh food last night, the
plan is to eat out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
wind has been building since yesterday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As we leave the anchorage we find that it is blowing a good force 4 and
for a change it is in the right direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we are able to sail all the way to the anchorage, which
was only just over 8 miles away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pilot book said the holding here is poor in
sand and weed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But to the contrary
we find it to be good and much better than last night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We set the anchor first time and it
digs in well into sand. We are quite close in to shore and not far from a
pontoon where you can take your dinghy to go ashore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>R says it is so close that there is no need to put the motor
on the dinghy, and he can row.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
am less convinced, but we shall see how the weather progresses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Although
the sun is out and there are not many clouds, with the wind building it still
feels cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>most of the other people in the bay
(and there are 6 or more boats including a Gulet) seem to be swimming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So it being one of our last chances to
swim off the boat we go in before lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is cool but nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Richard confirms he can see that the anchor is well dug in, so we seem
fine for the night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
laze around a bit after lunch, but then decide to row in to the shore to make a
reservation at the restaurant and maybe to find some WIFI.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we are in for a shock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The restaurant is closed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It looks like they have given up for
the rest of the year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So, no WIFI,
and no supper!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All I have on board
is pasta with the possibility of at least 4 sauces.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we won’t starve, but it is a disappointment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Back
on the boat we decide to try R’s English phone to get some internet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He cannot download the paper or the
Archers, but he is able to get a weather forecast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now we are in for our second shock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The forecast has deteriorated since we
last looked on Monday morning and now says that the wind will build up over
night to a force 6 with waves in the morning of over a metre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The wind will be northerly, which means
the journey to Leros will be downwind, but it could be quite uncomfortable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So
we make a hurried decision to leave and go to Leros.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It means getting there a day early, but that is preferable
to 2-3 days late!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is after 3:30
when we finally leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
blowing up to the top of a force 5.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This makes for quite a good sail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It starts out as a beam reach, and then turns into a run.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we never go much below 5 knots in
speed and usually are closer to 6.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We sail all the way up to the entrance to the harbour, where we finally
put the engine on and take down the sails.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>R is very pleased with this final sail of the season.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">They
were not expecting us at the marina until tomorrow, so they took some time to
find us a berth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But here we are
in our temporary home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have
sorted out the contract for leaving the boat here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tomorrow we shall organise the work we want done on the boat
over the winter and start to pack up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The boat comes out of the water on Monday morning and we fly home Monday
afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The boat is
provisionally booked to be refloated on 4 May!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<!--StartFragment-->
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20pt;">Well, that is just about it for the
season. When I get home I will
write a little epilogue, but in the meantime goodbye to you all.</span><!--EndFragment-->
Go For It Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10912426324962893576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6358306487857909730.post-80776686293321763292015-09-29T14:16:00.001-07:002015-09-29T14:16:18.087-07:00Monday 28 September 2015 – Arki<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There
was supposed to be a lunar eclipse last night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we set the alarm to wake us up at 4am to see it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we got up we could see no moon at
all, but that had nothing to do with the eclipse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was entirely clouded over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only that but as we put our heads outside the cabin it
began to rain!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we gave up, took
down the wind scoop so that rain did not come in through the forward cabin
hatch and went to bed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
were awakened by a lot of noise and shouting on the shore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we went to see what it was about
we saw a large group of immigrants, presumably rescued from the sea last night
on the balcony of an official building (Police Station?) with policemen trying
to organise them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually they
all seemed to have been accounted for and then they went to the ferry
terminal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was the usual
majority of young men, but also this time a lot of children and some women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On shore Richard heard someone say that
over 100 had arrived over night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That is probably more than the population of this small island.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
morning was very grey with a bit of rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So we took it easy and had a very late start and did not get away until
11:30.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we got up to the
cockpit we were a bit surprised to find it covered in bits of black thread-like
bits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We thought at first that is
might have been left over from the BBQ last night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as we left the harbour we saw that there was a big bush
fire on the hills outside and the bits were from that!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later we saw a seaplane scooping up
water from the sea and dropping it on the fire!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
were pleasantly surprised to find 11 knots of wind blowing just outside the
harbour and for a change it was not exactly on the nose, but was an upwind
sail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However we were able to sail
all the way to the island of Arki, about 15 miles away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a nice force 4 all the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We only had to turn the engine on to
get into the bay itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are in
a little place called Port Stretto.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are two parts to the bay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We went into the first, which has a taverna which has mooring
buoys.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hoped to be able to pick
one up, but found there were only 4 and they were all occupied.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The book suggests you can anchor there,
but there was little room and the bottom seemed to be mostly weed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we went to the other side where
there were 4 or 5 boats anchored.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The book suggests that the holding is good, with sand and weed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was not our experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We tried three times to get the anchor
to bite, only to find it dragging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We then went further in and put the anchor down, but we are still not
entirely convinced that it has dug in well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are swinging a lot and there has been more wind than
expected - about 10-13 knots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
real problem is that we are quite close to another boat behind us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have set the plotter to show if we
move and so far it looks OK, but we might have a worrisome night!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">This
would have been a lovely spot to swim off the boat, and a number of the
occupants of the other boats were swimming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, it really is too cool for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There has been a lot of cloud, so the
sun hasn’t warmed things up a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>With that and the wind, I am quite chilled and neither of us fancied a
swim.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">This
is another episode which won’t get posted for a couple of days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have certainly used up all our
credit on the internet machine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Richard used his UK phone, paying the £3 a day charge for international
access.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was OK in Agathonisi,
but here there is no 3G signal!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
we are not connected to the outside world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20pt;">One other small matter. My telephone with the Greek Sim has
lost its telephone function. It is
nowhere to be found on the machine.
We don’t know how it got turned off – or how to turn it back on. A phone that doesn’t make calls is not a
lot of use. Another reason we need to find a
Vodafone shop!</span><!--EndFragment-->
Go For It Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10912426324962893576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6358306487857909730.post-26721887940196739902015-09-29T14:14:00.001-07:002015-09-29T14:14:17.741-07:00Sunday 27 September 2015 – Agathonisi
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
spent yesterday in Vathy sightseeing.
We did get to the archaeological museum which had some wonderful statues
from the temple of Hera. Then
Richard decided that it was necessary to see the old town. It turned out to be very difficult to
find and a very long walk up the hill.
When we finally go there nothing much was going on. There were no shops or cafes. The only two restaurants were not
open. There were a couple of
general stores which had ads for ice cream outside, but none inside. The weather had turned very hot and of
course it was midday (mad dogs and Englishman time, as I call it). We finally bought a bottle of water in
one of the shops and sat in terrace in the shade in the square. The buildings are interesting, but
frankly not worth the walk in the heat of the day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Back
to the boat, did some shopping for food for the next couple of days and then
eventually dinner out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Today
we have decided to start back south towards Leros where we will leave the
boat. The weather forecast is for
the wind to go around to the west and then the north and be very gentle. So we can go to the places which were
exposed to southerly winds on our way up.
The plan is to go to the harbour in Agathonisi. It is a long hop, so we start early on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
expected to be able to sail a bit, but the wind is still in the south as we go
along and is only 4-5 knots. So it
is another motoring job. We again
see dozens of life jackets strewn on every headland. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
get here at about 2:30pm. It is a
tiny place. There is a harbour
wall and some boats are moored there, but we want to anchor, so we do. The idea is to swim off the boat, but I
am not warm enough to do so. There
has been a lot of cloud around and it is quite cool. Richard does go in to check on the anchor, which is not dug in
as well as we would hope, but seems to be OK, especially as the wind has died
completely.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
should really have rowed ashore, but I was too lazy. We just stayed on the boat and eventually lit the BBQ and
cooked our steaks on it. We will
go ashore in the morning. We seem
to have run out of credit on our internet machine – or there is not a good
enough signal here, which would not be surprising given the tiny size of the
village. I did suggest to R that
he pop into the Vodafone shop yesterday morning, but he poo pooed the idea and
now we can’t connect. So I won’t
be able to post this tonight.
