8th July 2016 We have finally made a start to our journey, we have been delayed by around a week due to high winds and the Bayram holiday. Ramadan finished on Monday evening at sunset which is followed by three days of holiday, this is known as the Seker Bayram or 'sugar holiday' It is a little like the Christmas holidays. Families travel to their ' family' home where they were brought up. Everyone dresses smartly even buying a new outfit for the occasion. Children are delighted with lots of sugary presents and everybody seems smiley and happy. It is lovely, however, as with any holiday all official buildings are closed, even the marina offices! For this reason we travel to the marina at the first opportunity after the holiday. We took most of our clothing and provisions to the boat over the previous few days, easing our final top up. At around 6.20am we drove with our last bits and pieces to the harbour then returned home leaving our car safely on the drive.Our walk to Akbuk harbour with the wind whistling around us terribly told us this journey may be a little lively! At 08.45, am we were on the sea with winds gusting up to 23 knots, then settling to 12 within seconds. We managed to sail for the whole journey, avoiding the local holiday day trip boats and fisherman and arrived at the marina by 10.30. In the bay nearby we anchored and called the marina for permission to enter, this is quite normal procedure as some rather large and some very speedy boats zip out of there regularly. We waited ages, but after 11 am we tied up to fuel / dirty water station inside with our escort tender. These guys are really helpful, nudging you into position when required. Having made a fabulous docking at fuel station 😁 we asked about emptying our toilet. This involves walking to the other side of the Marina to complete paperwork, pay €10 then the technician appears with a huge hoover !! Lovely thought a poo hoover 😶😶 We then had to walk all the way back to the boat to actually attach the pump to the hoover. While in the reception to complete paperwork, we ended up booking into the marina for a night as the wind was so strong in the bay outside, meaning a very sleepless night, not what you want at the start of a trip. €56 for both marina berth one night and dirty water empty. Back to boat then to empty tank and move to G pontoon, with a little assistance from the marina chaps, we were securely wedged between another yacht and a cruiser. We had lunch, got chatting to our neighbour an English man with Turkish wife. They had travelled across from Leros where their boat is kept over winter, and were en route to the Bodrum peninsula and southern Turkey. Our next step in the checkout process was a visit to Osman the harbour master. Now when we first met Osman we were a little nervous, British couple trying to complete paperwork without an agent. How relaxed and laid back can one man be! Wearing orange checked shorts with a red checked shirt, he was almost horizontal in his armchair whilst attempting to reach the computer. He spent more time questioning Kevin on his fishing escapades than about our boat and forthcoming journey. Once he completed and stamped his section, we headed to the Port police, sounds very official, but yet again in a beige 'bucking bronco' tee shirt and jeans, with a massive grin from ear to ear, Hasan greeted us like old friends. On examination of our papers he informed us that we must not leave the marina grounds once our passports have been stamped, fair enough as we hadn't planned to. From there our procedure took us to meet the Customs man, as laid back as his colleagues in tee shirt and jeans. He very quickly scanned each page, stamped the appropriate box and sent us back to Osman the harbour master again for a final stamp. Now that our check out was complete, we could relax knowing all that happens next is when ready, we untie and go 😁 So back to the boat for a snooze, it is 38 degrees !! Realised at 5pm we had left one document with the Harbour master, we panicked and ran to get there before he went home at 5pm. Missed him, dam! Fortunately his phone number was on the door and he had left our documents at the security desk phew!! Need a beer now 😁 We plonk ourselves in the comfortable soft sofas, sinking into the cool breeze as we are protected on one side by the building. Within half an hour we are completely relaxed but, struggling to prise ourselves out of these divine cushions, we eventually make it back to 'Kejstral' for tea. The facilities in this marina are sumptuous therefore we make use of the wonderful showers hose down the boat then climb into bed.
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