Arrived in Turkey for the summer

Well this will be my first blog post for this summer and it will give detailed summery on what has happened to me so far. So when we first arrived in Fethiye we had to wait for our cab to show up then when we got home we fell asleep because it was really late.  Turkey is 8 time zones ahead of my hometown in Texas.


Then the next day we went to a ice cream guy (Turkish ice cream) and he did a show and got ice cream on my face ):. WASTER!!!!!! Turkish ice cream man (we didn't have a camera with us so this is someone else)

Lounging in hammock on foredeck

The bays are very deep right up to the shore.  So we must tie
a stern line to shore to hold the boat with the anchor all night.

Had fun snorkeling behind our boat

 Then we went to the store. When we got back we got some fresh cherries that were Delicious. Then the next day we went to a new place with nothing really all of that special about it. We anchored there 2 nights. 

Rock tombs I wanted to climb up to

More rock tombs up there

Then when we went to the next place there were some Lycian rock tombs there and I would have loved to go climb up to them, but Tutu and Papa were really lazy and never went up there with me (wouldn't let me got on my own because I recently broke my arm and was still wearing a brace).  They said it was too hot to climb up there.
















Then after that we went to a really quiet place and I went kayaking for so long and so far away that I sunburned my right arm where my cast was. That spot was whiter than the rest of my arms and legs.  

Kayaked for a long time and a long way from the boat.  I had fun exploring by myself
and getting away from the family for awhile.

Then later early in the morning we left to go 45 miles across a small gulf. But that plan was a plan gone wrong. The wind was too strong and the waves were against us and were very close together.  It was rough and slowing us down too much.  So we went off course and went somewhere else. 

Love these big red Turkish peppers.  Tutu grills them.

Then the next day that we were there we went swimming and I saw the impossible.... a giant tuna that was the same size as me 5 FEET LONG!!!!!!! I just thought that was inconceivable. 


The next day we took a tour to see some rock tombs (ancient Caunos) which is what we thought.  Turns out that they just drop you off and let you do the exploring with no guide. And the rock tombs were much farther up the river than where they dropped us off.  So we never got to actually see the rock tombs. 


Then after we got back from the tour we tried to leave where we were, but then again the wind and the waves were wrong. Dinner later that day was a disaster because it turns out that if you have meat and you're eating outside a swarm of bees comes and tries to eat the meat. 

Helping Papa polish the stainless steel -- almost every day!

Then the next day we left and got to the marina we wanted to go to, right in the town of Marmaris. We stayed there for 2 days and really enjoyed it.    On the 3rd day we left and went to a neighboring marina.  When we got to the spot they assigned us it really sucked because we were on the other side -- the farthest spot from the marina office and grocery store and restaurant and swimming pool and anything else. 


Well, that's all folks :).      

Crete and good-bye

Anchorage at Dhia island near Crete

We sailed from Santorini to a tiny island called Dhia about 6 miles north of Crete.  This was the longest sail we did in Greece; about 60 or 65 miles.  It also was the best sailing of the whole summer.  Dhia island is nothing but rocks.  Not even any goats.


The next day we sailed to Ayios Nikolaos on the north side of Crete.  The wind got really strong once and the boat went way over.  I don't like going over that far.  The marina said we could not come there until the next day.  We looked at several places to anchor but it was too rough.  Finally we anchored about a mile from the marina.  

Caught a fish!

Our fine catch!

While we were anchoring I found a tiny flying fish on the deck.  We have been fishing all the time we have been sailing all summer but never caught anything except 2 plastic trash bags.  Finally!  We caught a fish!


It was less than 2 inches long, but it was the only fish we caught this summer.  


 Papa and I are flying from Crete to Athens today.  In Athens I will get on a plane going to Houston.  Papa will fly back to Crete.  So I am signing off for this summer.

Signing off for the summer

Santorini (a/k/a Thera or Thira)

Uncle Aaron and Aunt Lynn went to Santorini for their wedding anniversary.  BeBe and Damien stayed with us on the boat in Ios for those days.  When Papa, Tutu and I sailed to Santorini we did not go ashore.  We just anchored inside the caldera next to the little island in the center where the new volcanic dome is formed.

We spent the night anchored inside an active volcano!