Maybe in the morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />Go For It Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10912426324962893576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6358306487857909730.post-85238329676063508612015-09-25T13:01:00.001-07:002015-09-25T13:01:32.457-07:00Friday 25 September 2015 – Vathy, Samos<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
tried to get away early again, but as usual were a bit dopey in the morning and
didn’t get away until nearly 10am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But it really didn’t matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We were only going 15 miles around the island to the town of Vathy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The day is very bright, but there are
quite a few big fluffy cumulous clouds around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is also very little wind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For a change the wind is behind us, but was too weak to help
us along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We tried to sail at one
point when the wind got up to 10 knots, but it didn’t last long enough to get
us anywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we motored all the
way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It got very hot at one stage,
but then the sun went behind the clouds and it was quite cool.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">On
the way we saw much more evidence of the migrants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I have said, this island is only one mile from Turkey so it
attracts a lot of boats of migrants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So at every bit of the coast we saw discarded life jackets and some
deflated ribs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At one small
headland Richard counted over 35 life jackets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So in all we think there must have been hundreds, even
possibly thousands of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
have said that we haven’t seen any actual migrants so far, but more of that
later.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">At
lunchtime we arrive in Vathy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
are a bit surprised at the facilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The pilot book had suggested that there were two places to moor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A town quay where there were no
facilities and you have to put out the anchor and a small boats harbour, which
may be limited to local fishing boats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But it is very different when we arrive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The town quay has been done up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has pick up lines and water and electricity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only problem is that there does not
seem to be anyone running the place or anyone to take your lines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So Richard gets prepared to jump off to
deal with the lines when a kind Englishman comes and helps us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only problem is that we make a mess
of moving to a suitable pick up line and cut one of the lines!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We feel terrible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there are plenty more and not many
boats, so we manage to moor safely and securely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are told that they are developing the town quay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last year there was nothing here and it
was all dug up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now most of it is
done, but they are not charging anything and even the water and electricity are
free!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So this could be a good
place to stay for a couple of nights.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">After
lunch and settling in we go for a walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We know there is a very good archaeological museum here, but we don’t
know where it is and our guide book says it closes at 3pm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We try to find a tourist office and do
succeed, but only to find that it is closed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The shop next door suggests it will reopen at 6pm, but when
we go there at that time, it is still closed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will have to do all those things tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So
we have an ice cream and then go to the local café for a drink to get their
WIFI password.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As they are right across
the street we hope to use that instead of the dongle while we are here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
then wash the boat with our free water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now we can see evidence of the migrants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no tent town we can see here, but there are groups
of what look like feral young men speaking Arabic and looking shabby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are very polite, smiling and
saying hello, but there presence is a bit disturbing as we are rather exposed
here in the centre of town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we
have not heard of any problems.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
have dinner on the boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am
nearly out of provisions, so we shall have to shop tomorrow. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Go For It Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10912426324962893576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6358306487857909730.post-68852453501832029032015-09-24T12:44:00.003-07:002015-09-24T12:44:38.864-07:00Thursday 24 September 2015 – Samos<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
are still in Samos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were woken
up at about 7am with a terrible shower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The rain was pelting down and we had left all the hatches open to get
some air through the boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
Richard had to run around closing things and mopping up. We just went back to
bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we got up an hour or so
later the sky was very dark and threatening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also I had another terrible attack of sciatica, such that I
couldn’t walk for about 2 hours until the pain killers kicked in.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So
with all that going on we decided not to move on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I felt better we walked into the town, Pythagorio.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the name suggests this island was
the home of Pythagoras, him of the right angled triangles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The town is really cute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pilot book suggested that we should
stay in the town on the town pier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But when we got there the pier was full and a lot of boats are anchored
in the bay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So as the town is only
about 10 minutes walk from our boat we are pleased we moored in the marina.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
had expected to see signs of the immigrant influx here as the island is only
one mile from the Turkish mainland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On the walk to the town we did see some signs of the migrant
problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were at least two,
if not three deflated large ribs and a number of life jackets discarded on the
shoreline.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, we saw no
actual migrant people at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
have no idea where they could have gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are also perplexed about what propels the boats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have transoms on which one would
put an engine, but we have seen no engines and no oars.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In
town we got to see most of the sights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is a castle with some old ruins nearby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we went to the archaeological museum, which was very
nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One really good aspect was
that it is attached to a dig of the site of the old city of Samos and it puts
the ruins in context.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We then saw
the sculpture of Pythagoras.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
couldn’t see the ancient tunnel, which is closed, but that was OK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was getting tired.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Then
we went back to the boat for a rest before going back to the village for
dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All very nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will go to the next town on this island
tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The weather forecast
looks much better.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Go For It Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10912426324962893576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6358306487857909730.post-85416025545228816592015-09-23T13:21:00.000-07:002015-09-24T00:28:31.952-07:00Wednesday 23 September 2015 – Samos<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There
was no rain last night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
morning the sun is shining and the winds seem light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our next door neighbour, an English couple, said their
weather forecast was for more southerly winds with a rather big sea of up to a
metre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Richard does not see
that on his forecast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have been
here three days and pretty much exhausted the place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we decide to move on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It
is agreed that the winds will continue to be southerly and there might be the
odd shower of rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we need to
find somewhere sheltered from the south, again not easy to do as the prevailing
wind is from the north and most harbours face south because of that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But R does identify an anchorage on a
very small island called Agathonisi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So we will head towards that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is about 20 miles away, which isn’t too bad.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
finally fill up on water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It cost
us 1 euro!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cost of mooring
here is 6 euros a night and the electricity is also 6 euros.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were also charged 4 euros for the
help we received coming into the harbour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>All in all it is ridiculously cheap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it doesn’t pay to help arriving boats with their lines,
which yachties do everywhere else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Someone did this yesterday and the locals complained to the police that
he was taking their living away from them and the last we saw was the poor man
being driven away by the police – we don’t know if he spent a night in the
cells for his act of kindness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
buy a bit more food to keep us going for another two days as we are planning on
anchoring in a fairly remote place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We get away after 10:30, but it doesn’t matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have no trouble taking up the anchor
other than the fact that when it comes up it is so full of muddy sand and weed
that I have to play with it dragging in the water for a least 5 minutes to
clean it off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anyway we were well
dug in!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
day progresses better than expected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The wind is from the south or southwest at force 2 to 3 and we can put
up the sails, but the winds are so light that we spend most of the time motor
sailing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We do sail for about an
hour over lunch with the genoa poled out, but when we are down to doing less
than 3 knots, we give up and put the engine back on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we approach our destination, we see what look like some white
horses which normally only appear when the wind gets up to force 4 and Richard
wonders if there are dolphins and looks again and there are 6 to 8 dolphins
jumping across the bay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
rather a disappointment not to have them come closer, but they are always
lovely to see.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
get to Agathonisi at about 3pm, but we are unimpressed with this alleged
anchorage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of it is too deep
to anchor in and does not seem very protected from the wind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we find a couple of places where
it is sheltered and not too deep, they do not look like there is sand on the
bottom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The whole area is very
rocky and we are worried about the holding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally it is not very attractive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no one here, other than a rather shabby moored
fishing boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the land there
are a couple of dilapidated structures and a digger!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is </span><span style="font-size: 20pt;">evidence
of immigrants having been here in the form of a few life jackets strewn on the
rocky shores.</span><span style="font-size: 20pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 20pt;">So we decide we do
not want to stay here and continue on to Samos (where Pythagoras lived).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
will get to Samos fairly late (nearly 6pm is anticipated) so we decide to make
for the marina.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will be dull,
but comfortable, and closest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On
the way the weather starts to close in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There have been cumulous clouds around all afternoon, but as we approach
Samos, it is clear they have turned into storm clouds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can see several places on the island
where it is raining quite hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
we are prepared to get wet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I get
so cold at one point with there being no sun and a nice force 4 that I put on
my waterproof jacket!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are
fairly lucky with the rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We get
a very light fall from one cloud, but the sun soon comes out and there is the
most spectacular rainbow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a
full arc right across the sea and the colours are very bright.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have great fun watching it for some
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A little later a second
rainbow appears above the first one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We have never seen this before and do not understand how it could
happen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">By
the time we get to Samos, the rain and the rainbows have gone and the sun is
shining.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are shown into a
berth, where we get in very well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After us three motorboats (all crewed by Turks) make a real mess of
coming in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So for a change we feel
somewhat superior!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
have a drink in the marina café and then dinner on board.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are not sure what we should do
tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The local village is a
bit of a walk away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could walk
there, or take the boat and moor in the harbour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But our original plan was to go around to the north of the
island to the main town, Vathi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
shall think about it then.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Go For It Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10912426324962893576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6358306487857909730.post-81608071835406240962015-09-22T13:22:00.002-07:002015-09-22T13:22:58.803-07:00Tuesday 22 September 2015 – Lipsi<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Well
we are still here in Lipsi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rather
like Ulysses we are detained here longer than we hoped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yesterday was warm and sunny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The forecast rain from 6pm onwards
didn’t materialise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We took an
umbrella to the restaurant, just in case, and were the only ones to do so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bad weather didn’t arrive until
about 5:30 this morning when we had a thunderstorm with huge amounts of
lightening but very little thunder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We do not know if it was a Sirocco as suggested by one of the mooring
