Gocek D Marin marina is where we went to meet Peter's brother Paul and his wife Glenys from Australia. Our 12 month contract with Didm D Marin gives us a week free at any of their other marinas which is good. It doesn't include power and water though which is hideously expensive. Peter and I got out of Kiki and Cora's way (cleaning, cleaning) and found a chandlery that had kayaks in their catalogue. We'd been wanting a couple for ages but mostly it's all rentals around here or inflatable ones. When they were delivered one seemed to have been used with scratches and scuffs. after a bit of to- ing and fro- ing by whats app and us offering to return the two for full refund they managed to find a new one for us. We'll pick it up when we return to Gocek to drop Paul and Glenys back for their flight. They arrived no problems by taxi from Dalaman Airport after the usual long flights and managed to stay up all day to get a good reset - it worked.

After a few days in Gocek wandering around the rather smart shops we went off to Fethiye for 3 days in the bay there. We visited the Lycean tombs and a very good small museum along with the bazaar and a bar that sold Guinness on tap. Cora made Paul a birthday feast - Salmon Wellington.

Next stop was Kalkan which Paul and Glenys found just a enchanting as we did. After a few days there we headed off round to Kas and anchored in Bayinder Limani as we did before between the underwater museum and the plane dive. it was lovely there for four or five days. Paul and Glenys celebrated their 45thwedding anniversary there with dinner out in Kas and Cora making a delicious Tiramisu. We did the day trip to Kasitillerizo but this time included a trip to the blue caves. Captain Costa took us - Captain Accoster, Captain Costa Lotta…..I took Glenys and Paul over to snorkel on the underwater museum where Glenys and I had a laughing fit with her trying to get back on the dinghy!

Kerkova Roads was next. We anchored out to the east of the little town of Ucagiz. The kayaks were great for visiting the sunken ruins. There are little islands that are really runs of the old city that we kayaked around too. This time we went round in the dinghy to Kalakoy and climbed up to the castle. Lots of very steep steps through little shops with goods for sale hanging in the tress and laid out on the steps. very pretty. Lots of homemade ice cream for sale. We had lunch at another Hassan's then dinner at the other Hassan's!

When we were in this area last time we didn't go to Demre so decided to this trip. there is an unfinished marina there - just the breakwater built. A good place in a blow but seems a bit hot and isolated otherwise so we continued around to Finike. We anchored in the huge bay all on our own except for a NZ yacht that came in for one night and popped over to say hello. We were able to come and go by dinghy at the marina. One day we hired a taxi to take us in to Demre to see the amphitheatre, Lycean Tombs and St Nicholas church. All very good, well presented and interesting. St Nicholas is said to be the inspiration for Santa Claus, a very kind and generous church person in his time. But I'm not so sure as there are other claims for him around the world. including Scandinavia and Germany. There used to be big pilgrimages there to his tomb until the Italians came and stole his bones and took them to Italy! - history! The taxi driver waited around for us all the time and cost just $100. Very good value for the 4 of us. The tours started at 70 euro each! We swam off the back of the boat to cool down on and off most days. There are lot and lots of turtles all around the bay and the boat. It was quite easy to spot 2 or 3 at once most times. Glenys is now pretty proficient on a noodle - doesn't spill a drop of her wine!

The weather started to look bad towards the end of the week so we decided to head back to Kalkan to overnight and then continue to the Gocek Islands, however halfway through we made the decision to go straight through so having left at 6 am we arrived in Ruin Bay at 3pm. the weather where we were was great and well protected. Paul and Glenys kayaked round to Cleopatra's Baths ruins and back. Three days of swimming and snorkelling and general lying around followed. Very easy. We did manage to get our anchor muddled up with another boat but got it all sorted out in a friendly manner. It's hard to tell where another anchor is sometimes when all are lines ashore on a curving shore.

. Peter had his birthday in amongst all this. Cora made a fabulous Chicken Marsala with our Marsala wine and an apple pie. it was another excuse to open a champagne. I'm trying to find him a clock for the boat but so far most have been a bit junky, fake brass sort of thing. Maybe back in Bodrum with all the good fake watch shops?

Cora has been having a headache and sore face so we went to Fethiye for her to go to the hospital to see if it was a tooth infection or what. After an MRI the neurologist said he suspected migraines and prescribed some tablets. She's going to follow up when back in Spain in November but that diagnosis seems to fit the symptoms - bit of blurry vision and light sensitiveness too.

Glenys and I took advantage of being back in Fethiye and went to a Hamam! First time - didn't quite know what to expect…….We've heard of differing experiences involving lots of water, mud, slapping etc. It was great though, lovely steam room, foamy rub and scrub, relaxing massage and a face mask finished off with a glass of Turkish tea. I think I might go regularly now. We came across an Australian couple off a boat in the bay in there as well as meeting "Seaduction", Kirsten and Neil, who came aboard for drinks that turned into dinner. From Buddina on the Sunshine Coast. In all there were 5 Australian boats in the Fethiye harbour.

Back to Gocek D Marin marina now to say good bye to Paul and Glenys after a really great, fun month. They did some last minute shopping for presents and they bought us and Cora and Kiki dinner at Alaturka along the foreshore. We start making our way back north to Didim now.