SPECIAL EDITION - At last we go Turkish Rambling

SPECIAL EDITION - At last we go Turkish Rambling

Thursday 17th November...

Linda - Last Friday we were invited on our first proper ramble since arriving in Finike. The ramble was organised by a Turkish lady here in the marina. We only got a place at the last minute because there were only 16 seats on the minibus and two people must have dropped out.

We all met at 8am in the marina. Even the local cats gathered to see what we were up to, or maybe they were looking for some breakfast. Charlie Chaplin (the little black and white kitten) climbed the tree when she set eyes upon Lucy boat dog, who was also coming along on the ramble.

Charlie Chaplin

I love Lucy 

Ginger Rogers ...

and Fluff

The journey took about 35 minutes travel time passing Kumluca and then on to the drop off point at a town called Karaoz (red marker on photo below).

From there we walked to the Gelidonya Lighthouse right on the tip of the huge headland that sticks out at the east end of the massive bay. The walk there and back was 14 kilometres (roughly 9 miles). The scenery was spectacular, the water so clear. En route to the lighthouse we stopped at Korsan Koyu for traditional Turkish breakfast which had been pre-arranged by our leader. At this spot there was a wonderful tiny cove with water so incredibly warm. Lucy boat dog didn't hesitate to take a dip for a cool off and a play. I would have been in there myself I'd had my swimsuit!

We were dropped off in Karaoz

Ready, Steady, Walk

Karaoz and the whole headland is set up for camping. There are so many campsites, it must be a hive of activity in the summer time. Here's the photos....

First views at Karaoz

A bar I think

First part of the walk, along the road

Looking up to one of the campsites

Rare photo of me on a ramble these days

Stunning views

Quirky campsites

Tradition breakfast at Korsan Koyu

It was lovely

Lucy goes for a dip at beautiful Korsan Koyu

The water was as warm as bath water

in this lovely cove

Dean playing fetch with Lucy

Now on towards the lighthouse

Another campsite here

They have pre-arranged platforms for your tent

Painted huts

A huge wigwam here

Tree houses

and pretty flowers and motorbikes

Going inland and upwards slightly here

Beautiful clear water

Higher up now

On the Lycian Way 

(see the red and white marker on the rock)

Up and up we go

Finally at the lighthouse

Views up the east side of the headland,

looking towards Antalya

Dean takes a break at the top

Looking south

And now looking to the west.

The craggy islands that extend from the headland

Looking back northwards 

Time to leave and start our descent

Come on Dean, time to go now

Bye bye lighthouse

National Park marker

So we finished the walk back near the breakfast point, where at the local campsite we could buy beer or a fanta. We all sat down for a very well earned rest, especially Lucy boat dog (who had gone missing half way down the trail I might add!). Before we knew it the local cats, chickens, and cockerels came to have a look at us.

    

Two of our friends

Lucy's mom feeding the locals

The rest of the week's news....

Dean repaired the dinghy leak again by using his special trick of injecting latex paint inside. Seems to have done the trick, and he's now cleaned, folded, and put it into the lazarette to hibernate for the winter. Then he cleaned the deck where the dinghy has been sitting for a few weeks. 

He's had a busy week again...

1. Splicing an eye in the end of the anchor snubber line to go over the bow cleats.

2. Re-doing our shore lines with a better set up of using chains and compensators.

3. Helping our new neighbour to load his new anchor chain onto his boat and into the locker.

4. Taking the genoa and mainsail down and bagging them up. (More on this next week)

The whole of Turkey also had an emergency earthquake drill on Friday evening. We had been warned of this and asked to mobilize at the marina office when the alarm sounded at 18.57pm precicely.  When the alarm sounded (which was just a person talking in Turkish!) we did as asked and walked down to the marina office, to find about eight marineros with hard hats, and just two people from boats! I think the office manager was so pleased that he now had four boaters that he took a photo of us. 

Splicing the anchor line

Close up....  looks complicated

Ta da.... finished

The genoa flaked nicely on the guardrails

(before it got all messy trying to roll it up)

Close look

Genoa bagged up now

Now the mainsail flaked on deck and ready to roll up

(it's quite a task and very annoying, and heavy!)

Today we had a rigging check and tune. Yet another ongoing saga trying to get someone to actually come and do it. The men were with us for about two hours. The outcome was a good result, and they have tuned the rigging to perfection (we hope anyway). They seemed to know what they were talking about and Dean is pleased. We are planning on getting a new mainsail and genoa made for Thesee. I've been told that it's my Christmas Present. Thanks Dean. What can I buy for you?

The rigger up the mast this afternoon

The next blog post will be called 'Road Trip Part 1 - To Izmir and Kusadasi'