There is a large anchoring space just outside of Marmaris Marina where we stayed after a pump out and refuel. As we were heading into the anchorage we saw an Australian flagged boat and pulled up alongside to yell Aussie, Aussie at them and realised it was Craig and Nelli on Lomana! We had first met them in 2019 in Menorca and seen them off and on during lockdowns back home. We invited them for dinner and had a great night catching up. Cora made a delicious Salmon Wellington for us. We also had a lunch ashore with them whilst going to chandlery for a duplicate shore line - just in case something happens to our existing one and sometimes we have felt a need for two out at once. While we were here we got a scheduled generator service and the Simrad guy came to try (one more time) to get our 3D down scan working. We ferried them to and from the boat. Marmatis is a great town but the bay water is a bit dirty so we moved off to Amos Bay where we could swim and make water just 20 minutes away.

We met two other Australian boats in Marmaris Bay, Blonde Moment 11 and Southern Wing. They both were at Amos Bay so we went ashore for a wood fired pizza altogether one night. About this time we noticed a scary brown fuse smell when we put the A/C on!!! Upon investigation it turned out that the wire had not been screwed into its hole and was just lying over a couple of other wires! They were burnt and so was the plastic casing - only minutes away from a fire….Thank goodness we were right there and smelled it and not downstairs or up. In a boat like this - all fuel (fibre glass and diesel) we'd have had moments to get out - we all decided we'd rather have our luck this way than winning lotteries. Thankfully Lagoon responded immediately with a contact with a guy in Marmaris who came the next day and fixed it all under warranty. Lagoon have been excellent on all warranty repairs, we couldn't ask for more - except of course not to have them.

I had a fun ladies day ashore with Sandy and Lindal from the other two Aust boats. Mostly just mooching around buying things we either did or didn't need and having lunch. They are both heading in different directions. You never know when you will see the people you meet again. You tend to make friends fast and furiously in this business - not hard when we all have so much in common.

Our next stop was Ekincik. A great big bay with a few small marinas and good anchoring options. From here you get a boat up the Dalyan River which we did. The four of us went to get a better price as they hire by boat not really per person. It still quite quiet after Covid and because of the war (!) so we had our boat to ourselves. It stopped at Kaunos, an ancient Roman town that used to be a port but got stilted up and eventually abandoned. We've seen a few examples of this - the risks we are all facing these days with coastal living. A lot of the area is still marshy. it was very hot - we were glad to have to wade through some water to get there. Next stop was to lunch on the river bank. Loads of bars, accommodation etc right on the riverbank. Quite picturesque, the local people certainly are centred around the river with fish farms, tourist accommodation and farmland all accessible by barge. The beach at the Dalyan River system entrance is a turtle breeding and hatching place. Not what we'd expect in Australia - people on the beach and in the water in boats everywhere but you cannot anchor in the season. We saw our first examples of the rock tombs that much of this region and further south is famous for. Why anyone'd go to the trouble building them I don't know.

Except for the night before the river trip we have been anchored in a lovely part of the bay with clean, clear, warm water and our own turtle. The night before the river trip we stayed at the little nearby marina. Our insurance says that you have to have at least one capable person on board at all times at anchor. We used our next morning at the marina to use their water and wash the boat down. Poor thing was pretty dusty after just over 6 weeks without dock water. That's even with regular hand cleans by Kiki!

Hearing reports that the Gocek area is really busy at the moment we decided to skip straight to Fethiye and save Gocek up for September which is when Peter's brother Paul and sister in law Glenys, join us.

Fethiye was quite quiet. We saw Craig and Nelli again for a dinner at the fish market and a long lunch one day at the Yacht Classic Hotel. The fish market is a must do. You choose your fish from many, many central stalls then take it to the restaurant of your choice and discuss with them how you'd like it cooked. I suspect you still get it pretty much how they want to do it anyway. I had lamb chops. Peter drank too much raki. Never again he says…. A couple from Didim turned up for one night, Brian and Lyn on Aerial. We had them over for dinner and a catch up. A fusion Italian Turkish spag bol with kofte meat balls in it.

We have finally given up trying to buy printer ink for our printer. the problem is that we bought it in Europe and the Australian and Turkish ink cartridges get rejected even though they seem like the right ones. So we've now got a printer for Turkey and will keep the other for Europe! It's amazing how little difficulties like this keep popping up that end up being impossibly hard to resolve eg Soda stream, sim cards The price you pay for the life you lead….

Off towards Kas next.