July 25, 2010: Bodrum to Mersincik

Our first morning on Van Kedisi, we forced ourselves to get up at 8:00 AM to try and acclimatize to the time zone changes. As the call to prayer echoed across the bay (Turkey is a Muslim country) after breakfast we walked up the hills behind Bodrum marina, passing a few locals opening their shops for tourists, before arriving at Migros supermarket. After an hour of shopping, it was back to the marina in time to pack up the boat, make lunch, and then head out for our first passage.

The wind was coming from the southwest -- an unusual direction for this time of year. Dick put up all of the sails and we started doing over six knots in the water, even if we were thirty degrees off course. The wind clocked around in the "right" direction and soon we were doing seven knots heading exactly for Mersincik cove. In 2003, Van Kedisi and Dragonsinger were moored in Mersincik and we're looking forward to being back.

We entered the tiny cove and stern tied between two other sailboats. We were all hot and jumped into the 25C turquoise blue water. After dinner in the cockpit a full moon rose over the nearby hills bathing the bay and Van Kedisi in its soft light.

Allen, Sharra, and Karalee in Bodrum Marina

Street Scene Hiking up to Migros Supermarket

Migros Supermarket (little truck in front drove our groceries back to the boat)

Bodrum Castle

Gulets Moored Next to the Mosque

Van Kedisi -- Our Home for the Next Week

Dick Checking Traffic While a Gulet Goes By

Sharra and Allen Relax on the Passage to Mersincik

Approaching Mersincik

Karalee Ready for A Swim

Van Kedisi Stern Tied in Mersincik

Allen and Sharra's First Swim

Hatches Glow on Van Kedisi

Full Moon Over Mersincik