Happy New Year!!

Hello from Marmaris,

We've had a few busy weeks, thinking we were going to be sitting around in the marina., however, we realized the season is fast approaching and with a visit from John and Rosie, we only have a few weeks to get the boat ready for season. After talking to a lot of other experienced cruisers in the marina, apparently the lists never get done!

So...we're doing the best we can. There is an area in town called 'Sanai' which is a large industrial area where you can get almost anything machined, welded, fabricated, repaired, milled, etc. You just head in there with what you're looking for and they send you to someone in the area who deals with that area. Very nice to have it all together, every city should have one! It would sure cut down on running around!
We've had a winch rebuilt and some wood cut for pieces on the back deck and are waiting for a water tank to be repaired.

Last night was New Years' and we got together with two other families here in the marina for a potluck and cards. One family from South Africa/America on their way to complete a 3 year circumnavigation, and their mast broke here in Turkey!! They started in Boston area and have been traveling West, through the Panama canal, across the Pacific and through Asia. So, the wife is back in the States (US) earning some money so they can finish. He's here in the marina with two young boys waiting for Spring.
The other family is a husband/wife and a 13 year old boy from Seattle. He bought and refit the boat in New Hampshire this Spring and they came across the Atlantic in June, and have been through the Med since then. Their plan is to go back across the Med and then back to the Carribbean next December.

Our plan, for the moment, is to head up through Greece in early March, weather permitting, and into either Italy or Albania, Monte Negro, Croatia through the Summer. We haven't figured out wintering next year, just know that we want to be warmer than we have been this year! We were not set up for winter at all and have been buying sweatshirts and more clothes. One thought is North Africa, Tunisia perhaps. We've heard good things from those who have spent some time there, so we'll see. It's hard to plan too far ahead.

That's it for now, talk soon!

Hems