Marmaris to Margie's Bay, Turkey
Starting out in 2015
Well off we go again, as winter draws in in the Southern hemisphere we make for our big escape to the warmth and sun. However each year we suffer greater anxiety as Rita plummets further into her senior years, in dog years she is 15, but I have just googled it and that makes her 105 in human years. Disregarding the disappointment that she hasn't received a telegram from the Queen, it just causes upset when she sees us packing our suitcases. When Joe proceeded to take them out to our hired car she started to quiver violently, it was just awful. But of all the most fortunate timing, Autumn and Jenni, our lovely house sitters and Rita company for this season, arrived up the drive. After suggesting Rescue Remedy, of which I had some packed at the bottom of my chaotic suitcase, Autumn went in and performed Shiatsu on Rita, and she emerged to the living room and warm fire with almost a big grin on her face. Just before we left I peeped in, and the three of them were huddled in front of the fire, I think Rita hasn't given us a passing thought since.
So off to Auckland, and onto Air NZ, NZ2, to LAX (Las Angeles) We received several raised eyebrows when we said we were going through LA, and we were to find out why in 12.5 hrs time. For some ridiculous reason, the only glaring reason being that they have no confidence in their own ability to organise luggage to arrive at the correct destination, we had to collect our luggage in LA and clear customs, just to re check in for the Turkish Airlines flight, out of the very same terminal. The queues were astronomical and on either side of us were two lots of New Zealanders who were clearly not going to make it to their connecting flights around USA, and it was extremely doubtful if we would also. We were over 2.5 hours getting through it all, and just when we thought we were almost there, with 5 minutes to spare, I got a fright going through their claustrophobically cylindrical X-ray cubical as it swung around me, so they decided I was a serious threat, suspected my lympho sleeve to hold some danger and my carry on bag waited a further 5 minutes for someone to inspect it and find out that the book was no threat and I also therefore held no threat. We just made it, 3 hours after our first steps onto USA soil.
We stayed out near the airport at WOW hotel, and had surprisingly a lot of umph left in us, so we took the train into Sultanahmet, the old city. We do love it there, back to our favourite restaurant sitting beside a lovely Brazilian couple. The train system is wonderful, but so crowded. The Turkish are very polite on the whole, three times on this return journey gentlemen stood to give me their seat just to stand themselves. Poor Joe, who is the senior of us both, was left to stand.
Onto another Turkish Airlines, to Dalaman and to our waiting home for the next few months. She had a polished hull and antifoul underbelly as promised, so this year it was a joy to just walk onto her in the water, though we think that is a treat we will only allow ourselves for this year. And they parked us right out on Bravo, about as far away from all the action as they could, in fact an English couple who wandered past one evening told us it was a full km around to the bottom of our pier. I would say to Joe, it's like being in the country, and look at our view!!! On our first route march back to the office we saw Martin Napier on Therapy, he is from Greytown and a good friend of my cousin, so funny. And Vanessa and John from England, were at happy hour, our first one since being back, and they were at our last happy hour before leaving last year. It is so funny how one bumps into people so randomly.
So the next few days were getting sails on, popping in on the dolmus to Marmaris, and getting things ship shape, and enjoying happy hours and our cheap marina meals with Martin. Joe enjoys the best ever pepper steak for $20NZ.
One of my journeys to the office I walked past the finest example of hydrangeas I have seen, quite a spectacle for a little old hydrangea grower from Armstrong Rd. Jane and Deb, you would be quite impressed, the joys of a dry climate, not even a glimpse of powdery mildew, couldn't even see a mite. They were just beautiful
Finally off we went, the big escape from the sanctuary and sheltered life of the marina and familiar faces. We had a good trip down to Bozuk buku, not much sailing of course, right on the nose as expected. We had planned to have a night at anchor at the end of the bay, but the nutter of a restaurant worker on shore changed our plans, first of all a rather weak man came out on his tender to ask us to tie to his buoy or quay, and then tried to tell us that people coming into the bay wouldn't be able to see their restaurant because our all of 37ft yacht being in the way. Then to follow him a more forceful person came out, and threatened to come back at night. Concerned at what he might have in mind we lifted our anchor and went back to our favourite place under the Citadel, where they greeted us like long lost friends, and a good decision was made.
We rather optimistically raised our main sail when we rounded the corner after leaving Bozuk Buku, 3 other yachts did the same, so in good company we puffed alomg until it all ran out, typical!! But it was a comfortable gentle little motor into Dirsek, a very cozy bay, where we stopped for two nights, and we had very nice neighbours both nights. I had great plans of walking up the hill to look down on the harbour but I am ashamed to say I was lured by my book, not even much swimming, the water has been unusually chilly, even had to have a blanket over us for part of the nights sleeping. We have moved onto Marti marine where we enjoy their resort like surrounds for a couple of days. Things have changed a bit in this area. Marti marine has put the squeeze on the other little restaurants at the head of the bay and forced them to take down their little pontoons, so the marina is much fuller with yachts than in other years.
After here we will be edging our way north, leap frogging along the Turkish coast until the Meltimi wind irks us too much. We plan to come down through the Greek islands, we are watching with great interest in their ardgy badrgy in this Euro in or out situation. It is possibly going to be a bit of a different Greece, even out on the islands. It might be back to the barter system
It hasn't been very hot yet, perhaps that is why we haven't felt the full effect of the Meltemi winds, but it has discouraged us from swimming much yet also. We are really finding the seas deserted, usually awash with sails, but today coming down to Margie's Bay, (so named because this is where we received the call 4 years ago that my mother, Margie, had just passed away) we could count the yachts on our hand. I would love to know what it is like in Greece for sailors at the moment.
