Busy Times Ahead

It's been just over a month since my last confession! I'm having to make myself and sit down and write this because the weather is gorgeous and the last place I want to be is behind my desk—but I just gotta…

We left Fethiye Bay to spend a week at the 12 Islands off Gocek but only lasted two days. Was a weird evening as I saw the sky turn that tornado colour and knew something not predicted was on the way. It was the colour you get in St. Louis in the summer just before the sirens wail telling you to get to your basement. Belvedere was on a mooring buoy with her friends Sweetie and Surgiamo (shown in the pic below) when 35+ knots of wind began to gust hitting us on our port side snapping our fairlead. Predictions are now calling for 50 knot winds, so back to Fethiye we all reluctantly came. It was scary, but I'll spare you the adrenalin for more relevant situations.

Belvedere in the middle with Sweetie to our port side and Surgiamo to our starboard.

Mooring buoy line with stern line attached to the bank and broken stuff.

I was disappointed as I was looking forward to spending a day on the paddle board and picking up trash left by the sea swells and tourists. My OCD goes insane whenever I find trash in these beautiful places, so I've made it my goal to do my part by picking up what I can wherever I go to give back something to the places I am lucky enough to visit. Guess I'll get it later as I know we'll be back soon and there is sure to be even more of it…

Before all that we spent time last weekend exploring using the wonderful blue bike paths to do a long, electric assisted, pedal to Çalış Beach from Fethiye. It was gorgeous out and the new urban park along the way was one of the best I've ever seen! The photo doesn't do it justice, it's right on the water and has hammock and sun loungers, huge fountain (that wasn't running), a skate board park, circular pier out over the water, outdoor workout equipment and more. I'll be back at night to see it all lit up, especially once the fountain is on.

American snail rider

Before leaving Marmaris we met many fascinating people while on anchor in the bay. In the end the Friday happy hour on land turned into all the cool people we've met from the marina and on anchor—creating a posse of close to 30 people from all over the world—some of which are in Fethiye with us now before heading for other shores. It is bittersweet to wave them off and we hope to cross paths with each and every one of them soon. It is so amazing to make new friends and benefit from their knowledge of areas and impart ours to them. The information we've received has been amazing, everything from, "don't shop there, shop there," and "the best place to seek medical attention is…" or "be careful when dropping anchor over there because the wind is going to come from the west, so it's best to go over to the other side," and the list goes on and on. Boat people (cruisers) are truly the best people because none of us are in the same boat but we share the same seas as well as a passion to see the world and live life on our own terms. Which really means the terms of mother nature, Murphy's Law and various geopolitical climates. That said, its always interesting!

Photos of our version of NATO: saving the world one game of pool (and several dogs and cats) at a time

My amazing friend Natalie and I took in the sites of the Marmaris Castle playing tourist for a couple of hours. It is the heart of Marmaris and sits proudly above it all with spectacular views. For more information, check out: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marmaris_Castle

Let's play a game: Spot Belvedere! Hint: she's NOT the oligarch ship Eclipse. Answer below.

Anyone who knows Jeff knows he is a gadget whore, and the boat seems to offer his lust ample pleasure. His latest purchase: an air compressor to which he has connected a 60 foot floating hose and a regulator making it what is known as a Hookah. We (he) can now clean the hull, rudder, keel and waterlines without a lift out. It will also allow us to quickly fill our paddle boards and other water toys, but it is not a dive compressor, so he knows there is still shopping joy in his future.

Jeff's new toy, using the toy, feeding the ducks and a goose (just like Mountsorrel) and Jeff on the paddle board.

Our first official visitors to the boat are do by the first of the week. Jeff's cousin, his wife and family are visiting Turkey and they want to see our boat. Hoping to take them out for at least the afternoon depending upon their schedule. Then, May 12th we welcome Jeff's mum and his sister for a fortnight.

OK, that was kind of tough. Made ya look!

Hopefully we'll capture some great footage as we begin to get the drone and GoPro fully operational. Thank you for reading and taking the time to write, Facetime or email us along the way. For now, enjoy watching Belvedere pull into and anchor in Marmaris Bay.