Çeşme to Kuşadası 1 – 2 May 2006 

We had a pleasant passage from Cesme along the coast very little wind accept for last hour, those boats that left later got the best of it. 

Our home for our stay here is the Setur Kusadası Marina a little over 1 km from the centre of the town, it has a good sized yard and it is a favourite place for boats to winter over. 

It was good to see old friends again Zeynep who was on the front desk and who has been at the marina for 14 years and now has received promotion to Front Desk manager. Hakan who is the manager of both Cesme and Kusadasi. 

The first night we organised a pot luck dinner in the barbeque area it was a great success each boat contributing a different dish (you get better fed at these sort of parties) After copies bottles of wine tired sailors wound their way to bed. 

Our trip here was to the World heritage site of Ephesus which has the temple of Artemis and the Finley preserved library. St Paul came here and it was one of the first places where Christianity started to take over from the old gods.

A visit was also made to the museum and the House of the Virgin Mary. 

It was reported that John (swagman) has adopted very early in the rally the ability to sleep on buses all rally participants will learn this art soon. (Catch your sleep when you can evenings are for partying. 

Lunch was taken al fresco in the gardens of a carpet factory. Followed by the obligatory tour everybody surprisingly found this very informative as the whole history of carpet making in Turkey was explained instead of the usual hard sell. Some carpets where actually purchased.

The Turkish Coast Guard - Sahil Güvenlik patrol boat 107 who have been with us from Bozcada had an emergency call out to an overturned boat they managed to rescue 8 people but unfortunately one was recovered dead and one missing. The coast guard have become firm favourites with the rally and have mixed with all the crews at the parties we are all sad to see them depart. 

Party Night at Kusadasi  

We always well looked after here in Kusadasi and this year was no exception the start of season barbeque combined with the EMYR reception. Lots to eat and drink and dancing and singing you wouldn’t think that these people were off very early in the morning to see them enjoying themselves. John and Karen (Wind song) joined in with the band to sing American pie and everybody joined in the chorus. 

The Governor, Mayor and local dignities also attended making it a wonderful evening after our Plaque presentation which Francoise (La Vagabonde) gave to Hakan we got down to some serious partying. 

Our Coast Guard friends where given Hats and Pins as mementoes. 

The forecast not been very good for the following day boats set off very early the wind built steadily through the day reaching at one point 58 knts was the highest recorded. 

Anyway all boats reached Bodrum safely with no mishaps but more about that tomorrow. 

Dave and Kath

S/Y Mashona

(The liver is evil and must be punished)