The haul went very well compared to the last one. Firstly we went to the haul out berth at 9.30 and were on the hard by 10.30. Last year they left us waiting at the berth while they all went off to lunch and a whole day got wasted. Then the guys all turned up promptly and worked all day till they finished their particular job. Eventually we were back in the water on time in just over one week as opposed to 4 last year. Admittedly there were a few less jobs this time but the organisation has been miles better. Thanks in a large part to Kiki keeping on top of the workers. Cora managed, under trying circumstances, (no running water etc) to make great lunches which helped a lot. I spent a day sewing bags for table legs and for the two tables were making for the front deck. The table is the old teak one from the flybridge that we replaced ages ago, it was a two piece folding thing that was useless and we are repurposing it to be a large joined table or low single coffee table. We got some screw on short and tall legs so the whole thing can be stowed away. The plan is to have lovely evening drinks and dinners on the front deck.

We stayed in the same friendly hotel at Altinkum as last time - but still a bring your own sheets deal!? The mattresses hadn't improved either so may re think next year if we haul here again.

We made a quick 2 day test trip to Yalikavak just a few hours south and everything was working well including our new auto pilot settings. The only outstanding issue was with the down structure scan which seems to have some major conflict somewhere on our system and couldn't be fixed so that got returned and reimbursed. In Yalikavak we caught up with Tam and Bronwyn on Cara. (We first met them in Tunisia in 2019 and have kept in touch back home and on the water since).They had friends, Richard and Anna from Brisbane too. A few meals and drinks……

Off to Samos, Greece now where we pick up Peter's daughter Lyndie and her partner Chris for a months cruising through the middle Cyclades Islands to Athens.