Mobile phones and lobsters

Whoever first thought it would be useful to include the torch function in mobile phones may not have envisaged that the waiters in a remote Turkish taverna could not survive without it. We watched live lobsters being fished out of their holding cage in the sea by the light of a pair of mobile phones.

Up early for 06:00 departure from Kapi Creek for the long leg west to Bozuk Buku. A lumpier trip than expected , but thankfully the forecast thunderstorms stayed over the mainland and over Rhodes. Bozuk is a glorious setting with an old citadel guarding the bay. Crystal clear water, quite a few degrees colder than usual.

Local traders politely offered various wares from dried figs to shirts and rugs.

The great escape (another close shave)

Finally cast off from Gocek en route to the west. First stop Kapi Creek.

The second photo is the view from the barber's chair, where the skipper had the usual close shave and haircut. No need for a comb for a few weeks.

The forecast is reasonably gentle for the next few days, picking up to F4-5 at the end of tomorrow's trip, but unfortunately thunderstorms seem to be everywhere.

Yesterday afternoon's cleanup had a wonderful Buster Keaton moment. I coiled the hose on the pontoon, and picked up the hose and the deck brush to stow them on board. As I was about to step on board I noticed that only one of my sandals was still on the pontoon. I guessed I had swept it into the water while dragging the hose, so looked carefully in the gap between boat and dock. No sign. I looked all round the immediate pontoon behind KJ. Still just one sandal. I thought it had gone, then as I moved to the boat, realised it was dangling from the shaft of the brush behind my back. Glad nobody filmed it.

Endless complications

Yet another night in Gocek! This was partly caused by the skipper's indisposition (the misbehaving head) and partly by the failure to get all the tidy-up work on KJ finished before everyone in Turkey downed tools to celebrate the end of Ramadan.

Somewhat quieter on KJ without the temporary younger crew, now safely home.

Nigel had to finish adjustments to the new solar panel mounting and arrange for his bimini man to adjust the bimini.

All done. Tanks full, decks scrubbed, charts consulted, provisioning complete, paperwork sorted, so we should be off properly in the morning. The only thing that might mess this up is the weather. Two big thunderstorms in the last four days, with floods and problems not far away. Maybe more books will be read before we really get away.

A wedding nearby last night provided some entertainment, particularly with the Heath Robinson apparatus for shooting the glittery stuff into the air.

Pirate Treasure

Friday was the final day's sailing for Young Youngs. It involved a sail to the well-known but hard-to-find pirate lair on Tersane Island. The cunningly disguised entrance to the bay was no problem for the sharp lookouts, and KJ was soon anchored in the bay, and securely tied to the shore thanks to First Mate Eoin.

The children found Captain Flint's hidden treasure map, which showed the treasure was buried 4 paces North from the old olive tree that stood to the west of the third ruin on the shore. First Mate Eoin took the ship's short-boat along with his desperate companions Catfight Chloe, Fearless Francesca , and Blackheart Barney. They landed near the third ruin, found the tree, and with the ship's compass found the buried treasure. Meanwhile Sleepy Sebastian was held hostage on KJ in case they made off with the treasure.

After a quick swim, they prepared to make their escape, only to find an ally of Captain Flint had crossed their anchor and had them trapped. First Mate Eoin cowed the miscreants with a few sharp words and the good ship KJ sailed out of the cove to head for home. Just in time! Captain Flint's pirate ship, complete with skull & crossbones flag, appeared from Fethiye with a raucous crowd of rampaging pirates, intent on recovering the treasure to fund a night of debauchery and ice-cream. KJ made it safely back to Gocek, where the treasure was exchanged with local traders for jewellery and a magnet. Phew!

Starting Young

Sailing to Tomb Bay proved to be a success. Not sure that Seb is ready to be left alone at the helm yet, but Francesca looking like the able-seaman (non-gender-specific term).

The lunchtime fish looked very fine, and only the determined veggie failed to scoff them.

Fabricating a stainless steel frame, engaging multiple men to fit it, and working overtime to get the new solar panel fitted before the end of Ramadan and the ensuing celebrations, is probably enough to make the bank manager swoon.

No-sailing day

Seb celebrated enthusiastically the idea of a shore-based day, while Barney was content to decorate his face with chocolate ice-cream in a more restrained declaration of approval.

A bit of quiet reading and negotiating maintenance activities kept the older generation busy - or at least out of mischief.

Dinner in Ozcan took several phases, with industrial sized spaghetti to defeat the children, very fine sea bream for Chloe, and a later selection of mezes for the ancients.

Beaten dockets

After a delayed flight and late arrival the younger generation were still able to face a sail and a swim. We didn't lose any, and found our way to Round Bay and back without mishap. A bit of knot practice, a lot of looking around, and a couple of heroic parents. Chloe managed to look quite relaxed on the wheel.