Wednesday, 24th March 2021

Our last day in Kas Marina had arrived and the wind was still raging. There was water splashing everywhere and we realised we had one of the suckiest spots in the Marina. Tim had tied a few extra ropes on the jetty and we had our fingers crossed that we where safe.

In the morning it was a bit quieter a first and Dot and Jonathan came over for a cup of tea and to stock up their groceries. I also took the opportunity to get a load of washing done as our tub was full and there was no way I could hang anything out on the boat in this wind. After we had finished our tea and Dot had done her shopping the wind had picked up again and I was so worried about them going back to their boat, which was anchored in the bay. The dinghy seems so insufficient in this weather. I was so grateful once they arrived safe and sound back to their boat.

I had asked Nina to take off her clothes to be washed, so she changed into new clothes and after I came from dropping the washing, she came to me and said “Mummy I think I have another tick” And sure enough there was another small one of the little nasty buggers that had attached itself to her neck. Afterwards we figured out that it was the same hoodie she wore on the day when they were collecting firewood that I had just asked her to take off to take to the washing. It must have sat in the hoodie. So we got the tool out again and luckily the tick hadn’t buried its head yet. Nina said she could feel it bite. Once again my essential oils came out (Frankincense, Tea Tree and Rose) and I rubbed them on and around the bite and gave her some homeopathic remedies, having all fingers crossed that she didn’t catch anything nasty from the tick. Luckily the hoodie is now washed and dried and hopefully we don’t have any more of the critters on board. It was the first time ever we had ticks.

The kids did some schooling, I de-stalked my dried herbs, Tim organised some audiobooks for us all, I prepared dinner and we all had our last night attached to the Kas Marina jetty.

The next morning we had a hot Marina shower and then prepared to leave the jetty and park nearby Dot and Jonathan in the bay again. The wind forecast was a bit less and Dot and Jonathan said, that they feel it was more comfortable out in the bay than at the jetty in this wind. They had been in the same spot as us before we came and got tossed around a bit as well in the wind and swell. Once we were anchored we had a quite afternoon and evening.

Friday is market day in Kas, so we set out with Dot and Jonathan to explore the market and stock up with fresh fruit and veg. But first it was schooling in the morning. It was such a nice market. Not too crowded and so many yummy things. Besides fresh fruit, veg and herbs we also bought fresh cheeses, a goat sausage and the kids bought some dried fruit. I just love the Turkish markets. There is so much to see and explore. All the spices, teas, spice pastes, the interesting cheeses, syrups, dried fruit and nuts, eggs, fresh yogurt and butter and cream, pickles, honeys, foraged mushrooms. Its foodie heaven. I do appreciate our New Zealand farmers market too, we are lucky to have so much variety and talented growers and makers. But its soo expensive in New Zealand. Shopping on a Turkish Farmers market is light on the wallet and rich for the senses and of course its slightly exotic for us to discover all the new things. Its one of my favorite experiences.

After all the walking and exploring and bargaining and buying we were tired and hungry, so decided to have a gozleme and a drink at one of the lovely seating area pop up restaurants. Gozleme is a very popular and common Turkish pancake that can have sweet or savory fillings. Tim and I shared an Ayran (salty, fermented liquid yogurt drink) and the rest of us had either Turkish tea or freshly pressed orange juice.

It was perfect timing getting back to the boat. The kids wanted to go to have an art class with Jonathan (we did that in Athens every week), so Tim popped them over to Sunday. Once I had tidied away our yummy purchases the wind picked up full speed again, as if someone had turned on a switch. It can be so sudden. Jonathan braved the wind again with his dinghy later in the afternoon to drop the kids back to our boat. We settled in for a blowy evening once more.

The next morning we had schooling again and then I prepared a picnic lunch to go for a walk to the Amphitheatre. We all needed to move and get some fresh air after having lots of stationary time on our boats in this wind. Dot and Jonathan came with us and at the theatre we met the Pisces 11 crew, who had by chance also gone for a walk. We all had a picnic together and then later walked back to the boats. Nina made 3 flower crowns for herself, Dot and me, which we wore in the evening. The yellow flowers smelt like honey.

We had showers again in the Marina, stocked up some little things for Tim’s birthday the next day and then went over to Dot and Jonathan’s on Sunday for good bye drinks. Once back Tim snuggled in bed, while I baked his birthday cake.

It was a bit sad to say good bye so soon, but the Sunday crew wanted to go and spend a month in Finike Marina where we had just come from and we needed to move towards Fethyie to hopefully pick up our remaining residence cards.

Tim and I got up early next morning. I made Tim coffee for a change as the 28th March marked his 2nd birthday on Polly and his 1st birthday in Turkey. Luca got up early too and made some Crepes for breakfast while I prepared a fruit salad.

We left around 9.30 and waved a last good bye to the Sunday crew. We had a 44 nm ahead of us to Gemiler Island. It was an uneventful sail, with a mix of motoring, motor sailing and just sailing. We arrived at 6 pm at Gemiler and we briefly saw Aannsha and Barry from ABSea who where also anchored there.

We stern tied to some rocks and I prepared dinner, while Tim BBQ’d the salmon I had bought for his birthday.

