Twenty Two Fathom Cove to Marmaris Yat Marin

Wednesday 13 June

We moved yesterday successfully to a mooring buoy not too far away from Bula and were joined by two other sailing yachts, Aventura and Freya, with Foxy and Margaret and Brian, all friends of Geoff and Anne, had coffee and then later drinks on Bula before going to Amigos for dinner. 

Moved around the boats today with coffee on Sequel and then 6.30 p.m. drinks on Freya.  Had a lovely evening and didn't return to Sequel until nearly midnight.

Leaving our lovely spot in Twenty two fathom cove

Thursday 14 June

A return trip to Marmaris Yat Marin for the next three months.  A six hour trip on a bit of a swell and into the wind which meant I sat on the back doing nothing most of the way except feel pathetic - so glad when it was over again. Unfortunately Marmaris Yat Marin, where we have a contract, is full - absolutely bursting at the seams with more yachts than we have seen anywhere and most of them apparently not going anywhere and many of them (20%) with For Sale notices.  Initially we were put on an outside wall in very shallow water near to a car park but only for one night and despite our pessimistic view of the marinero saying he would be back in the morning to move us he was.

Outside wall near Alpha, Marmaris Yacht Marin

Friday 15 June

Safely on Juliet 23 for the next three months and visited immediately by Godze Yachting to review repairs made in the winter and to discuss varnishing doors while we are away.  By 2 p.m. the engineer had visited to inspect the port engine leak and by 3 p.m. he had changed the seal, which the Captain had believed to be the problem last October, but had been persuaded to change the water pump instead.

Saturday 16 June

Jobs to be done: outboard off dinghy and stowed away, dinghy collapsed, anchor locker washed out etc. etc. and all in 30+ degrees.

Two whole more days before we leave on Tuesday morning for Dalaman Airport to return via Istanbul to Heathrow. We plan to return in September but first we have the arrival of our second grandchild to look forward to in August. 

Sunset - Marmaris Bay

Gocek to Twenty Two Fathom Cove

Saturday 08 June

We arrived in Gocek on Thursday afternoon having had good weather and a reasonable sea all the way and back into D-Marin again for the fourth time, principally to use the wonderful laundry there but we managed a couple of hours on the beach too.  We headed out towards Skopea Limani (Gocek bay) to Twenty Two Fathom Cove and attempted to pick up a buoy using our new 'hook and grab'' boat hook.  Unfortunately the boat hook was defective and although we did manage to pick up the buoy a lot of bad language came first.  Later we collected Geoff & Anne from Bula to eat in 'Amigos' the restaurant at the head of the bay.  'Restaurant' is a word that does nothing to describe where we ate. But the food was delicious, especially the wild boar, which we were told afterwards was probably mixed with a little goat.  The business is run by a family, Dad is the main man/;chef and his wife and two daughters prepare everything else. The son drives around during the day in a pink speed boat selling bread and also cake, baclava, tomatoes, olive oil etc.  I particularly like the son as he chats me up every morning and I get an occasional gift of a large tomato, for example.  

Amigos restaurant - Twenty two fathom cove

I am slightly concerned that Greta has a requested a map - but of the restaurants we have been too rather than the area! But below is a map of the area:

Sunday 09 June

Missed the bread boat so went ashore in the dinghy and Dad provided us with fresh bread straight from the oven.  I am thinking of sending the picture of the bread oven to AGA to see whether they can make some improvements on their design. Dad is hilarious and made me laugh asking me whether my husband was angry with him. I didn't like to tell him my husband is more worried about his son chatting me up.

The Captain, Amigos and the Bread Oven

Monday 10 June

A trip back to Gocek to take back the dodgy boat hook.  We anchored in the bay this time and the Captain went ashore in the dinghy while I made sure the anchor didn't drag.  Quite what I was going to do if it did was a bit of a mystery but I was given a lesson before he left in how to start the engines and was instructed to let out more anchor chain. Fortunately it did't, unfortunately all the boat hooks in the shop were dodgy and we will have to make do with the one we have.  We motored back to a different bay. Sarsala Bay, for the rest of the day and night and I managed to use said dodgy boat hook and nab the mooring buoy first time.  Nothing, however, is that simple.  I was then sent ashore in the dinghy, bearing in mind this has only one rowlock and is NOT rowable, using the outboard engine which I am ashamed to admit I have probably never used before, after very quick instructions from the Captain, to put the shore line on a bollard amongst the rocks.  No problem getting there and the line on the bollard but then the engine cut out and I couldn't start it - and neither could I row back to Sequel which seemed like miles away.  The Captain couldn't help either other than deserting the ship and swimming, which is not one of his many skills.  After a little while a wonderfully kind gentlemen from a nearby yacht (not sure what nationality but excellent English) came to my rescue and towed me and the line back to Sequel.  I was very embarrassed and not very happy with the Captain.  All his fault for not making sure the dinghy was in order and not teaching me previously how to use an outbboard,  I have since had more lessons (?to the family - can you imagine?) and am writing an 'Idiot's guide to boating' for future reference. Later on, however, we were rewarded with the sight of a large turtle, very close to the surface of the water, swimming past the stern.

Tuesday 11 June

Had a message from Geoff & Anne that there were mooring buoys available back in Twenty Two Fathom Cove and we headed back before breakfast,  I had had a lovely swim yesterday evening but this morning the water in Sarsala Bay was looking very murky and we weren't entirely sure what it was so we returned and we have another evening meal planned at Amigos - baby goat casserole anyone?

Sequel in Twenty two fathom cove

Three dinghys going out to dinner at Amigos 

Kas to Kekova Roads

Saturday 01 June

Shopping for supplies - found a brilliant green grocer and bought loads of fruit and vegetables for 14tl (£5.00) and a great bread shop - and then a fresh orange juice sitting by the harbour before returning to the marina for an afternoon by the pool.  Since we left less than a week ago a new system has been put in place at the pool and now a charge of 25tll (not quite £10) is made, but this included food to that amount - a no brainer - lunch as well by the pool.

