We've had a busy few weeks, even though we haven't sailed anywhere.
First, we were all set to celebrate Thanksgiving a few weeks ago when we all got sick with some terrible chest congestion deal. On a small boat there's nowhere to go and we all ended up with some variation of it. Erik ended up with Bronchitis and Sarah threw up. I will say a boat is NOT the place to be sick. We were at anchor and it was cold! We moved to the city dock so we could get some electricity (for a small heater) and started the road to recovery.
As soon as we were on the mend, a big storm was coming, December 1......the harbor master for Marmaris came over and suggested we find another spot. All the boats on the dock we were tied up at at were big steel tour boats and we were on the end and would have caught the worst of it. So, after a quick decision, we made our way across the bay at night and went back to Yacht Marina for what looks like the month of December. At the moment, we're getting plugged in to a group of close to 100 people all waiting out the winter as well. We're all excited about showers, electricity, wi-fi internet, the basics. The marina is huge, over 1000 boats in and out of the water.
We ended up having Thanksgiving a week later in the marina and Rachel did an amazing job building a feast with a two burner stove. Maggie made an apple pie and it was a fun day, eating, watching movies, eating, etc. You get the idea!!
There is a cool library here where Maggie and Levi are under strict orders to catch up/get ahead in school. So, they have a system now, taking their backpacks everyday to 'scchool' Levi is trying to find some work here helping out on other boats, learning what he can. There is also a 'kid's club' where Rachel and the girls can get off the boat and hang out doing crafts and playing. There are a few friends here for the littler ones. Emma met Jordan from England, Lily met Emil and Peter originally from South Africa. They're on a circumnavigation, starting in the East Coast of the US and have been through Panama, across the Pacific, through Asia and here in Turkey.
So.....lots of interesting people here, and we're getting some things fixed on the boat while we wait between rainstorms. We're looking forward to a visit from Erik's parents in January for over a month. It will be fantastic to see some family!
Well, storms came more and more frequently. Thing sure changed a lot weather-wise in November. It seemed lıke every 3 days another storm was blown through. We were kept safe, of the last two storms, one came while we were in a city harbor in Bozburun and the last storm we sailed through, Levi and I. It was very cool watching the clouds gather over the mountains and then they slowly wandered over and dumped on us. Then we'd watch them head East and start to break up. Very dramatic. We had three seperate squalls, and were cold and drentched by the end of the day. I think it was the quickest anchor we'd set and then we jumped inside the boat, got on dry clothes and quickly downed two bowls of stew Rachel had made. Really hit the spot. We melted into the couches and watched movies.
So, we're now in Marmaris, a huge bay very protected, and trying to prioritize the next three months until we can head out in early Spring. They're are a few things we'd like to do on the boat, projects we've been putting off while sailing. The kids are going to buckle down with school and try to catch up/get ahead for next year. The town is big, but 3/4 of it is literally shut down for winter. Shops and hotels closed. I hear in the summer, you can't find a bed, but you'd never know it now. So, we're finding the cheapest grocery stores, parks for the little ones (also a great place to meet people) and the best Döner Kebaps (chicken and beef sandwiches).
We had a huge storm come through here (Datça, Turkey) last night. It blew and rained for 8-10 hours straight, up to 48 knots! Plenty rolly for sure! We were at anchor and the weather info said the storm wasn't to hit until Wednesday day, so we certainly got caught off guard. Levi and Maggie and I put out a second anchor (we weren't in a marina, just sitting at anchor) which itself was a challenge. We were rolling around in the dinghy in 6-7 foot waves in the rain (sorry, mom) getting it set and tightened down. Maggie was collecting stuff from below, electronics, etc. that you don't want to leave on a boat in case of lightning. Rachel and the little ones had already spent time on the boat and Levi had taken them to a hotel.
We ended up in a hotel across the street where I sat up all night watching to see if the anchor would drag. It held tight all night! We half expected the boat to wind up parked on the beach....curbside pick-up as it were. Our friend Julie posted this on a Facebook page and it's a great verse:
O Lord God of hosts, Who is mighty like You, O Lord? Your faithfulness also surrounds You. You rule the reaging of the sea; when its waves rise, You still them. (Ps. 89:8-9)
Thanks everyone, for your prayers!
We're heading towards Bozburun and then to Marmaris, hopefully uneventfully. (storm wise)
Happy Thanksgiving!
At a cool anchorage all by ourselves!
Our line tied to these rocks. Mooring mediterannean style.
Emma drinking Turkish Tea, it's drank almost non-stop here!
Maggie, Levi and Emma in 'Eski-Datca' Old town.
Old town Datca, quaint village.
Zoe, the grandma magnet.
Moonrise over Mediterranean