Another day, another bay.
We headed back to Bozburun harbour to top up water tanks, fridge, gas and get some laundry done. Fully reprovisioned we had a lovely meal in Osmans restaurant once again.
We had some light wind the next morning which was tricky in the bay and around headlands. Nigel was particularly pleased to pick a 3 mile lay line in shifty winds that had us round the headland with just 50m water room, the things we do for a challenge these days! Around the headland we were in close company with several other boats, a 45' monohull yacht motored up through the small group getting very close to us. The crew onboard were in long dresses and drinking g and t's. They were so close Amanda motioned to the skipper indicating his lowered sails and asked why they were not sailing. The skippers waving arm turned into a signal more commonly associated with English bowmen taunting the French army as they motored away. Two fingers showing. We sailed into Bozuk bay and stern moored to a restaurant pontoon for the evening. Lorymar restaurant was lovely, if a bit expensive, but understandable when we see there is no road in or out and everything is delivered by boat. The owner had rescued an orphaned lamb which followed him everywhere, along with geese begging at the waterside tables, add in a dog and a couple of cats, not forgetting the donkeys at the back, and there was quite the menagerie.
The next morning was time to say goodbye to Barry and Lynn Shotton on Waltz as they headed back to the UK. We motored our separate ways off to Ekincik marina (no wind again) where we would stay for 2 nights so we could get a boat trip up the Dalyan river. This small marina was nestled at the bottom of a steep hill surrounded by trees.
Together with Charlie and Carol Baker on Lysander we hired a boat and driver for our Dalyan boat trip. The estuary is one of the last breeding areas for Loggerhead turtles in the Med, sadly we were a month late to see the eggs hatching. On the other side of the beach the estuary consisted of many reed beds and channels where we were able to see birds of prey and Kingfishers, every now and then we came across a small hut with fish traps outside.
Eventually we arrived at a ruined town called Caunos and stopped for a walk around. This town was quite large in its heyday and based on the coast making it an important trading post. As the river mouth silted up bringing ships in got harder and eventually the population moved away. Nowadays one can see the remains of an amphitheatre, temple, Church (Built later) and many houses. We were lucky enough to see the resident tortoise too.
After lunch by the riverside we saw the tombs cut into the cliffs for a king, his family and bodyguards as we motored upstream to the mudbaths. Stripping off to swimwear we got into the mud baths, rubbing it all over. A quick shower, a walk past a guy hosing us down even more and we entered the hot spring pool. All in all very relaxing for our trip back to the boat.
The next day we motored (still no wind) to Fethiye, where we met Sonya McNally, a friend from WYC. Her partner Simon has a house here, they were kind enough to host a lovely bbq ashore. The smell attracted not only thier own 3 cats but those from the whiole neighbourhood! Fortunately they seemed friendly enough and didnt fight each other!
Next stop, after a few days anchored at Fethiye, will be Gochek and its surrounding bays and islands.