men. What it was, was heavy rain all morning and an afternoon with winds
blowing between 8 and 20 knots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The boat was moving around a bit and by the afternoon, when it stopped
raining I was glad to get off and have a coffee in the nice bakery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">With
this bad weather, and this being one of the few local harbours protected from a
southerly wind, a lot of boats have been coming in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The normal pontoon filled up on Monday afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They then put about 14 more boats on a
wall on the opposite side of the harbour, usually used by fishermen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even more boats came in this morning
and many are just anchored all over the place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are not sure what happens when the ferries come in!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">With
the heavy rain we of course discovered that we have a couple of leaks in the
boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One, from the main hatch we
knew about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The padding on the top
of the hatch has deteriorated and we had to pull it out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That lets a drip in over the
companionway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not dire, but
annoying and we doubt there is much we can do about it without dismantling
quite a lot of the boat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
second leak is one we thought we had fixed last year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is water coming in through the mast fitting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Richard tried to put some more sealant on,
but only did it after it stopped raining and he is not entirely sure exactly
where the leak is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More rain is
predicted for tonight and maybe he can then work it out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
weather forecast isn’t great for tomorrow either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we are undecided whether we should go then or stay
another day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We do have lots of
time before we need to be in Leros to put the boat away for the winter and we
are running out of local places to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Go For It Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10912426324962893576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6358306487857909730.post-77339398910902762402015-09-20T12:31:00.001-07:002015-09-20T12:31:04.311-07:00Sunday 20 September 2015 – Lipsi (sometimes called Lipso)<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
woke up early to get out in time to catch the 9:15 bus to the Chora.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got to the bus station in good time
only to find that the bus didn’t leave until 9:25. The ride up to the Chora
only took about 10 minutes, but it is a 4k road with lots of hairpin bends, so
we are not keen on having to walk any of it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was the closest we came to rally driving on Patmos.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">First
stop is the Monastery of St John.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is at the very top of the hill village and is quite a walk up, though
not as bad as the Monastery in Amorgos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The weather is very hot and close.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is quite a lot of cloud about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That clearly is an indication of the bad weather that is
supposed to be coming in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Monastery is a massive stone structure more like a defensive castle than a
church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Inside there is an
interesting museum with all sorts of church relics including ancient
manuscripts, icons and paintings, religious silverware and vestments.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
church itself is surprisingly small, but highly decorated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the walls are painted and there are
dozens of silver chandeliers and incense burners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are not too certain what we are looking at, but it is
impressive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">When
we finish at the Monastery the book suggests we go to a convent on the other
side of the Chora called Zoodochos Pigi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It takes some time to find the place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we do, it is basically closed and having some sort of
celebration.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But one of the nuns
kindly opens the church for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Again, it is tiny but very elaborate with every inch of wall painted on
and lots of silverware.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One
amusing thing happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we were
looking at the church another man came in to look at it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we left, the nun came back and
locked the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was then
that we realised the man hadn’t come out and was banging on the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We managed to get the nun to come back
and let him out!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was very
grateful and said this was the second time this happened to him!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
next thing to see is the cave of the Apocalypse, where St John was supposed to
have had his revelations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
original plan was to take the bus back down to the cave and then maybe a cab to
the port.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we are much too
early for the next bus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We try to
kill some time having an iced coffee at a café, but we are still too
early.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So after speaking to the
lady who runs the café we decide to walk down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is supposed to be a path, which is much shorter than
the road and should take about 15 minutes to walk down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We manage to find the path and the
cave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, we have no idea what
we are looking at, and other than what I have already said, we are none the
wiser.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However we do manage to
finish our visit in time to catch the next bus down to the village.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we arrive back at the boat by 12:30.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
now have to decide what to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
weather forecast is getting worse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The anticipated winds are up to the top of a 5 or bottom of a 6, from
the southeast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pilot book says
this port is untenable in such a wind, and that means we should move.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we decide we will go this
afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have a quick lunch,
pick up our laundry and set out just after 1:30pm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quite a feat for us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
are not going far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The aim is to
make it to Lipsi, about 10 miles away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Lipsi is the island where Calypso kept Odysseus for many years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is supposed to be a charming place,
but the harbour is small and only has one pontoon for visiting boats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we are a bit concerned about getting
a place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">For
a change, the wind is not on the nose, but it isn’t very strong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we put up the genoa and just motor
sail all the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are pleased to
see that there are places on the pontoon available, although unfortunately all
the places on the inner part (where it will be more sheltered) are taken and we
have to moor on the outer side of the pontoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have a deuce of a time trying to moor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The wind is a cross wind, just strong
enough to push us around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are
not helped by the man on the boat we are meant to moor next to shouting that we
are snagging his anchor with ours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is rubbish because I have barely put the anchor down and can see it
suspended only a few feet down in the sea and not touching anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the end, we just wind up in a space
about one boat space away from that complaining boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It isn’t a great job, but we are safely in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As
the afternoon goes on we see a lot more boats arrive and they make an even
worse job of mooring on the pontoon than we did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we don’t feel too bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By 6 pm the pontoon is nearly full, so we are pleased that
we did come away when we did.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Richard
has paid for us to stay here for three nights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The weather forecast is getting worse, with suggestions that
it will rain for the next three days!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are a bit worried about how long we can be here before our tank fills
us and we run out of water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
is water here, but it is not drinkable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, if we run out we will just have to fill the tank with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will be fine for washing and we will
just use bottled water for making coffee and tea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We only drink bottled water in any event.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So
we have settled in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We went to a
café for a drink and find they have internet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We may be able to pick it up from the boat with the aerial,
but we haven’t tried yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have
eaten on board, but expect we will use the local restaurants for part of the
stay. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a bit rocky on board
but we hope that will quieten down. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Richard hopes to take the time to do a few minor repairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We shall see what the weather does.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Go For It Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10912426324962893576noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6358306487857909730.post-46439904710514797512015-09-19T12:32:00.000-07:002015-09-19T12:32:10.999-07:00Saturday 19 September 2015 – Patmos<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
got up fairly early and managed to leave our anchorage before 9am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The weather seems to be on the
turn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although it is still hot and
there is little wind, for the first time we have seen some clouds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">But
as I have said, there is little wind and what there is again is on the
nose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So it is another day of
motoring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sea is glassy for
most of the journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have
decided to go north to Patmos because it is supposed to be an interesting
island and being north means we can travel with the prevailing winds back to
Leros in 10 days time or so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">However,
the weather forecast has something new in store for us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It says that by Monday evening, the
wind will strengthen and go around to the south east for two days!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is going to cause us headaches
because the majority of the harbours around here open to the south because the
wind rarely comes from that direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That means it will be difficult to find a harbour that will give good
protection in a southerly wind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
are on our way to Skala in Patmos, which the pilot book says is “untenable in a
south-easterly wind”, whatever that may mean.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">But
we carry on and arrive in Patmos at lunchtime.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is plenty of room on the quay and we put our anchor
down and reverse into a nice large space between two larger sailing boats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We do not take up electricity (which we
don’t need and which involves paying a deposit for an electronic key and having
to wait for the harbour office to open when we want to leave to reclaim our
deposit) and the water situation is a disappointment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There appear to be taps on the electricity towers, but there
is no water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If we want water we
have to call up a water tanker.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
don’t want to do that just to wash the boat, even though it really needs
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we just pay the 6 Euro
mooring fee and call it a day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">To
cool off we shower on board and then have a walk around the town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bit where we are moored isn’t very
interesting, but if you walk just a few hundred yards up to the town it is very
sweet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We manage to do some food shopping
so that we have plenty of provisions on board in case we have to hole up in
some remote anchorage after Monday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
have been scouring the pilot book to find a place which will be safe in this
south-easterly wind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is also
forecast to rain on Monday and Tuesday overnight!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Richard thinks he has found somewhere, but it is small and
we hope we will be able to find a berth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But we will worry about that on Monday. After all, the weather forecast
could change.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In
the meantime we are sussing out how to get to the Chora to see the sights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the island where St John had
his revelations and wrote the book of Revelations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So there are a lot of churches to go to and the cave where
St John heard from God about the Apocalypse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>OK, so
what’s a nice Jewish girl like me fussing about some Christian saint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, it’s all part of the culture I
guess.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">This
evening we had dinner in town and walked around finding the bus station where
we will catch the bus to the Chora.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
two sailing boats either side of us left this afternoon and now we are flanked
by two giant stink boats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is
also a swell and the boat is rocking a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I have no doubt we will sleep well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Go For It Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10912426324962893576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6358306487857909730.post-5550458943440895792015-09-18T12:34:00.000-07:002015-09-18T12:35:15.269-07:00Friday 18 September 2015 – Pandeli Bay, Leros <div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
tried to get up early and get away in good time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We partially succeeded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We managed to slip our mooring at 8:50am, better than we had
done before, but still rather late.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
weather is still nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a bit
cooler, much to my relief.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
forecast is for a force 4 or less wind, but on the nose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no realistic possibility of
tacking to our destination this time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So
we set out without putting the sails up and we motor all the way to Leros.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have been here before, and we will
return because it is this island where we will be leaving the boat for the
winter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, today we are not
going into the town we went to before, Lakki.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead we are going to anchor in a bay on the east coast we
saw last time, from a nice restaurant.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
get to Pandeli Bay at about noon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is a pleasant breeze and both the air and water temperature are