Here are a few of the photos taken at Santorini:

The towns are on the top of the cliffs

Road -walkway from Oia town down to small dock

The new volcano dome on Kammeni in the caldera

Oia town at top; tiny village at water level

Ios

From the first spreaders

Papa gave me and BeBe the test for midshipman while we were at Ios.  Elisabeth barely passed.  She is a good sailor but is too girlie for some of the stuff we did.  I passed and am now rated Midshipman 1st Class aboard S/V BeBe.  Papa gave me a certificate saying this.


We had to tie bowline knots.  I can do it with my eyes closed, but BeBe needs to watch what she is doing.  We had to tie deck cleats (of course).  We had to know how to throw the heavy dock lines and how to secure the lines to docks on bollards and cleats.  We had to know how to tie a midshipman's knot.  Tutu said this knot is also called a double clove hitch.  We had to know how to steer the boat manually and also how to use the auto-pilot.  

At the first spreaders

Of course we had to know the difference between port and starboard and which color goes to which side.  And we had to know which boat is the give-way boat and which one is the stand-on vessel when 2 boats are approaching.  Papa didn't ask us about every possible encounter position of boats moving, but I knew the ones he asked about.  I also know to tell Papa or Tutu anytime I see another boat approaching when we are sailing.


It was not on the test, but I also know how to follow a course on the electronic charts.  And how to identify AIS targets and find out if we are on a collision course or not.  

Here feet are barely off the deck!!!

Tutu said part of passing any midshipman test should be going up the mast at least to the first spreaders.  So I did that too.  It is really high up there!  I got a little scared after awhile up there, but now I want to go all the way up to the top next time.  Or maybe at least to the second spreaders.  I took a photo looking down at the deck.


BeBe was scared of going up the mast.  Tutu said she had to get in the bosun seat and go at least 3 feet up.  She barely made that.  She did not get rated 1st Class, but she did get a basic Midshipman certificate.  I don't know why she was so scared sitting in the bosun seat.  Her feet were barely off the deck.  

BeBe's 10th birthday

BeBe's 10th birthday in Ios, Greece

BeBe had her tenth birthday the day before she and her parents left.  

Church in background

Restaurant church in Ios

That night Papa and Tutu and I went out to eat dinner for our last night in Ios.  Tutu let me pick the place to eat.  I found a restaurant built next to a tiny church that was half underground.  The dinner was pretty good, but what was best was the desert!  I had Oreo crepes and they were delicious!  Papa said the crepes were big enough to feed 4 people.   He ate 4 bites and I ate all the rest.  Tutu doesn't eat Oreos so she didn't want any.  Good.  More for me!

Half underground church at restaurant

Naxos

Another Temple of Apollo; this one at Naxos

On Saturday July 30 we sailed to Naxos.  Yippee!!! Mexican food!  Tutu and Papa said their friends from Texas had eaten Mexican food at a restaurant in Naxos and said it was good.  We all wanted some Mexican food.


After many days of sitting around. Bebe and Bebe's parents went with me to the beach. Also while we were at the beach I found a starfish , some small crabs that hid in the sand. Finally we also went to the Temple of Apollo. 

Boat races at the beach

Several days later we took a decent sail to Vathi Bay. While at Vathi Bebe and I went to the beach a lot and we also went to the main town once and bought Tutu 1 vase. 

Competing boats

Also, while we were at Vathi Bay we built some sailboats out of styrofoam and other junk.  Then we went to the beach and raced them.  Mine won one of the races.

Sailing to Ios

Sleeping while sailing

When we left Vathi there were mammoth sized waves so I chose to go to sleep. 




While at Ios we had some of the best gryos since we got to Greece, and while we were here Bebe and Bebe's parents left to go back home. Ever since they left things have been a lot more calm. 


We have a very bad Internet connection.  I will upload photos and more stuff later.

19 - 27 Hello Bebe's Parents

On the 19th of July we went to the beach had lunch played on our DS some, and had a good time.


Then we had a late dinner watched Horatio Hornblower and went to bed.  Every night I read a lot before going to sleep.


 
On the 20th of July we headed to Syros for the 2nd time. While at Syros we took  a walk. Then after a short walk we went back to the boat then had dinner and watch M.A.S.H. and went to bed.


On the 21st of July we sat around most of the day. Although we did take a walk around. Then after the walk we headed back to the boat had a good dinner then watched M.A.S.H. and went to bed.


