Wednesday 9 September 2015

Tuesday 8 September 2015 - Kocabahce, Turkey

It has been a few days since I posted.  Really the last few days have been quite eventful and we have really been too busy for me to write this.  On Sunday we woke up after a very good sleep in Bozuk Buku.  It was another beautiful scorching hot day.  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.  But we contacted the Solanos who said they were free and could meet us in Bozburun today, so we decided to depart, somewhat reluctantly. 

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.  When we got to the bay we rang Mike on the VHF and found that he was anchored around the corner to have lunch.  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.  The only disappointment was that the water is murky, and we have become so used to crystal clear waters.

At about 3pm Mike and Julia turned up.  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.  The staff there all know them and he is a special person called Mr Mike!  The town is quite extensive.  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.  It has been extremely hot here.  We find there is a place to swim, but it is now too late for that.

We use Osman’s showers which are quite good.  But even after a more or less cold shower, by the time I dressed for dinner I was dripping again! 

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.  We then had a very pleasant meal with the Solanos, being treated like royalty by the staff.  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.  The heat really gets to me.  So back to the boat and then out like a light under the fan, despite the heat.

On Monday we did a bit more shopping around the town, which is even more extensive than I first thought.  I can see why it is a popular place and it is particularly good for provisioning.  So after tasks were completed we made our way in convoy with “Mr Mike” to Dirsek.  This is a really pretty bay which opens up from a quite narrow entrance.  The only problem is that it is quite deep.  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. 

Mike was a great help to us.  He directed us where to put our anchor down and he supplied a long line to go ashore.  He even secured it for us!  The only problem was that we couldn’t set the anchor well.  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!  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.  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.  Anyway the upshot was a bit of panic getting us back on the boat, and resetting the anchor yet again!  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.  After the last attempt R went to look with the face mask and snorkel.  He can see the chain, but can’t see the anchor and assumes that is because it is completely dug in.  I hope so.

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.  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.

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.  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.

We first had drinks.  Julia made up Cuba Libres (Rum and Coke).  It was very refreshing.  Mike then tried to light the BBQ and we found we had problems.  The wind was still blowing moderately and in a direction that blew flames and sparks from the BBQ right into the cockpit!  We persisted for a while, but it was getting unbearable.  Then Mike got very clever.  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.

Dinner was nice.  Mike made lamb cutlets and peppers and added to my food with a tomato and avocado salad we had quite a feast.

It was getting quite late when I suddenly realised that Richard had had too much to drink.  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.  But we were wrong!  He fell in twice trying to board the boat.  Mike was really worried he might drown and kept hold of him to keep his head above water.  I was on the boat hysterical.  Finally we got him aboard and I had to get him down into the boat to shower off and put him to bed.  I was furious with him.

I had a terrible night waking up constantly.  I was worried about the boat.  With all the trouble we had this afternoon securing it I still wasn’t sure that the anchor wouldn’t drag during the night.  If it did, it would be impossible for me to deal with it on my own.

So I woke up this morning feeling really lousy only to find R in fairly good spirits with no ill-effects of his overindulgence.  He really remembers little and doesn’t remember falling into the sea at all!  Today he is on the wagon!

After the traumas of yesterday we have decided to have a quiet day.  Mike and Julia have suggested we stay together and go to a bay they call Paradise Bay, otherwise known as Kocabahce.  There is a restaurant with a pontoon with pick up lines and plenty of opportunity to swim.  So that sounds perfect.

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.  The blooming thing comes up full of sand and it takes a while to clean it off!  Paradise Bay is only around the corner and we are there in under an hour.  However, out best laid plans are a bit scuppered because the restaurant’s pontoon is fully reserved for a Sunsail flotilla!  But for a change we hit lucky.  Instead of having to anchor again in deep water with a line ashore they have one last mooring buoy for us to use!  So they help us to moor up and we are neatly tucked up.  Mike and Julia are not so lucky but they manage to anchor right next to us and the staff help with their line ashore.  We will have to have dinner at the restaurant, but that is fine.  We have even managed to reserve a table!


We go over in our own dinghy for a change.  That is fine.  The motor works even after it has been serviced!  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.  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.

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