much more acceptable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The air is
about 26C and the water is 25C.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
have a little trouble setting the anchor and had to have a second go, but we
then seemed well placed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Richard
swam out to the anchor with his facemask and snorkel and confirmed that it was
well dug in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we had a very
refreshing swim and then lunch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
bay is quite pretty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are
looking up at a hill with 6 windmills on the top and 5 more larger ones, with
structures for sails below.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
is also a castle at the end of the hill, which at night is lit up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
just stayed on the boat all afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Richard did pump up the deflated side of the dinghy in case we wanted to
use it, but we couldn’t be bothered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We really just wanted a nice relaxed day and that is what we have had.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
are both reading the same book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The new version of the Millenium books written by another author (the
original guy having died).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have
eaten on board and are looking forward to a quiet night’s sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The wind did pick up in the bay this
afternoon, but now it seems to have settled down to a force 1, so that should
be fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a bit of a swell
coming in, but I hope that will just rock us to sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
have been very careful of my back and am taking the pills I got from the
pharmacy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems to be a lot
better and I hope I can give up the medication in a day or so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Go For It Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10912426324962893576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6358306487857909730.post-75738813916035043702015-09-17T12:10:00.002-07:002015-09-17T12:10:30.568-07:00Thursday 17 September 2015 – Vathi, Kalymnos<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
had our rental car yesterday and saw some more of the island.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The most impressive was the
Asklipieion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the ruin of a
3<sup>rd</sup> Century BC temple complex to the healing god.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There isn’t that much left, but they
have rebuilt the steps which shows the scale of the place, enormous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also went to see some of the beaches
on the tip of the island.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are
supposed to be spectacular, and were quite nice, but not a patch on say Hawaii,
or even the New Jersey coast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
guess we have just been spoiled.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Today
it was the plan to make it to Leros.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Richard looked at the weather forecast last night and all seemed
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The wind, as ever, is due to
be on the nose, and we knew that would be the case here because we are
travelling north west, which is where the prevailing wind comes from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But as it is only forecast for 7 knots,
that shouldn’t be such a problem.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
meant to leave quite early, but again it was 9:30 before we got away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just as we were leaving the couple on
the boat next to us asked where we were going and when we said Leros, they said
they were headed that way, but were not leaving today because strong winds were
forecast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So a hasty look again at
the weather forecast, and yes, the winds are going to be more than suggested
last night, but should only be a 4 or 5. So we set off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
put up the sails right away and get a reasonable wind of about 10-11knots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although the wind is blowing from the
direction we want to go, we can take long tacks and sail, not motor into
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This all starts very
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have said I hate tacking,
but that is only when we go back and forth in short bursts and hardly make any
headway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This kind of tacking,
where we go for 3-5 miles on each tack and are making good progress is fine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">As
expected the wind does build up and soon it has settled in to 15-17 knots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are still pointing up wind well and
making good progress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the sea
is now becoming rather lumpy and I decide it is time to take a seasick
pill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On we go and so does the
building wind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are not going to
try to get to Leros.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It will take
too long in these conditions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our
current tack is taking us towards Kalymnos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were there at Pothia on the way out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we will aim for another port.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>R has identified one or two and it all
depends where the wind takes us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">By
lunch time the wind is really up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It first started blowing 20 knots, so Richard took in a reef.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For myself, I would have done it
earlier as we have been heeling well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then, within half an hour the wind was up to 26 knots and it was beginning
to get rather challenging.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
is spray all over the place (we haven’t put the spray hood up in weeks) and I
am so cold in the strong wind that I have to put a long sleeved top on!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we wanted to go into the first safe
harbour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we approached the
island the wind went down at bit and the sea flattened a little.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we could take the sails down
OK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then, as we approached Vathi,
the wind disappeared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is down
to 2 knots, the sunning is shining and it is very hot and the sea is flat!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
go into the port, which is really just a little fjord type inlet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a very small village and a
quay where you moor on anchor, stern to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As we approach the quay, a boat leaves and it seems a perfect spot for
us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, we are warned by the
man who seems to direct all the mooring to wait until a tripper boat leaves,
because he has put his anchor down right across where the moored boats have to
put theirs!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That takes about 10-15
minutes and then we have to wait for another two boats to leave, but finally we
are in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hope we have put the
anchor down safely, but the pilot book does say fouled anchors are common here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
have a late lunch on board and then we are so hot we have to swim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Luckily there is a little corner of the
harbour buoyed off for swimming and it even has a shower.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we cool off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time we have done that the
harbour has more or less filled up!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We didn’t for a moment think it would get full at this time of
year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are pleased we got here
when we did.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
had dinner out in one of the restaurants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There isn’t much here, but there are 5 tavernas!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hope the winds will be a bit kinder
tomorrow and we will get to Leros. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Go For It Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10912426324962893576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6358306487857909730.post-76564605266471707122015-09-15T13:10:00.002-07:002015-09-15T13:10:49.712-07:00Tuesday 15 September 2015 – Kos<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
were up not too early, but early enough to make a decent start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The weather is still settled and the
forecast is for very little wind, but on the nose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we set out just on motor without even taking the sail
cover off the main.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a while
we think that the wind is building.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Richard decides to put out the genoa to boost the speed of the boat a
bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then he decides that the wind
is going up to 9 or 10 knots and as we don’t have very far to go, we should sail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But of course, about 15 minutes after
we get the sails up the wind dies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So after a short time we give up, put the sails away and motor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Of
course when we get within 3 miles of Kos Town the wind builds up to a force 4
and it is on the nose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it does
not cause us too much trouble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
marina remembers us and helps us to moor into a suitable space, so we are well
tucked up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">The
only problem is that I have developed a terrible pain down my right leg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As I am getting ready to leave the boat
it gets worse and worse and when we get to the marina office I can barely
walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A sit down in the office
helps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At first I thought it was
my bad knee acting up, but it is becoming very obvious that the problem is with
my back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has started to ache
badly and the pain in my leg is suspiciously like sciatica!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have taken some ibuprofin, but that
does not seem to have helped.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">At
the marina office they phone the coast guard for us to see if we have to check
back in to Greece.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To our delight
the answer is ‘no’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We still have
our DEPKA (private yacht certificate) so we are fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That relieves us of one job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next we walk (me very slowly) in to town, with a first stop
at the pharmacy where they sell me some stronger pain killers; I can only take
them with food, so I won’t know how effective they are until tonight or
tomorrow morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
are going to look for a Vodafone shop to top up the Greek sim on my phone and
the internet device.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, we
have goofed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We forgot that the
shops all shut for the afternoon, so we have to kill an hour or so before the
shop opens at 5:30.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
were worried about the immigrant situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is very obvious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On the beach just outside the marina we saw two collapsed large ribs,
obviously used by the immigrants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However the worst is the tented camp all around the police station and
right at the entrance of the Mediaeval castle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are dozens of tents, many looking fairly new.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The inhabitants are mostly young men,
but there are a number or women and families.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are a half dozen portable loos just by the police
station.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is ugly and dirty, but
there do not seem to be any problems with crime or aggression, that we can
see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the tourist shops
and cafes seem particularly keen on tourists being here, so maybe they are
suffering.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">After
we kill an hour having iced coffee, we get to the phone shop and top up our
devices so we are now connected!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So
after that we go back to the boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We have a quiet evening on board trying to save my back in the hope it
will get better soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have had
this once before on the boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
think it comes from twisting around while sitting in the cockpit trying to look
forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I should know better!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Nice
showers at the shower block and then dinner on board.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a pleasure to be able to do the washing up and not
worry where to drain the water!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
will stay here tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have
arranged to hire a car, so we can see some of the interior of the island.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Go For It Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10912426324962893576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6358306487857909730.post-63396638150800685892015-09-15T13:07:00.002-07:002015-09-15T13:07:33.819-07:00Monday 14 September 2015 – Knidos, Turkey<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Not
much happened yesterday, so I didn’t post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Really we just did domestic stuff including instructing the
agent to check us out of Turkey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We would have tried to do it ourselves, but everyone said it is nearly
impossible, so we spend the £20, and it is done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
also had a pleasant afternoon on the beach at a café where for the cost of a
couple of drinks we got nice chairs under umbrellas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For a change the water was quite cool and refreshing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can’t understand why.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">This
morning we hoped to leave by 9am, but didn’t make it until 10.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did some last minute shopping and
filled the boat up with water and off we went to Knidos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although we have legally checked out of
Turkey, everyone said there is no problem about coming here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We wanted to do that because it is the
site of a very ancient city going back 3 thousand years.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
left our berth and had no trouble taking up the anchor even though it was very
close to that of our neighbour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is not a breath of wind and it therefore feels very hot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no chance of sailing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In any event all two knots of wind is
on the nose, as usual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We did see
one boat going the other way with a kite up, but it was having trouble filling
the sail in this lack of wind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Knidos
is a pretty harbour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were not
sure what to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can anchor,
or there is a pontoon with alongside berths.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we went on the pontoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I have nearly forgotten how to berth alongside after
all this time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there was
someone on the pontoon to take our lines, so all went well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
had bought a bit of food to have on board, but not much and nothing very
exciting for lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So out of laziness,
we have lunch and dinner at the restaurant on the shore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we are paying for the berth there is
no need to do that, but it is hot and we have little on board.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">In
the late afternoon we go to the archaeological site and have an hour wandering
around the ruins which are very interesting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One point is that the town has a harbour on each side of a
peninsular.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are in the larger