So that is all for now. The next rant will perhaps have more to say on Greece, but in the meantime,
This is Wrighteau out
Goloogooley and Goroshurus
So off to Auckland, and onto Air NZ, NZ2, to LAX (Las Angeles) We received several raised eyebrows when we said we were going through LA, and we were to find out why in 12.5 hrs time. For some ridiculous reason, the only glaring reason being that they have no confidence in their own ability to organise luggage to arrive at the correct destination, we had to collect our luggage in LA and clear customs, just to re check in for the Turkish Airlines flight, out of the very same terminal. The queues were astronomical and on either side of us were two lots of New Zealanders who were clearly not going to make it to their connecting flights around USA, and it was extremely doubtful if we would also. We were over 2.5 hours getting through it all, and just when we thought we were almost there, with 5 minutes to spare, I got a fright going through their claustrophobically cylindrical X-ray cubical as it swung around me, so they decided I was a serious threat, suspected my lympho sleeve to hold some danger and my carry on bag waited a further 5 minutes for someone to inspect it and find out that the book was no threat and I also therefore held no threat. We just made it, 3 hours after our first steps onto USA soil.
We stayed out near the airport at WOW hotel, and had surprisingly a lot of umph left in us, so we took the train into Sultanahmet, the old city. We do love it there, back to our favourite restaurant sitting beside a lovely Brazilian couple. The train system is wonderful, but so crowded. The Turkish are very polite on the whole, three times on this return journey gentlemen stood to give me their seat just to stand themselves. Poor Joe, who is the senior of us both, was left to stand.
Onto another Turkish Airlines, to Dalaman and to our waiting home for the next few months. She had a polished hull and antifoul underbelly as promised, so this year it was a joy to just walk onto her in the water, though we think that is a treat we will only allow ourselves for this year. And they parked us right out on Bravo, about as far away from all the action as they could, in fact an English couple who wandered past one evening told us it was a full km around to the bottom of our pier. I would say to Joe, it's like being in the country, and look at our view!!! On our first route march back to the office we saw Martin Napier on Therapy, he is from Greytown and a good friend of my cousin, so funny. And Vanessa and John from England, were at happy hour, our first one since being back, and they were at our last happy hour before leaving last year. It is so funny how one bumps into people so randomly.
So the next few days were getting sails on, popping in on the dolmus to Marmaris, and getting things ship shape, and enjoying happy hours and our cheap marina meals with Martin. Joe enjoys the best ever pepper steak for $20NZ.
One of my journeys to the office I walked past the finest example of hydrangeas I have seen, quite a spectacle for a little old hydrangea grower from Armstrong Rd. Jane and Deb, you would be quite impressed, the joys of a dry climate, not even a glimpse of powdery mildew, couldn't even see a mite. They were just beautiful
Finally off we went, the big escape from the sanctuary and sheltered life of the marina and familiar faces. We had a good trip down to Bozuk buku, not much sailing of course, right on the nose as expected. We had planned to have a night at anchor at the end of the bay, but the nutter of a restaurant worker on shore changed our plans, first of all a rather weak man came out on his tender to ask us to tie to his buoy or quay, and then tried to tell us that people coming into the bay wouldn't be able to see their restaurant because our all of 37ft yacht being in the way. Then to follow him a more forceful person came out, and threatened to come back at night. Concerned at what he might have in mind we lifted our anchor and went back to our favourite place under the Citadel, where they greeted us like long lost friends, and a good decision was made.
We rather optimistically raised our main sail when we rounded the corner after leaving Bozuk Buku, 3 other yachts did the same, so in good company we puffed alomg until it all ran out, typical!! But it was a comfortable gentle little motor into Dirsek, a very cozy bay, where we stopped for two nights, and we had very nice neighbours both nights. I had great plans of walking up the hill to look down on the harbour but I am ashamed to say I was lured by my book, not even much swimming, the water has been unusually chilly, even had to have a blanket over us for part of the nights sleeping. We have moved onto Marti marine where we enjoy their resort like surrounds for a couple of days. Things have changed a bit in this area. Marti marine has put the squeeze on the other little restaurants at the head of the bay and forced them to take down their little pontoons, so the marina is much fuller with yachts than in other years.
After here we will be edging our way north, leap frogging along the Turkish coast until the Meltimi wind irks us too much. We plan to come down through the Greek islands, we are watching with great interest in their ardgy badrgy in this Euro in or out situation. It is possibly going to be a bit of a different Greece, even out on the islands. It might be back to the barter system
It hasn't been very hot yet, perhaps that is why we haven't felt the full effect of the Meltemi winds, but it has discouraged us from swimming much yet also. We are really finding the seas deserted, usually awash with sails, but today coming down to Margie's Bay, (so named because this is where we received the call 4 years ago that my mother, Margie, had just passed away) we could count the yachts on our hand. I would love to know what it is like in Greece for sailors at the moment.
So that is all for now. The next rant will perhaps have more to say on Greece, but in the meantime,
This is Wrighteau out
Goloogooley and Goroshurus