Back to Turkey

We went up the coast of Symi to Pedi in order to reluctantly check out of Greece.  The check out procedure was quite straightforward.  It was not necessary to go into the harbour of Symi Town, as we needed to when we checked in.  Instead we could anchor at Pedi – a much easier operation – and take a bus to Symi Town with all our boat papers and passports.  First to the immigration office to get our passports stamped, then to customs where a few other forms were stamped and we were asked for €20 (not sure what this was for as they did not ask about any taxable items we had onboard or ask about anything for that matter – just stamped some papers and collected money), finally to the harbour police for the final stamps on our Depka form.

Example of a Depka form

Back to Songster for an early morning departure and a straight run into Bozburun and Turkey. 

Bye Bye Greece

 

Our initial plans were to check into Turkey at Bozburun, staying only a day or two, then sail into the Hisarönü Gulf to explore several anchorages there, then return to Bozburun about 10 days later for the big Cruising Association get together.  However returning to Bozburun was like old home week.  Onyx, Little Liza, Bubbly Lady, Emma B, Ellida, Julia Too and Bathsheba (all yachts which we had sailed with over the last two seasons) were there as well as many other yachties.  The next 10 days were a whirl of social activities and catching up.  Unfortunately I forgot to take pictures during the socialising but managed to find some photos of the boats from our previous cruising together.

Back in Bozburun

Bathsheba in the afternoon sun

Julia Too

Emma B gull wing off the coast of Turkey

Ellida going fast

Between the socialising, Bob needed to get some dental work done - a double crown and filling.  This required three trips into Marmaris, an hour plus bus ride.  For two of the days I stayed on the boat.  It was a real treat to drive the dinghy by myself and have a whole day on the boat alone.  Bob and I have been together basically 24/7 for the last 2½  years so a little of ‘me’ time was very nice.  Bob was very happy with the dental work and it cost about a third what it would in Australia.

Dental price list

Goodbyes were said after the Cruising Association party with vague plans to cruise in company next year to the northern Sporades.  But for now the Hisarönü Gulf awaited us.  We had a pleasant motor sail in light winds to our first stop, Marti Marina in Orhaniye, for a pump out.  We did this last year and going into the dock was a bit tricky for us.  This year it was very easy.  I guess we are getting better at handling Songster.  With a clean holding tank we anchored off the little island in Keçi Bükü capped with the ruins of a Byzantine fort.  We spent 5 days at anchor, swimming, reading, relaxing and exploring.

Byzantine fort

Songster below the fort ruins.  The hole was the well for the fort.

The climb up was a challenge, requiring all fours at times

Such a beautiful anchorage

It was a lovely time but we had to acknowledge that the days are getting shorter, the nights cooler and the season coming to a close.  It was time to start making our way slowly back to Marmaris to put Songster to bed for the winter while we do some land travel.