one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The smaller one was used by
triremes in ancient times, but has now silted up and only has a couple of small
open boats in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But in ancient
times they used both and dug a waterway between them so they could always come
and go with the wind!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Very clever.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
have had a couple of swims off the boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now after dinner the wind has picked up a bit and it is fairly
comfortable, so I should be able to sleep and sit here in the saloon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 20pt;">Tomorrow we go back to Greece. The closest port of entry is Kos so we
are going there, but with a bit of trepidation as they still have a major
immigrant crisis. We shall
see. All we have read says it
isn’t dangerous, but it may be unpleasant.</span><!--EndFragment-->
Go For It Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10912426324962893576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6358306487857909730.post-44473172851897287852015-09-12T13:16:00.001-07:002015-09-12T13:16:07.931-07:00Saturday 12 September 2015 – Datca, Turkey<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
didn’t have a great night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sea
was a bit lumpy over night and I kept waking up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But notwithstanding that we get up fairly early because we
want to get away and arrive at Datca before the forecast one metre waves start
up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we do manage to leave just
after 9am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would have been nice
to have a swim before we left, but we decided that we really didn’t have the
time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We waved goodbye to the
Luries and then the anchor came up like a dream on the windlass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks again Jonnie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There
is a fair amount of wind from the beginning but initially it was on the
nose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sea was already getting
lumpy and motoring into the wind and waves was not the most comfortable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when we finally cleared the Island
and headed for the Turkish mainland we were far enough off the wind to
sail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we had quite a good sail
with the wind usually around 15 knots, but sometimes going up to 17.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we approached Datca the wind started
to die, so we decided to put the engine on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was just as well that we did and got into port when we
did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we approached there was
one other boat mooring in what looked like an awkward spot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We could see one other awkward looking
spot near there, when a boat left a really good easy to get into spot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So in we went and were safely moored,
having successfully dug the anchor in well as we reversed into the space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After that it appears that the port is
full and there are a number of boats anchored just in the corner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One reason to come here was to be safe
from a biggish wind and large sea forecast for tomorrow, so I am very grateful
that we are in a nice secure mooring space.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It
is very hot again, but as we have little food on board we go in to town to find
some lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We wind up in a weird
little café where we eat too much and it wasn’t very nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We then have a walk around the
town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We find a harbour official
who takes money for the mooring, which is quite expensive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we stop in one of the yacht agents
who confirms he can check us out of Turkey for us to leave fairly early on
Monday morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">After
that we find the market.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
huge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were told there was a
good market here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact everyone
we met talked about how good the local markets are generally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we are pleased to finally be in town
on its market day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t need
much on the boat, so I only bought a little bit of fruit and a huge bag of
Turkish delight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The stallholder
wouldn’t see me take less!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Similarly he talked me in to buying 100 grams of a herb mixture he makes
to use for grills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well at least I
can take that home on the plane!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
are opposite two cafes both which have WIFI.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first we used was the café we had lunch in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, despite being directly across the
street, we keep losing the connection to them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we went out to a bar also just across from us and got
their WIFI code.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hope we can
keep using that especially as they are playing horrible disco music very loudly
at the moment!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
had dinner on board and now just doing puzzles and chores.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will stay here tomorrow and if it
continues to be hot we will go to the beach, which isn’t far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, the strong winds this evening
have cooled the place down and it has got down to 27C here in the saloon!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Go For It Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10912426324962893576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6358306487857909730.post-39238636702318399412015-09-12T12:25:00.002-07:002015-09-12T12:25:23.217-07:00Friday 11 September 2015 - Panormitis Bay, Symi, Greece<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What
I forgot to mention in yesterday’s entry was how our windlass got fixed (we
hope).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we got in and Jonnie
came Richard did not call for an electrician, but instead they both looked at
the foot button and found the problem was pretty obvious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the wires had come loose and
needed to be soldered back in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jonnie borrowed a soldering iron from his friend Terry and an extension
lead from the restaurant and soldered it back in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They say it now works, but we have not tried to use it with
the weight of the chain and anchor yet!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But we really were very grateful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So
with a working windlass we decided to go with the Luries to Panormitis Bay on
the Greek island of Symi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have
not formally checked out of Turkey yet, or checked into Greece, but apparently
everyone does this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we set out
at about 11:30 am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At first there
is very little wind and we don’t even bother to put up any sail. Jonnie says he
is not a light wind sailor and we certainly aren’t because our boat just
doesn’t move in light winds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
very soon the wind comes up and up go the sails.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only problem is the proverbial one, the wind is on the
nose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it is suitable to take us
over to Symi and that is what we do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The wind eventually builds up to 15-17 knots, a really nice sailing
wind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I get a bit fed up with
tacking because you have to go at least twice the distance to get to your
destination, but even I have to admit we had a very nice sail.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Panormitis
bay is very pretty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There isn’t
much here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a monastery
but only the church seems to be really in use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of the buildings are let out as cheap holiday
accommodation for locals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are
at anchor, swinging (meaning no long line ashore) which is what we are used to
so we are content.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We go ashore in
the dinghy to see what little there is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The dinghy is not well inflated so we take the foot pump with us and
pump it up when we get tied up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unfortunately, by the time we come to use it later in the evening one
side has deflated again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We must
have a leak or the valve may be faulty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are going to have to do something about it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is always something.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">After
swims and showers we have an hour on the boat just relaxing and then take the
dinghy over to the Lurie’s boat where we have an excellent BBQ.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jonnie has a Cobb BBQ, as we do, but he
is much more adept at using it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
has roasted a whole chicken in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have brought Haloumi cheese to grill and Kofta type kebabs, together
with tomato salad and the last of my taboule.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we have a real feast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">But
it is now getting late and I have visions of Richard falling out of the dinghy
a few days ago, so we make it back to the boat safely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Luries would like us to go with
them to another local Greek Island, but we think it is best for us to go back
to Turkey to check out before returning to Greece.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So that is the plan for tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just hope I can take the anchor up with the windlass!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Go For It Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10912426324962893576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6358306487857909730.post-3555622087886999832015-09-11T00:50:00.001-07:002015-09-11T00:50:31.459-07:00Thursday 10 September 2015 - Sogut, Turkey<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
have agreed to meet Jonnie and Marion Lurie just around the corner in
Sogut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As they are not arriving
until after lunch, we have a leisurely morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do a bit of shopping so we have a few lunches on
board.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have a coffee at Osmans
to catch up on e-mails and download the Times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We get away a bit later than we hoped at about11:30am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As ever I am a bit concerned that the
anchor will come up and not be fouled, although we know we put it down where
instructed well out of the way of others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So
off we go and from the start I am not happy about the windlass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I seem to have to push very hard on the
foot button to get the upward pull going at all and then it is quite slow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After only a minute or two it stops
altogether.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hoped it had just
tripped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I go below to check
and find that it is still on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
means the windlass has packed up!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So what shall we do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
have two choices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first is to
go back to the berth and get someone here to fix it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The alternative is to try to get the thing up and meet the
Luries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have a berth reserved
at the Octopus Restaurant pontoon which has pick up lines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There might be someone there to look at
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alternatively we could go back
to Marmaris tomorrow to get it fixed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So
with that in mind, I start pulling on the anchor chain and to my relief and
delight it comes up quite easily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I manage to get most of the chain up and Richard comes forward to get
the anchor itself up, leaving me to steer in crowded surroundings!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I manage OK.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So
we are off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We only have 6-8 miles
to go, so we take it very gently and even sail for about half an hour, just on
the genoa because we know that around the next headland the wind will die.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We arrive in Sogut at 1pm and it is
very very hot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So after being
nicely assisted into our berth, first stop is to go swimming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are a bit surprised to find how
shallow the water is on the other side of the pontoon, where there is a swimming
ladder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is all very lovely and
peaceful. I manage to make a light lunch out of bits in the fridge and an
avocado bought nearly a week ago, which has just ripened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At about 3pm the Luries arrive and are
berthed right next to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then
their other friends, Terry and Sue come into the next berth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All very friendly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
have a quiet afternoon sitting in the sun and going in to swim frequently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before dinner we have everyone on board
for a drink, making my Caribbean rum punch, which goes down well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then dinner at the restaurant, where
the portions are small (gratefully) but very tasty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More yakking and swapping sailing tales and then late to
bed!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Go For It Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10912426324962893576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6358306487857909730.post-52895902653236054282015-09-09T12:20:00.002-07:002015-09-09T12:20:55.017-07:00Wednesday 9 September 2015 - Bozburun, Turkey<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
had a really good long night’s sleep, but still woke up rather groggy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think it is the heat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we had a nice swim before breakfast
to cool us off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
were slow to get moving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mike and
Julia came over in their dinghy to say goodbye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were going north to Datca.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are going back south to Bozburun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The weather forecast is for some wind,
although it might not be in the right direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So in hope we put up the mainsail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much to our surprise and delight there is wind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if we were to sail direct to
Bozburun, it would be on the nose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, we must detour out to sea to dump our holding tank, so we are
able to tack and sail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The wind
starts at only about 9 knots, but soon builds to 15-17 knots in line with the
forecast Mike got.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are going
very nicely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again our new clean
bottom is making a lot of difference and we are doing 6 knots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However as is usual the wind continues
to build.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is what Richard is
calling an Ealing (W5- westerly force 5), and now we are doing 7 knots or
better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then it starts to gust
20-22 knots and we are doing 8 knots. At this point I am getting a bit nervous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We should be taking in a reef with this
wind, but of course it is only gusts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When we finally get far enough out we dump the tank and turn towards
Bozburun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now the wind, still at
the top of a 5 and gusting 6 is from behind and we are having a very pleasant
romping sail all the way to port.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">When