We had a quiet evening and decided the next day we would sail further on to Fethiye, as it is market day in Fethyie on Tuesday and Luca was needing new shoes and a few clothes – he grows so fast, you can almost watch him do it.We had a slow morning and Tim said he was not feeling great. We left 12.45 and had 14 nm to Fethiye.

There was pretty much no wind, so I motored mostly, while Tim had a rest in bed and the kids did some schooling. It was a sunny and mild day in Fethyie and our new anchor set the first go. Previously with our Delta anchor we sometimes had to have 5 attempts in Fethiye as the bottom is mud. Tim took Lucy to shore and then he snuggled in for the night. He had a fever, so topped him up with Vitamin C and homeopathic magic and oils. I played some games with Nina and we did some crochet.

The next day the small captain Luca took me and Nina to shore and us 3 set off to the market. Tim still wasn’t feeling all that well, although his fever had gone, so he had another rest day. The kids and I had a ball at the market. Its amazing how they have gained so much confidence to interact freely and happily with the vendors and the vendors visibly enjoy the contact and bargaining with them too. Luca found some sporty pants and a smart jacket as well as a pair of sandals and walking shoes.

Nina wanted a sporty thin summer jacket and her and I bought a pair of flip flops in anticipation of spring and summer. She also found a couple of pairs of pants as all of hers were getting small and grubby too. We bought some strawberries and grapefruit and took a break in one of the eating stalls to fill up with Gozleme and juice before making our way back to the boat. We all had such a good time again and I am so grateful, that the kids and us can have those experiences together. I really hope it opens their minds and grows respect and appreciation for the different cultures and people on this planet.

There was thunder and rain forecast for the afternoon and evening, so we just made it back in time when we heard the first rumbling in the sky. Again Lucy was so scared of the thunder, so we all were preoccupied in trying to console and comfort her. We all snuggled in for crochet, audiobooks, movies or reading.

The next day was the last day of March, which marks my birthday. I was treated to a yummy breakfast with pancakes Nina made, fresh strawberries from the market and Tim’s yummy coffee.

We all headed in to town for a walk. I wanted to go to our favorite yarn shop, as a good friend had sent me some birthday money and with my blanket project coming to end I had a few new projects lined up in the crochet department. Tim went to the chandlery – his favorite shop, while Nina came to the yarn shop. Its our little heaven. We both went back and forth in the rows and rows of yarns to find our treasures. The sales people there already know us and always have a few words of kindness and fun about regular visits. This time Nina was named “golden rose” I guess because of her golden hair and we were asked if we would like some tea. But we knew the boys would probably wait impatiently. Luca doesn’t enjoy either the yarnshop or the chandlery, so he opted to wait in a café and indulge in free internet attached to his screen and we all met back there.

Tim bought some things for dinner at the supermarket and we headed back as there was more thunder and rain forecast. But first at the port by the fishing boats we saw a man selling Fresias – one of my favorite flowers and I used to get them in Germany for my birthday.

Lucy had another unsettled afternoon being scared of the thunder. Nina and I did some crochet and I finished my audiobook “Pride and Prejudice”. At first I found it hard to really comprehend the old English language, but after I got used to it I really enjoyed this old classic. There is something so enchanting about those older stories and books. There is no violence or sex or constantly changing bigger and better action. I like the simplicity of the story and their lives. I don’t even know how to describe it – it was so comforting and still thrilling despite me knowing the ending already. Its definitely one of my favorite classic books.

Tim prepared some chicken pies for dinner and also bought a bottle of prosecco for my birthday, so we had a yummy dinner and quite evening.

I had mentioned to Tim a while back that I wanted to see the documentary “The Octopus my teacher” and he organised it for my birthday, so after dinner we settled in to watch and all of us where enchanted by this beautiful and touching story. So beautifully made and told. I was secretly glad I had never eaten Octopus, but I had been feeling drawn to be vegetarian again for some time now. I was vegetarian for 15 years and started eating some fish when I got pregnant with Luca and after a few more years gave into all of my family wanting to eat meat. At home I made sure that the meat we ate was organic and ethically kept, but here we have no idea where it comes from. I definitely want to be vegetarian again at some stage, but at the moment it just goes into the too hard basket as I am overruled by meat eaters and I am simply too lazy to figure out the logistics of having 2 meals of everything in such a tiny kitchen and fridge and oven space. Seeing movies like the above refreshes my knowledge and feeling how unnecessary it is to eat meat and that all those creatures we eat have to suffer for our benefit. I don’t feel good about that.

The next morning Tim went to chandlery again to buy some light bulbs for our 2 compasses, which we couldn’t see at night. They were already broken when got the boat and Tim reckoned it would be good for longer and night passages to see the compass. He managed to repair them both with his kiwi ingenuity – there was more to it than simply just exchanging 2 lightbulbs as usual. I admire him for figuring all those fixes and repairs and maintenance out on our tiny budget. While he was doing that the kids did schooling and I wrote messages and emails. In the afternoon there was once again thunder and rain (oh how I look forward to some more settled weather!) and I made some soup. In the evening Tim organised to watch the latest Pride and Prejudice movie, which I thought was really good after having just finished the book. I think they have done a great job in putting a long book into 1.5 hours and not wreck the story. We really enjoyed it. I don’t watch many movies and can’t stand TV, but I love a movie that leaves me feeling good and this one ticked all the boxes.

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