- Leaving on our gulet voyage — Gocek and Lydai, Turkey
- Dalyan and Kaunos, Turkey
- Loryma, Turkey
- Kameriye Island and Selimiye, Turkey
- Datca and Knidos, Turkey
- Sailing, Kisse Buku, and Departing from Bodrum, Turkey
Well, all good things must come to an end and we were rapidly winding down. While having been on two “sailboats” in the past few weeks, we had never actually “sailed.” Ken requested that we hoist the sails and give it a whirl on our trip from Mersincik to Kissebuku. Once we got away from the lee of the land, we actually hoisted sails and shut off the engine. The fastest we got was around 2.3 knots. It turns out that this boat really had the wrong sails and it was a very heavy boat. I had to negotiate with Ken on how long we had to “sail,” since continuing to do that would have put us into Kissebuku that evening (instead of at lunchtime). He finally had his fill and we started the engine and got going again!
As we got closer to the mainland, the winds died down for the first time in days and the sun was warm. The ladies laid out for a bit of sun, which I think was the first time they could do that all week. After lunch, as was our habit, Dogan announced it was time for our hike. Since it was just a hike up a gravel road for a scenic outlook, I said “I’ll pass. I think I’ll work on my blog.” He replied, “Yeah, nice excuse!” With my manhood in question, I agreed to go along on the hike. While it was long and steep, the views made the hike well worth it. If you want to see the view, check out this website (http://www.turkeyvirtualtour.com/blue_voyage/bodrum_gokova/kisse_buku/). When we got back to the boat, we were all hot and sweaty. And then, out of nowhere, like a mirage in the desert, what should appear but an ice cream boat. Yes, that’s right, an ice cream boat! Needless to say, we gave him our business! This young man travels in his boat at least 2 hours south of Bodrum to service all the boats that anchor in the bays there. I was assured that he does a booming business!
That evening we anchored in a bay about an hour south of Bodrum and enjoyed a quiet last night on the boat. The captain and crew surprised us by cooking a steak dinner, knowing that we were Westerners and liked our beef! I must say, we had eaten mighty healthy during the week, and surprisingly didn’t miss the heavy meat and potatoes meals. Given they weren’t used to preparing such things, despite our calls for rare or medium-rare, the steaks were beyond well-done. We grinned and bore it because they were so considerate and tried so hard. Ah well, it’s the thought that counts.
The next morning, we pulled into Bodrum and backed into a slip that we swore would not fit us. It was amazing, made more amazing by the fact that the captain’s father was on one of the boats we slipped between! We still had some time left, so Dogan took us out on a retail therapy junket. Given that he had been a gulet captain for 15 years out of Bodrum and still maintained a house there, it was great to see everyone run out to greet him. I’m sure knowing that we were with him helped with the prices on the things we bought.
Ultimately, it was time to go. The captain, crew, and Dogan saw us off. Needless to say we were very appreciative, especially for all the effort Dogan put into making our time on the boat enjoyable. Hats off also to his wife, Joanne, who did all the planning for, and communication with us before we left the US.
I am a traveler and sometimes clay sculptor, following a long career working in consulting. My work allowed me to travel the world extensively and I was hooked. Today, I travel with my wife/best friend to explore new places, meet new people, and learn new things.