we get to the bay the wind is still blowing at about 15 knots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the sea is flat and we have no
trouble taking down the sails and getting prepared to go in to the harbour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were hoping to moor where we were
the other night, next to Osman’s restaurant, not least because we could use
their showers, toilets and WiFi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But the harbour master is insistent that we should go on the other side
of the harbour, and as we are not regulars we can only comply. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later Richard speaks to the harbour
master who explains that a rally is coming in and have reserved the spaces we
were hoping to go into.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We manage
to get the anchor down in the place we are told and are tied up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Even
though there is a good breeze, it is still terribly hot, over 30C.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we decide to take Julia’s advice and
find a café on the sea front that has a terrace with a bathing platform.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However we cannot find anything
suitable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the bathing
platforms seem to belong to pensiones and apartments, not cafes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many only have seats in the sun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally we find a couple of beds near
an umbrella and negotiate a fee of 20 lire to sit there for the next couple of
hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We buy an ice cream from
the local supermarket across the way and then have a swim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we get out despite the fact that
the water is like a bath, with the wind we are quite cold!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I even have goose bumps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t last for long though, but we
are comfortable sitting here until after 6pm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So
back towards the boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We can’t
decide if we want to eat out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
ate out yesterday and I have food on the boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, it really is too hot to cook, so we have a drink at
Osman’s and then make reservations for dinner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Back
on the boat it is even hotter and now the wind has completely disappeared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we shower aboard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have trouble with the
electricity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We plugged in on
arrival and it was working fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However when we get back we find our line has been taken out of the
socket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I try to put it back
it blows the whole unit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I finally
find someone from the harbour to look at it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He doesn’t know much English, but understands ‘electricity’.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He comes over and puts our plug into
his own extension lead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite
this every time he plugs it in, it trips the whole unit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We aren’t running much and we changed
all our wires two years ago, so I can’t believe it is our system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It turns out it isn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He plugs us into a unit some way away
and it is fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we can now
charge everything up!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
have a very nice dinner at Osmans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We have starters and Richard orders chilli peppers in yoghurt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is so hot we drink through nearly
two litres of water!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Back
here on the boat it is still very hot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even here in the cockpit, I am dripping in sweat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I suppose we will sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Go For It Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10912426324962893576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6358306487857909730.post-49439348663688323502015-09-09T12:12:00.000-07:002015-09-09T12:12:04.991-07:00Tuesday 8 September 2015 - Kocabahce, Turkey<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It
has been a few days since I posted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Really the last few days have been quite eventful and we have really
been too busy for me to write this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>On Sunday we woke up after a very good sleep in Bozuk Buku. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was another beautiful scorching hot
day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least two of the boats on
the pontoon said they were going to stay for the day and we were tempted to do
the same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we contacted the
Solanos who said they were free and could meet us in Bozburun today, so we
decided to depart, somewhat reluctantly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
did not have far to go, but again the only wind there was, was on the nose and
we had to motor all the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
we got to the bay we rang Mike on the VHF and found that he was anchored around
the corner to have lunch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we
decided to do the same, anchoring just outside the harbour where we ate up bits
from the store cupboard and had a swim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The only disappointment was that the water is murky, and we have become
so used to crystal clear waters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">At
about 3pm Mike and Julia turned up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They anchored in front of us and came over where we had a good yak
before we both went into the harbour and moored stern to on anchor in front of
the Solano’s favourite restaurant, Osmans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The staff there all know them and he is a special person
called Mr Mike!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The town is quite
extensive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a cold drink at
Osmans, and then Julia and I went to the smaller of the two major supermarkets
and I bought a few more essentials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It has been extremely hot here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We find there is a place to swim, but it is now too late for that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
use Osman’s showers which are quite good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But even after a more or less cold shower, by the time I dressed for
dinner I was dripping again!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We first
had drinks on board ours, we had some left over ice from yesterday and Mike had
bought some more, so we had rum punch, which was appreciated by all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We then had a very pleasant meal with
the Solanos, being treated like royalty by the staff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was so hot I could barely eat, but did manage an ice
cream for desert! By the time we stopped yakking it was 11:30 and I was dead
beat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The heat really gets to
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So back to the boat and then
out like a light under the fan, despite the heat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">On
Monday we did a bit more shopping around the town, which is even more extensive
than I first thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can see
why it is a popular place and it is particularly good for provisioning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So after tasks were completed we made
our way in convoy with “Mr Mike” to Dirsek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a really pretty bay which opens up from a quite
narrow entrance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only problem
is that it is quite deep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is
a restaurant at the end where you can tie up to their pontoon, but we really
wanted to have a joint BBQ, so we wanted to anchor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Mike
was a great help to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
directed us where to put our anchor down and he supplied a long line to go
ashore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He even secured it for us!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only problem was that we couldn’t
set the anchor well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We left it
not dug in just to have lunch and then after lunch set it again, this time R
remembering to dig it in!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All
seemed fine so we swam over to the Solano’s boat for an afternoon cold drink
when suddenly Mike jumped up and went to his dinghy, saying our boat was not
right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are not sure what
happened, but another boat was trying to anchor in the same area and may have
tripped our anchor with theirs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Anyway the upshot was a bit of panic getting us back on the boat, and
resetting the anchor yet again!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Part of the problem was that where we had to put the anchor down was
15-20 metres deep, and we had to put out a lot of chain to keep in place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the last attempt R went to look
with the face mask and snorkel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
can see the chain, but can’t see the anchor and assumes that is because it is
completely dug in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope so.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
knew the wind would get up in the afternoon, and it did, gusting up to 17 knots
as it swirled over the hills around the bay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We seem to be well placed and not dragging, but our windage
meant that we were moving from side to side, which was a bit of a worry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">However,
by the time we left the boat to go to the Solanos for our BBQ, the wind had
dropped at bit and we were happy to leave the boat feeling it was secure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hadn’t even put the engine on our
dinghy so Mike very kindly picked us up and took us to the boat with our
contribution to dinner of chicken kebabs and tabboulet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
first had drinks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Julia made up
Cuba Libres (Rum and Coke).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
very refreshing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mike then tried
to light the BBQ and we found we had problems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The wind was still blowing moderately and in a direction
that blew flames and sparks from the BBQ right into the cockpit!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We persisted for a while, but it was
getting unbearable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then Mike got
very clever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He let out his stern
line so that the boat swung around and we finally got to a position where we
could use the BBQ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Dinner
was nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mike made lamb cutlets
and peppers and added to my food with a tomato and avocado salad we had quite a
feast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">It
was getting quite late when I suddenly realised that Richard had had too much
to drink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was worse than I
expected. We somehow got him into Mike’s dinghy and we assumed that as he had
managed that he could get on our own boat OK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we were wrong!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He fell in twice trying to board the boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mike was really worried he might drown and kept hold of him
to keep his head above water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
was on the boat hysterical.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Finally we got him aboard and I had to get him down into the boat to
shower off and put him to bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
was furious with him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I
had a terrible night waking up constantly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was worried about the boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With all the trouble we had this afternoon securing it I
still wasn’t sure that the anchor wouldn’t drag during the night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it did, it would be impossible for
me to deal with it on my own.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So
I woke up this morning feeling really lousy only to find R in fairly good
spirits with no ill-effects of his overindulgence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He really remembers little and doesn’t remember falling into
the sea at all!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Today he is on the
wagon!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">After
the traumas of yesterday we have decided to have a quiet day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mike and Julia have suggested we stay
together and go to a bay they call Paradise Bay, otherwise known as
Kocabahce.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a restaurant
with a pontoon with pick up lines and plenty of opportunity to swim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So that sounds perfect.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">When
we set off I pull up the anchor and it is clear that we were very well set and
had nothing to worry about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
blooming thing comes up full of sand and it takes a while to clean it off!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Paradise Bay is only around the corner
and we are there in under an hour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, out best laid plans are a bit scuppered because the restaurant’s
pontoon is fully reserved for a Sunsail flotilla! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But for a change we hit lucky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead of having to anchor again in deep water with a line
ashore they have one last mooring buoy for us to use!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So they help us to moor up and we are neatly tucked up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mike and Julia are not so lucky but
they manage to anchor right next to us and the staff help with their line
ashore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will have to have
dinner at the restaurant, but that is fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have even managed to reserve a table! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 20.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
go over in our own dinghy for a change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That is fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The motor
works even after it has been serviced!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Dinner is a simple affair, but we have another very pleasant evening
with the Solanos. This time Richard keeps to his one beer and stays sober. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are invited back for coffee, but I am
so tired after the traumas of last night that we just went back to the boat and
I flaked out quite early.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Go For It Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10912426324962893576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6358306487857909730.post-86082569344744663802015-09-06T14:06:00.001-07:002015-09-06T14:06:07.178-07:00Saturday 5 September 2015 - Bozuk Buku, Turkey<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">We
are back on the boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We flew out
to Turkey on Thursday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a
long boring day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With the two hour
difference in time it was after 10pm when we landed, so we had to have some
supper before we got to the boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We arrived after midnight and had some trouble finding the pontoon where
they moved our boat to after it was relaunched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we eventually found it and fell asleep despite it being
very hot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">On
Friday we used the car to go to the big local supermarket to provision the
boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite the supermarket
being part of the Tesco group, I couldn’t find much to buy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was warned that Turkish food shopping
is a bit limited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we managed to
get some stuff together to feed us for a few days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had the boat cleaned inside and out and it is spotless,
except for one big problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When
they stripped down the hull and sanded the keel, they didn’t seal up the keel
openings in the interior of the boat (despite Richard’s request that they do
so).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So when I opened the
cupboards under the sinks I found black dust on everything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I therefore had to spend some time