On the 22nd of July we sat around again, but when we went out for dinner we went to the giant hot dog place, and the man there was drunk. What surprised me the most though was that he was able to make french fries in hot oil and cooked hot dogs with no injury of an kind and the hot dog was pretty good.  He wanted to give Papa a free beer but Papa wouldn't take it.  He also wanted to give BeBe and me free ice cream but Tutu said no.  We walked to another place and bought ice cream treats.  Tutu said she was tired of the drunk man.


After all of that we went back to the boat watched M.A.S.H. and went to bed.


On the 23rd we went to Mykonos so we could pick Bebe's parents off of a ferry. when we arrived we ate dinner and just went to bed.  The wind was blowing strong and Papa had a hard time docking the boat.  No one came to help us with the dock lines.


On the 24th of July at 1:05 we met Bebe's parents and the baby.  They came on a ferry.  We all had a good conversation; had dinner and played with the baby; and then went to bed.

On the 25th of July we took a long trip to the town on a bus to find groceries and look around. We never found the grocery store.


 
While I was there I bought a hat and a bracelet that had a symbol on it that meant long life. I also bought some turquoise earrings as a gift for someone. 




We found a place to eat gyros and ice cream.  We walked up a hill to some very old windmills.  

Then we walked all the way back to the bus stop to go home.  Then when we got back from the trip we had dinner and went to bed.

 



On the 26th of July we took a ferry to a sacred island called Delos. When we arrived I thought about going to the ancient amphitheater, and on the way up there we saw the home of the God of the Vine and we saw the home of the God of the Trident.   The mosaic tiles were still on the floors after 2500 years. 







   

After that Bebe's dad and I went  cross - country and then came back down to go to the museum.   We went around the museum, then Bebe's dad and I went up the steepest mountain I had ever climbed, and the mountain old stone stairs made it even harder for me to do it. In the end I made it to the top and I made it to the bottom. Then we went back to a ferry and went back to the boat and ate dinner then went to bed.  I liked being back at this dock because we had electricity and could have air-conditioning and watch as much TV and play on the computers as much as we liked.


On the 27th of July we went back to Syros for the 3rd time. When we were secure to the dock we went to get a little bit of groceries and some drinks. When we stopped to drink Bebe's mom gave her baby some tea and the baby drank it all then cried because he couldn't have anymore. He cried for three blocks and until we got to the boat. After that Tutu made dinner and we then ate dinner then went to bed.

15 - 18th July Rider !!!

1st time getting on Rider

On the 15th of July we sailed really quickly to Kythnos. When we got to Kythnos we sat around and played DS for awhile. Then things started happening. First the wind got a little breezier. Then we got in the dingy, and in the end people started crying (not me).

Just getting started

After the wind died down we got in the dingy and took the float named Rider with us. We then tied Rider to a long rope on the dingy.

And away we go!!!

After that Bebe got on Rider and Papa started towing her around slowly on Rider. Then I got on and I zoomed around extremely quickly, and made a giant wake.



After all of that fun we went in and ate dinner, watched movies and M.A.S.H. then went to bed.

Really fun!  Going fast in giant wake!

On the 16th of July we went to the beach, made sand castles and tried to kill fish. Then we went back to the boat, and had lunch. Then we played DS some and then ate dinner, did the usual night time stuff and went to bed.  I slept in the cockpit and looked at all the stars.



On the 17th of July we went to the beach and only tried to kill fish. Then we went back had lunch and talked to each other. Then we went and had a really fun time on Rider. BeBe went a little faster this time and did not cry when Papa went too fast.  Tutu finally found her swimsuit and she went swimming with us off the boat.  She cleaned the water line on the boat while Papa pulled us on Rider.  We then had dinner, watched Horatio Hornblower, read our books and went to bed.

On the 18th of July we went to the beach and did the same thing as yesterday. Then went back to the boat. While I was on the boat I zoned out for 45 min then shortly after went had a really fun time on Rider again.  Tutu went swimming with us again off the boat.  Then we had dinner, watched the final episode of Horatio Hornblower and went to bed.  I slept in the cockpit again.  BeBe and I took turns sleeping in the cockpit while we were anchored at Kythnos.  Tutu would not let us both sleep in the cockpit at the same time.  There were even more stars this night.  Tutu fell asleep in the cockpit with me, but she later went to her own bed.  I like sleeping in the cockpit.

Most fun ever!!!!