Turkey with all the Trimmings

The first day, Jordan and Candice were planning to take a day trip ferry to Rhodes. So they got up early and headed to the little bus station at the marina entrance. I stayed on the boat to do a little more prep work. But just as I was getting into the job, I get a call from Jordan. Candice didn’t think she would need a passport for the little trip across the channel. I assured them it was mandatory. The Greeks and the Turks would never let free flow between their borders. So I jumped into a taxi in hopes of catching them before the ferry left. I got there in plenty of time because we found out the ferry only goes to Rhodes on Mondays and Wednesdays. So Jordan and Candice ended up renting a motor scooter and exploring the entire peninsula while I returned to the boat. It ended up being a fun day for them as they visited water falls, small villages where traditional clothing is still being worn, a little town that still makes the wooden luxury sailing Glocks and just driving through the pine forests that look more like lake Tahoe than what people normally think of as Turkey.

The next day we set sail early in the morning headed for Datca. Datca is a sleepy little village that has some resort feel to it. After our first day sailing we decided to pull up to the town quay. We dropped the anchor and backed into the stone wall that has been used for centuries to welcome boats from around the world. With a little instruction and a few fumbles, Jordan and Candice managed to throw the lines to helpful natives on shore and tie up the boat for the night. For our first docking things went pretty smoothly. After a little dinner aboard, we made the leap to land and wandered around the charming town. The streets were filled with merchants and restaurants. We bought some desserts from a pastry shop and a few souvenirs to cement the remembrance of this little town.

The next day we left in the early quiet of morning. I like sailing before the sun rises high in the sky. Often the water is glass smooth and the quietness of it all sooths the soul. This time of year a sweatshirt and jogging pants are enough to keep the brisk morning at bay. But before too long, we are peeling those off in favor of shorts and a tee shirt. As we turn the boat north around the peninsula, the winds pick up and we unfurl the white sails. There is nothing like a strong breeze and turning off the motor to get my blood excited.