cleaning after all, washing everything in those cupboards.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Today
we finally got away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It all took
longer than we hoped, but we were off by noon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We knew that the wind would be on the nose for most of the
way so we took advantage of a favourable wind for half an hour crossing the bay
in Marmaris, just using the genoa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>With its new Coppercoat antifouling the boat slid through the water
beautifully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the rest of the
day we motored into headwinds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
weren’t planning on going far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
just went around the corner to Ciftlic, which was recommended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>was a pretty bay with a beach at one end and some
restaurants with pontoons at the other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We thought we would like to anchor for the night, so we went at the
beach end of the bay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were not
lucky with our attempts at anchoring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The first time I put the anchor down, Richard went hard in reverse and
instead of setting, the anchor dragged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When I took it up it was just full of weed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we tried again to find a sandy patch, and thought we had
succeeded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, when we went
for a swim Richard looked at it with the face mask and snorkel and found that
although the anchor was on sand, it was just lying there and not dug in again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So
we had lunch and then decided what to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There were three possibilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Try to anchor again and hope we could set it well enough to stay the
night, go on one of the restaurant pontoons, or go to the next harbour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We chose the last alternative, which in
some respects was a bit of a mistake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We knew that the wind would be on the nose going the way we planned, but
we didn’t expect it to be a force 4, touching 5 with a very choppy sea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we were bobbing all about and worst
of all there was a lot of spray making a mess our newly cleaned boat
(especially the shiny chrome bits) and it also soaked our new sun shades, on
the front windows.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">But
we make it to Bozuk Buku before it is dark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a lovely spot with an ancient citadel on a cliff
overlooking the bay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We decided at
the last minute to go onto a restaurant pontoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They have pick up lines and the situation is pretty, under
the citadel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We do have to eat in
the restaurant, but that’s OK, because it really is too hot to cook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we bought some ice this morning, so
after a swim, I make us rum punches, and we have two each!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then dinner at the restaurant which is
very average, but I have a nice grilled fish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I am in the cockpit in the pitch dark typing this
because it really is too hot below.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not sure what we will do tomorrow. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Go For It Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10912426324962893576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6358306487857909730.post-83987034993577185182015-07-29T16:45:00.004-07:002015-07-29T16:45:50.935-07:00Epiblog Wednesday 29 July 2015 – London<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial;">So we have made it home.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">We
had three nights in Marmaris marina.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">We solved the grey water problem.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">
</span><span style="font-family: Arial;">We found that with the rubbish bins there were water butts to put grey
water in.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">So all I had to do was
do the washing up in a bucket and then pour that into the water
containers.</span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;">I have no idea why the
marina staff did not tell me this.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The weather was incredibly hot for the whole time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we did all the work sorting out the
boat very slowly and interspersed with regular trips to the pool, which was a
godsend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We arranged for the boat to be lifted out, scrubbed and antifouled while
we are away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also ordered
covers for our windows into the saloon to keep the sun out and hopefully reduce
the temperature inside the boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have also got lazy so for some considerable sum we have arranged for the boat
to be cleaned inside and out before we return.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With luck we will be able to get away quickly in September.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">On Sunday Richard collected a hire car and we left the boat and went to
Gocek.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We booked into a lovely
boutique hotel with a pool and spent the afternoon there going in to town for
the evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The place is really
just based on boating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is in a
large inlet which looks lovely to anchor in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will see if we want to spend time around here when we
return.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The flight back was long, but uneventful and now we are home until
September.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We will be in touch
then. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Go For It Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10912426324962893576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6358306487857909730.post-81445770813747538982015-07-23T13:43:00.003-07:002015-07-23T13:43:46.465-07:00Thursday 23 July 2015 - Marmaris, Turkey
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So up early to make our way to Turkey. The weather forecast was for virtually no wind, so we were
pleasantly surprised to have a top of a force 4 to start out. It did give us some problems leaving
our mooring as the bow thruster wasn’t strong enough to overcome the wind and
we had to reverse to get out of the harbour, avoiding another boat with a
fouled anchor!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We had a nice sail for about three hours. However, sometime after midday the wind started to die away
and we had to motor most of the rest of the way. However, with our luck the wind picked up to the top of a
force 5 just as we were getting to the marina to moor. But it calmed down and by the time they
brought us to a berth it was fine.
The only problem is that this berth is really too narrow for the
boat. We are hard against the two
neighbouring boats. The marina
staff had to really help us to get in.
But as we were safely moored I was relieved and pleased that there was
no more difficult mooring to do until the autumn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Well that is what I thought, but I was wrong. When we went to the office to organize checking in to Turkey
they told us we have to take the boat to the other side of the harbour to the
Customs office to check in! If we
had forewarned them that we needed to check in to Turkey, they would have
directed us there to start with.
We were just making ready to take the boat out again, when the marina
man said that his agent at the Customs office said we should leave it until
tomorrow because there is a bad swell at the dock there and it is
dangerous. So we will have to go
out again tomorrow morning and then try to get back in this little space. I am also a bit fed up with the fact
that everything is being charged for.
The signing it to Turkey is going to cost us a further 150 euros. Of course we could have tried to do it
ourselves, but it does seem more complicated than Greece and we just want to
get it over with.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The marina is far away from the main town, but has a lot of facilities. There is a toilet and shower block
right at the end of our pontoon and it is air conditioned! There is free WIFI, which seems to work
very well and there even is a swimming pool, where we spent the late
afternoon. My only real gripe is
the problem over “grey water”.
Here in Turkey it is illegal not only to discharge your toilet waste,
but also all washing water from the sinks. The main problem this raises (given that there are good
showers and toilets) is washing up after meals. I had assumed that there would be facilities for that, but
there aren’t. I gather from people
that they just cheat, but I can’t see how we can do that in the marina, where
water coming out of the boat will be noticed by the sound if nothing else. So this evening I have washed up in a
bucket and will have to dump it into our toilet. That means that we will fill the tank quickly and have to
move the boat again to go to the pump out station! The whole thing is crazy particularly as we understand that
the Turks dump only partially treated sewerage into the sea in much greater
quantities than boats could ever make.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It is incredibly hot here.
It was nice by the pool, but now there isn’t a breath of wind and
despite our swims and showers I am bathed in sweat. We are also being plagued by mosquitoes despite covering
ourselves in repellant and spraying the boat with insect killer. I’m not sure I will get any sleep
tonight. It is time to go home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />Go For It Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10912426324962893576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6358306487857909730.post-47726486504679261082015-07-22T12:38:00.004-07:002015-07-22T12:38:52.972-07:00Wednesday 22 July 2015 - Mandraki Harbour, Rhodes<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So this is our last scheduled day in Greece.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a useful morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We gave our documents in to the agent to check us out of
Greece and then collected our washing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The tee shirts are all still stained.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does anyone have a solution to suntan cream staining
clothes?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the sheets and towels
are all clean and the rest can be taken home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I even did hand washing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Richard’s very light Batik shirts and all the swimsuits are
now clean and ready for the next bit of the journey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We were going to get together with the family after doing our chores,
but Eva wasn’t feeling well so we stayed on our own for the day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First we had a walk around the old town
and went to see the ancient synagogue and the Jewish museum, which were very
interesting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then this afternoon
we went to Ladiko, otherwise known as Anthony Quinn Bay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is on a rocky outcrop and there was
just a wooden staircase from a pier to enter into the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It has beautifully clear water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A shame we didn’t have face masks and
snorkels, but there is little need because you can just see from the surface!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We met the family here on the boat to go into Rhodes town for dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We went to a somewhat more up market
restaurant, so the children complained about the lack of pizza and things on
the menu!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But they ate dinner and
things went well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So off they went
and now we are planning the sail to Turkey tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">One thing has struck us here recently.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We keep seeing boats flying American flags and are registered
in Delaware (a well known flag of convenience).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We thought they were owned<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>by Russians, as we heard Russian spoken a lot on such boats.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But today one of those American flagged
boats moored next to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Speaking
to them we find that they are Turkish owned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our neighbour told us they register the boats in Delaware
because taxes in Turkey are so high.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We guess that the Russians may be charterers of these Turkish boats, or
perhaps the Russians are taking advantage of Delaware’s anonymity arrangements
to conceal their assets?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Go For It Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10912426324962893576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6358306487857909730.post-1122300242946641172015-07-22T04:20:00.002-07:002015-07-22T04:20:32.707-07:00Tuesday 21 July 2015 - Mandraki Harbour, Rhodes<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Well, as you can see we did make it to Mandraki Harbour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On Monday morning an engineer came
early to look at the bow thruster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The problem was not with the break pin accessible from the inside of the
boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When this happened last year
we had to have the boat lifted out of the water to sort it out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But here they suggest that a diver go
down and look at it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So within
about an hour a diver came.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
didn’t even use a tank, just free dived with a snorkel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He took photos of the thing trying to
spin and found that the nut holding the propeller on had come loose, just like
last time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he was able to
tighten it up in the water, and so by lunchtime we had a working bow thruster.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">At the same time Richard organized a hire car for us for the next three
days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As it was getting on in the
day we decided to stay in the marina for another night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had a good domestic afternoon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My phone ran out of charge so we topped
that up in Rhodes new town and then did some shopping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We met up with the family in the
evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They came to the boat
where we had drinks and then we went into Rhodes old town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We walked around and had dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have parked the car in Mandraki
Harbour right where we were moored before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After dinner we decide to leave it there so it will be easy
for us to pick up when we move the boat back to Mandraki.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We walk to the end of town and find a
taxi to take us back to the boat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">On Tuesday we left the marina at about 9:30, went out to sea to dump the
tank and got back into Mandraki by 11:30.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We are moored in nearly the same place as before, but we are on a pick
up line which means that we have not had to put the anchor out and are not in
danger of a snagged anchor on the way out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is a relief especially as we saw one boat unsnagging
his anchor from another on our way in!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I am now preparing for our departure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have a ton of laundry including all our linens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We find the local laundry and leave two
large bags of washing with them to collect tomorrow morning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we have brunch at Starbucks to get
their wifi before going to Haraki to meet up with the family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a very late night last night they
are emerging rather slowly and we wind up having a late lunch on their beach
and a dip in the sea before going to Lindos for the evening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We managed to buy Abi a tee shirt and a
new pair of sandals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We thought we
were doing really well before we managed to lose Molly!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is a terror.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She just wanders off all the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But usually she is in view, but this
time we couldn’t find her anywhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It took nearly half an hour of searching with half the shop keepers on
