Sellixs Set Sail

One of our sailing mantras best describes this last week. “PLANS ARE MADE IN THE SAND AT LOW TIDE”.
Our refrigerator is now working, we needed a new thermostat. Now, we felt pretty confident that we would soon be untying our lines and heading out to anchor. Early Thursday morning we motored over to the fuel dock for both petrol and diesel and a pump out. It had been ten months since we had been off the dock, it was so nice to be moving on the water. As we were docking, I heard Eric tell one of the marina staff that we would be leaving tomorrow. So, I called our trusty taxi driver, Kerim, and we set off for the Thursday Bazar for final provisioning of fruit and vegetables and a stop at Migros for refrigerated items. Back on the boat I helped Eric check various systems, rigging, etc. I let the marina office know that we hoped to leave the next day. So far, so good. Time came to fix dinner and.........stove not working, oven not working. TBC

I last wrote on May 10---where did June go?
Eric continues to work on the cockpit enclosure. His seam ripper is his "go to" tool. His MO seems to be sew a piece or two together, look at the work for a while, then redesign, rip out and do it differently! While he tried to source materials here in Turkey there were many pieces and parts that could not be found, So orders were placed to Sailrite in the US. The first parcel was timely in arriving and the customs duty was what we anticipated but the second order didn't come through as easily and the customs duty was $$$$$$$$$$. We're still trying to figure out what happened to order number two that caused it to be so expensive.

We've been fortunate to again enjoy the hospitality of Turkish friends. Along with our Buddy Boat, Joana, we spent an evening with a Turkish family in their home overlooking the Port of Alanya.
The food was fabulous, conversation flowed in both English and Turkish and lots of laughter.

June also found us renting a car with Wade & Diane and driving 123 km. to Antalya. We visited cruising friends who are there with their boat on the hard and also shopped at IKEA! I was disappointed that I didn't find the items on my list but looking at everything was so much fun! The displays and marketing strategy at IKEA are so well done---I almost felt that I needed one of everything. However, the voice in my head shouted,"YOU LIVE ON A BOAT".

Alanya has been labeled "The Turkish Riviera", with tourists flocking to Cleopatra Beach. July has brought hot weather which sends me to a small beach near the marina which is used by local Turkish families--no tourists. I've been told that the water in the Mediterranean has the highest salt content of any body of water in the world, and I believe it. All I have to do is lie back or pretend to sit down and I float--no need to move hands or feet.

I will stop now but hopefully not wait so long to write again.

July 9, 2021. BACK TO WRITING!
Wade and Diane, on our buddy boat svJoana, are planning to untie the lines on Monday and set off for a 6-8 week summer vacation on the water. Their plan is to head West, anchoring in pristine waters, discovering small villages and swimming off the boat in cool/clear waters. We had planned to travel with them but “The Enclosure Project” has gotten in the way and, in addition to the project, yesterday our refrigerator quit! We are waiting for a refrigeration man from Antalya who is coming today or tomorrow. So, when will we untie the lines? TBC.

June has arrived with warm sunny days, refreshing breezes and comfortable nights. The 19 day lockdown with very rigid restrictions is over and was, it seems, successful. We now can be out and about every day but Sunday, we go to restaurants (eating outside), we wear masks and practice social distancing. We are not, however, allowed on public buses which is fine. We have each had two jabs of Sinovac.

The days are passing quickly, projects not quite as quickly. Eric continues to work on the cockpit enclosure. This is is a project that he has been planning for over 8 years, ever since we spent time on a Catamaran in Victoria, BC. where we sat in the cockpit warm as toast while the cold wind blew all around us. Eric has not been able to start the enclosure because we’ve never been in one spot long enough for a major project but now, as a result of Covid, we are more or less permanent (at least for another several months). TBC.

I decided a couple of days ago that given we were in complete lockdown, it would be quite nice to declare myself on vacation!
Now, I can't go anywhere but I can alter my routine. So, what I do each day is entirely up to how I feel, what the weather is like and any help that Eric needs with the Cockpit project. So far I have spent quite a bit of time knitting socks for myself, organizing photos from iPad and phone, visiting with Wade and Diane, reading and watching Netflix. I have cleaned some parts of the boat that I've been avoiding and even though that's been work I feel good when it's done and aren't vacations supposed to make you feel good?
I have not kept up with my Turkish language studies because that is really hard work.

April 29, 1900 hours until 0500 May 17-----we are in lockdown.
The government announcement was only made a few days prior to the evening of the 29th when lockdown began. The initial message was posted on the Alanya Expats FB Group. While the document was lengthy and detailed there were and still are some questions.
The directive read that people were allowed to walk to the closest market for groceries and then go directly back to their homes. The day before the start of the lockdown our wonderful taxi driver, Kerim, suggested that he take us to a Thursday produce market and then to Migros. Our normal routine was to go to the Friday produce market and then Migros. We were very grateful for his thoughtfulness, he is a gem. At Migros we stocked up on wine and Baileys as there would be no liquor sales during this period and did a moderate shopping thinking that we would be able to supplement throughout the lockdown by walking to the bakery and small market next to the bakery. Friday morning we were surprised to find that our age group 65+ would not be allowed out of our homes! This had not been detailed in the original government declaration!
i-Kamet (resident permit) holders who are in violation will loose their permits----YIKES! This would mean we would have to leave the boat, leave Turkey........then what? However, we are very fortunate that Wade and Diane on our, "Bubble Buddy Boat", sv Joana are under 65 and can, if need be, replenish basics food items!
Ah, the life of a cruiser!
Photo: Eric working on Covid 2021 project, cockpit enclosure.

Eric and I have finally received our iKamet cards (visa extensions) which will allow us to remain in Turkish waters for another year. Our hope is to spend time this spring and summer sailing up and down the coast, anchoring out and here exploring more remote areas while using the marina as our home base. Our goal is to be in the UK by summer 2022---time will tell.

Our life in Turkey continues to have it's ups and downs. We are very frustrated that we have not yet been able to make appointments for the Covid vaccine. Vaccine for our age group (elderly, as we are referred to in Turkey) became available weeks ago yet we have been unable to make appointments. Initially we thought that the reason might be that our i-Kamet (residence permit) was to expire the end of February. No, even now with a new year long permit, the government online site still says we are ineligible. Last week we spent two days in a taxi going from one building to another trying to sort this out and we're hoping that we'll have an answer this week. FLASH FORWARD 1 1/2 WEEKS: April 14....Today we were able to get our Covid vaccine. This has been a lengthy process involving the help of many people. While we have not found out what the glitch was or still is, we took our problem to Dr. Abdulla Yagidar, the Director of Health In ALANYA and he was able to register us for the vaccine and he even administered the "jab" himself. We go back on May 12 for our second shot.

The marina staff continue to help me learn the Turkish language. I, in turn, help them with English. We laugh a lot, say things that make no sense and enjoy the moment. I am also dipping into Russian as there are a few Russians on our dock and it's nice to exchange basic greetings.
Food, food, food. Our extended stay in Turkey is giving me an opportunity to learn about new ingredients and new dishes which leads to learning much about the Turkish culture. The photo is my first attempt at making Börek which is a flaky dough packed with savory fillings.