Our Final Stop in Europe... Next Asia Minor
21 September 2006 | Rhodes, Greece
Capts. Dave and Desiree
We are now in our last stop in the EU (European Union). We are in Limin Emborikos harbor on the island of Rhodes. We learned that of all the islands in Greece, Rhodes is the most visited. We've enjoyed visiting the Old Town and walking up and down the twisting alleyways, as well as absorbing our last days in Greece. As required, we have been maintaining the office Greek log book, stamping it at every port that we have entered. It MUST be turned in at the last Greek port visited. We learned of an individual from Australia who didn't turn it in, and simply tossed it. (He was no longer in Greece, so he didn't need it....). Since he was still cruising the high seas, the Greek authorities communicated with the designated contact person, his son. His son was then obligated to deal with proof of the log, which, of course, no longer existed. We can only imagine the beauracratic challenge he was left to deal with.
We will be sailing to Turkey in the next couple of days to winter the boat there, similar to how we left the Gone Native in the boat yard in France. There will be much preparation to store the boat until next year. But our feeling is, if we treat the Gone Native well, she will treat us well the next season. Our plans will be to return mid-July next year and sail it acroos the Atlantic to the Caribbean late November/December, weather dependent. So, yes, that does mean we will be coming home from mid October until next July.