the street looking for her before they tracked her down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mind you, I am not sure Colin isn’t
getting his comeuppance in this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
can’t count the number or times we lost him as a child because he too was
always running off!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So with one contrite Molly we have dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time we finish it is very late again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t get back to the boat until midnight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can’t post this as we won’t have
internet until the morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Go For It Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10912426324962893576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6358306487857909730.post-41011582259786850082015-07-19T10:04:00.000-07:002015-07-19T10:04:06.534-07:00Sunday 19 July 2015 - Rhodes Marina<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I haven’t posted for some days due to not too much to say and lack of
internet and charge on the computer!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We stayed in Lindos for two nights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We really enjoyed it, but we found that the town has also
changed a lot in the last 36 years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Colin and the family came to us on Friday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was supposed to arrive by 10am, but it was more like 11
or later by which time it was getting really hot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The idea was to go up to the Acropolis before midday, but we
wound up there at the height of the sun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The journey started well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The children rode a donkey up while we adults tried to keep up with
them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually Molly refused to
get on the donkey initially, but finally allowed herself to be put on the
beast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the top all the children
got bored even though the place is spectacular.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Worse was to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After half an hour Wednesday got sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A bad headache and she felt weak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was probably the heat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She wasn’t wearing a hat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we had to sit her in the shade and feed her paracetemol,
and iced water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She came to and we
walked back down into the town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
has many more tourist shops, cafes and restaurants than we remember.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But later in the day we did find a
house we think was the one we rented all those years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The family stayed all day and we had a
Thai dinner in the town!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Strange
but true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Getting back to the boat
in the dark was a bit of a challenge, but fine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">On Saturday morning we were getting ready to leave and return to Haraki
Bay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had an interesting
encounter with another boat owner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We had noticed that there was a rather tatty looking ketch anchored in
front of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had a rigid tender
on davits on the side of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
skipper was also rather ragged, about our age, thin and bearded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So as we were having breakfast he rowed
over to us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wanted to ask us if
we knew about the Canal du Midi, which of course we do and were able to show
him the book and give him some information.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It turns out that he had just arrived in Greece from the Red
Sea!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is Dutch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has sailed around the world
twice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was sitting in the bay
for a few weeks because he couldn’t sign into Greece as he didn’t have liability
insurance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He hoped that was being
arranged.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So Saturday lunchtime back in Haraki. We arrive in time for lunch and
have it on the boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we meet
up with the family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are
anchored fairly close in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact,
so close that we hit a rock on the way in!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are so near the shore that even Abi and Wednesday can
swim to the boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So they come out
with Colin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As we are sitting in
the cockpit with them Wednesday shouts and says look at that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And what do we see, Molly (all of 4
years old) in her inflatable armbands doing her doggy paddle half way out to
the boat!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She probably would have
made it and all, but Colin did jump in and assist her to the boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later all the family come on board and
we have a bottle of champagne.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
also had nibbles, but Molly ate most of those!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Then we have another crisis with children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After a very nice dinner Abi managed to swallow a ring pull
from a can of Coke!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More frantic
efforts to find out what to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Richard and I could barely get an internet signal but from what I found
and later what Colin found, the answer was do nothing it will go through her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This morning we left Haraki after breakfast and went to the next bay,
Agathi, which has a lovely sandy beach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Again, it is not a recognized anchorage, but it had a lovely sandy
bottom where the anchor dug in beautifully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we stayed there for the morning swimming and had lunch
before making our way back to Rhodes town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We thought we would try the new marina.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We understand they are taking boats though
they are not officially opened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
are no showers but there are supposed to be toilets, electricity and
water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After five days at anchor
we are really in need of all of those.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So with absolutely no wind we motor back to Rhodes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just as we get there the wind picks up
to 15 knots!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We make our way into
the marina and are directed to an alongside berth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That seems a good thing, until we make a thorough mess of
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t get the stern line to
the shore in time and the now strongish winds are blowing us off and
sideways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Richard is bowthrusting
madly and finally with the stern on the quay we manage to get both the stern
line attached and the bow line to the mooring man who has to pull us into the
space because the bow thruster has stopped working!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t know if it has just overheated, or it really is
broken, but I rather think it is the latter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is nothing to do about in until tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have three choices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first is to call an engineer
tomorrow morning from here and see if he can fix it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second is to call our agent in Mandraki and see if he
can get someone to push us into a space there and find an engineer there as we
were planning to be there for three days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The last is just to get help getting in and out of Mandraki and go to
Marmaris and see if they can fix it while we are away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So we go to check in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
place is a disorganized mess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Firstly we find we cannot connect to electricity because the berth we
are on only has outlets for large ships with too much capacity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we are sitting in reception trying
to charge up the computer as I write this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is also a problem with the water.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We probably will be unable to connect
because the tap needs a bit adaptor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They may be getting adaptors tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only toilet is in reception, but at least it is open 24
hours a day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They will accept
credit cards, but their card machine is not working!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we ask when they will open officially (bearing in mind
they were supposed to open two years ago) they say maybe next year!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But at least they are making use of the
facilities and there are a fair number of boats here, although not nearly the
capacity particularly as they are mooring everyone alongside, not stern to.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So when this computer is more fully charged Richard will take me for a
drink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I need one.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Just one point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This entry
sounds like the trip is being a disaster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But really we have had a lovely 5 days at anchor enjoying the hot
weather and the lovely seas and the family, or course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Go For It Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10912426324962893576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6358306487857909730.post-75567355806882357262015-07-16T13:35:00.000-07:002015-07-16T13:35:14.932-07:00Thursday 16 October 2015 – Lindos, Rhodes<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So we were up fairly early and guess what, the children were early.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were expecting them at 10, but they
came at 9:30.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have agreed
to sail to Lindos with Eva and the children while Colin drives there so they
have a car to take them home at the end of the day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We are all anxious to get to Lindos because that is where we had a
wonderful family holiday with my sister and her family 36 years ago!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Colin even remembers it even though he
was only 6 years old!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Lindos is only 5 miles from Haraki Bay, but we will have to take a
detour out to sea to empty the holding tank.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nonetheless, the journey should only take two hours.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We leave Haraki by 10am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is no wind, so we don’t even bother with the sails.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Under engine we let Wednesday and Abi
hand steer the boat and they do a pretty good job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However by the time we get out far enough to empty the tank,
the wind has picked up a bit and we can sail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we put the sails up and proceed at a rather stately pace
of 4 knots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would have been a
very nice little trip if Molly hadn’t got seasick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was all bouncy and happy and then suddenly started to
cry and wound up being sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Luckily we were able to get her to lie down in the cockpit and sleep, so
she wasn’t too bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just before we
came into harbour Abi also decided she wasn’t feeling well, but she was fine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So we are finally back in Lindos.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We have to put the anchor down at the far end of the bay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It takes a couple of goes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We try to anchor first nearer the
beach, but there are a lot of rocks and we snag one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we move further in and I spy what looks like a sandy
patch and put the anchor down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Richard goes out with the snorkel to check on it and it is well dug in
to sand, so we are happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is a
lovely spot even if there are quite a few boats here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we are so far from the town that we will have to put the
engine on the dinghy to get to and fro.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>First we all have a swim off the boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It really is hot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even Molly in her inflatable arm bands swims.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then Richard takes Eva and Molly first to the beach and then
comes back for me, Wednesday and Abi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We find a small landing stage where it looks like we can tie up the
dinghy and Colin is waiting for us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Well, the beach is rather different than it was 36 years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then there were about two dozen wooden
beach umbrellas and one small taverna.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now the whole bay is covered in beach umbrellas and sunbeds and it is
ringed in tavernas and cafes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
is heaving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Colin says it took him
30 minutes to drive into the town because there is so much traffic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It is now lunchtime so we make for a beach restaurant and have a rather
long lunch there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At nearly 3pm I
am dying from the heat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Richard
and Colin want to go and explore the town and see if they can find the house we
stayed in all those years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
don’t have the energy to go and anyway, I only have bathing suits with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So the boys go off exploring and we
girls take sun beds and spend the afternoon on the beach going into the water
every 20 minutes to manage to keep a bit cooler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a shower near our chairs, so that is also good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had forgotten how good the beach is
for the children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is sandy and
very gently shelving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The children
are having a great time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We decide not to have dinner with the family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are hot and tired and would like to get back to the boat,
where there is food for dinner on board.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So we leave the children at the beach and dinghy back to the boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When we get there we find it is still
very hot even though it is after 6pm and the sun has gone from the boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I go below and find that it is 36C in
the boat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it is not much
cooler on deck!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So we just laze in
the cockpit for the rest of the evening until I have the nerve to go below and
make us some hamburgers for dinner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We eat in the cockpit but are still hot. So at about 10:30pm we have a
skinny dip.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is very nice and we
finish off with a cold shower on board.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Why was I so worried about hot water?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t manage a hot shower here if I tried!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This is not exactly a quiet spot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are a lot more boats here than there were this morning and there
is a disco or the like over the water playing music very loudly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The funniest part is they played
Saturday Night Fever, which was what was playing here 36 years ago!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Go For It Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10912426324962893576noreply@blogger.com0