Oct.24th-28th


10/24 We left for Ormos Kamares, Kos,(another free night) leaving the other
three boats (Laudande, Magic Carpet and Rag Timer) behind in winds of about
20-25 knots and seas building from the day before.  The seas were choppy and
rough and we were glad to come into the lee of the island after about 4-5
hours of splashing around. The winds were still blowing about 20 knots when
we anchored. Maybe tomorrow it will be a little easier.  On shore we noticed
a restaurant with an American flag at half mast.  I guess most of the world
is compassionate.

10/25 As we started to leave Kos and sail to Simi, the water pump stopped
working again.  We turned off the engine and Rudy went to check.  A
different part of the water pump broke this time.  Decision time; do we stay
here and fix the water pump or do we sail in the 15-20 knots of wind gusting
to 25 and fix it on the way???  Yep.. we sailed.  We put all our sails up,
reefed, and Rudy went to fix the water pump.  Three hours later, Rudy
replaced the water pump and we had an engine again. MY HERO!!!  It was just
in time too because we sailed into the lee of one of the many peninsulars of
Turkey and the winds died down to nothing.  Down came the sails and on went
the engine....again.

We had it planned that I would jump off the boat and do customs in Simi
while Rudy motored around and then anchor at a calm harbour south of the
town.  As we came to the town quay, the harbormaster told us that customs
would not be open for another 2 hours. So much for plans! Since we had to
wait anyway we Med moored (dropping anchor and backing in) and decided to
spend the night.(free mooring) It took us over an hour to clear Customs but
everyone was friendly and cooperative.

The town of Simi was charming! The cream houses with blue doors have been
built one on top of each other up the steep sides of the inlet like a
child's building block version of a town.  Simi was once famous for its
sponge-divers and a few still do it for a living. We had a quiet dinner and
made the boat ready for the next day.

10/26 Although we planned to sail to Marmaris, Turkey today, the forcast
called for gale force winds and thunder showers.  We therefore stayed and I
baked while Rudy did boat things.  Then the rains came and it poured!!  I
think the last time it rained this hard was going across the Atlantic. In
between the rain, a single-handler came over to us and asked us to haul him
up his mast.  He had an old winch and it took two people.  He was very
appreciative and gave us a bottle of Greek wine.  After awhile, a young
German man came and asked Rudy if he could borrow his diving equipment
because he had a line wrapped around his prop.  When Rudy asked if anyone of
the four had a license, they said not with them.  Rudy didn't want to chance
anyone killing themselves, so he dove and cleared the line around the prop.
(He is a HERO to everyone!!) I learned that the line was put around the hull
and dragged along to clean off their deepth gauge with the engine on!!
(Charter boats are so much fun!!) Well, we got TWO bottles of Greek wine for
this job... maybe this could be our next line of work!! Can we live on wine?

10/27 We left Simi for Marmaris today and the skies darkened.  About eight
miles away there was a very servere thunderstorm with the biggest Waterspout
that we have ever seen in pictures and in real life!!! We were far enough
away for it to be exciting and a wonder rather than dangerous and
frightening!!

                    WE ARRIVED IN TURKEY!!!!

We arrived in Marmaris and met with the manager Ufuk Sayer. He was warm and
very kind to us.  Then the marathon of checking-in began..(1.)pay for the
transit logs...$30 US (2.)Health Dept. $3.50  (3.)buy a Visa $45 a person
(4.)Passport inspection (5.)Customs (6.)Police and (7.)tomorrow we have to
go to the Harbour Master.  Everyone was friendly and helpful, but Rudy and I
wanted to have a drink and some food.  We went back to the boat and found
the marina's laid mooring line holding Boundless away from the cement quay
had parted and she was floating into the dock.  Since there is a race this
week with about 140 boats, they were very busy.  So Rudy put a spring line
to the boat next to us and told them they could fix it the next day.  We
finally went to have dinner... it was the most money we ever spent on a
meal...56.5 million Turkish dollars ($56,500,000)!!! which in US money came
to $35.($1.6 million=$1US)  Rudy and I are MILLIONARES!!!! We wish...

10/28 When we woke up today, the mooring line was already replaced and
fixed. I guess they did remember us!!  We rode our bikes all thru the marina
and part of the town finding out where the important places are like
laundry, photo shop and the movies!!!  We had lunch and sat next to three
marines who were on shore leave and stationed for the present in the Med.
We chatted for awhile and we thanked them for protecting us and they wished
us good luck in our adventure. They were all hoping their leaders would let
them go in after Bin Laden.......They will be added to my prayer list!! What
a great day!! No traveling, no pressure, just relax and enjoy! We are
impressed with Turkey!