And then dinner out in Kas at a restaurant Matt & Heather had been to about eleven years ago - they must have been babies!?

Sunday 02 June

My birthday. Really not having any more after this one. But had a lovely day and so looked after.  Didnt lift a finger.  Breakfast provided by the Captain and the Crew made lunch and dinner.  The weather was very overcast to start with but with a very warm southerly blowing.  By early afternoon though when we set off for Kekova Roads the sky had cleared and the sun shone again.  It took about 3 hours to get there amongst small islands and spectacular scenery.  We anchored for the night at the end of a long inlet, Polemos Buku, with a few other yachts and the crew had great fun jumping off the boat to swim and we were all very excited when the Captain spotted a couple of turtles. Had loads of messages and e-cards, for which thank you, FaceTime with the Bighams and Hannah and a phone call from my sister and many smuggled on board presents, again thank you.

Polemos Buku

Monday 03 June

Beautiful morning and we set off for an almost completely landlocked bay, Ucagiz Limani (only Matthew could pronounce this despite telling us a few times how to) only 15 minutes away where we anchored again and then set off in the dinghy to investigate the small hamlet and to buy bread for lunch.

Whilst there we were persuaded to take a boat trip on a supposedly glass bottom boat, although for the life of me I couldnt see how this could be, to visit the sunken city, which was probably ancient Simena, and destroyed by two earthquakes which took place within about 200 years of each other and around 100BC. We set off at 2 p.m. and by then the wind had picked up. Initially the boat we took, on our own, seemed a little rocky but we were fine.  A slight change of plan took us to Kale Koy, a very picturesque spot, and we walked up to a castle whre we were rewarded with a view right over Kekova Roads.  On the slopes outside the castle there are numerous sarcophagi and a lonely sarcophagus still stands half submerged on the western side of the small bay.

We then set off in the boat across the bay to the main ruins of the sunken city along the side of the opposite island but the wind by now was a yachtsman gale (force 4/5) and we rolled our way over hanging on for dear life.  We were entertained intially by two of the front deck sunbeds (foam mattresses) blowing into the water and the boatman trying to rescue them by reversing up to them at least half a dozen times. There was a stage when we thought we wanted to turn back but we were committed (or perhaps should be) and then we tried hard to be enthusiastic at the remains of the sunken city.  We discovered that the 'glass bottom' consisted of a small trap door in the floor of the boat with a glass pane to see the ruins but it was hard to see anything other than a lot of disturbed water under the boat. Heather got the giggles.We were then taken to a small bay, miraculously calm, for a swim and a snorkel to see more remains but unfortunately within less than 5 minutes we were joined by two other tripper boats and the bay was full.  It was a huge relief to get back to the jetty (I use the term loosely) at Ucagiz and then amazed at the boatman's tenacity in mooring his boat. (See photo below of Captain's disbelief).

But we still had to get back on Sequel against the wind in the dinghy, about a quarter of a mile, away.  By the time we did we were wet and exhausted but in an odd sort of way had really enjoyed ourselves - particularly the part where we got back on Sequel. And then the wind died, typically, and we had a lovely calm evening on the boat.

Tuesday 04 June

Slightly worried about the forecast so set off back to Kas but had a good trip and spent the day relaxing on the boat and in the early evening the crew helped wash the salt off.

Wednesday 05 June

A last morning at the pool as departure day for the crew.  Very sad to wave them goodbye at 4.30 p.m. for their flight back to Bristol.

Thursday 06 June

An early start back to Gocek hoping to take advantage of reasonable conditions - had not been looking forward to a repeat of ten days ago - but so far so good and I might even be able to make coffee now. And while writing this spotted Mike on Skype so had a chat with Sue & Mike on Lollipop in Corsica. The Captain has also heard from Geoff and Anne so might also meet them tonight for that dinner - although slightly concerned that this is now a euphemism for more crew arriving? 

A gulet making way on our port side
N.B. very flat sea!

Wednesday 29 May

Another lovely day so the Captain set to washing off the salt, a trip to the laundry and some shopping too and an afternoon on the beach although there was an incredible swell coming in and there were waves crashing on the beach.  Later we went into the town for our evening meal - Bruce asked for a table for four which I was a little surprised by and he told me Geoff and Anne had decided to join us.  We waited for ten minutes or so and while looking for Geoff and Anne amongst the passers-by I say my son closely followed by his wife - after a double take and a few tears we had dinner with our new crew (no sign of G&A still) - a complete surprise hatched between Matthew and Heather and Bruce since we left home. And I thought they were going to Spain.  Thank goodness I had taken the bedding to the laundry after the FCP and her crew left.

Thursday 30 May

There really was a meeting set up with the cover people who arrived at midday and after their departure we returned to Deep Bay for the night.  Slightly different weather conditions this time, although still quite windy, and we picked up the mooring buoy first time. And this time I was accompanied by both the new crew to swim the line ashore - unfortunately the three of us got stung by baby jelly fish on the way which wasnt serious, a little like a nettle rash and soon went.

Naile making a template for the new front cover with the Captain watching

Checking the mooring buoy in Deep Bay,

Friday 31 May

After a bread delivery from a small local boat we set off back to Kas - again, a better journey than last Sunday but the Captain and new First Mate were slightly anxious about two Turkish warships on firing practise nearby - and there in time for a swim before dinner in town in a restaurant that we couldnt find last time.

Saturday 01 June

Rest day - shopping in town and dinner out again this evening before, hopefully, setting out for Kekova Roads tomorrow - again.