Christchurch

So after waking up on Saturday morning to beautiful sunshine decided to get under way to get the tide up to Christchurch entrance.  Suddenly all these swans turned up..

There are hundreds of beach huts along the shore here opposite Mudeford.

This is the second time we have been here (see Chrystianneinspain.blogspot.com from July last year) and we wanted to go to Splinters Restaurant in the evening, so after contacting Rossiters boatyard for a berth made our way up the Estuary and finally the river to our destination.  We are virtually in the same place as last year.  Booked in, paid up for the night (£25), plugged into the electric and had some breakfast of bacon sandwiches and an egg sandwich as well for Bill. I thin phoned Slinters to reserve a table only to discover that they had Jazz there that night which was an absolute plus for me.  The sun was so warm decided to stay on board sunbathing (and reading) until about 2pm whereas we went and bought a timetable for the local area then into YOGI, the pub.  After a lovely glass of Pinot blush and sitting in their cool courtyard, meandered back to laze on the boat and study the tide tables.  Interesting that there is a second high water nearly 3 hours after the first which is higher on the springs and lower on the neaps.

 

This is a lovely picture looking up the river

After changing into some suitable clothes we made our way to Splinters, we are only about 15 minutes from the town centre where it is near the Church.

We sat outside and had gin and tonics listening to the band who were outside playing very nice smooth jazz.  I ordered lamb and Bill the beef steak.  Both were absolutely delicious washed down with a very nice Spanish White.  I shall now make my lyonnaise potatoes with garlic.  After that I ordered a tasting dessert which was a mixture of 6 small portions of a selection that they do there, although I couldn't finish all of them (I thought I'd have some help) the whole meal is definitely one to go back for.

So up and early the next day to catch the first tide, Bill wants to do some fishing although it was a fruitless pursuit in the end so we ended up in Newtown Creek for the afternoon to wait for the rising tide to take us back to Portsmouth.  Got a take away curry for dinner.  All in all another lovely weekend.

Robinson is safely ashore

We'll we did our deed yesterday and took the mouse ashore to let it find it's new home.

So after a couple of gins decided to eat the pizza I'd made the previous day only to find that the centre hadn't been cooked enough but anyway the flavour was delicious.  We then watched itv3 and watched an episode of Frost.  Very quiet and tranquil, lovely sunset and a bright moon later.

 Water slapping at the bow made it a bit difficult to sleep seeing as this is he first time we've been out and stopped away on the boat this year.  So now have phoned the boatyard in Christchurch to see if we can stop there as we want to go back to Splinters Restaurant where we had a very memorable meal last year.

Studland bay

Having left Portsmouth at 10am with the tide we arrived here bout 3 hours later.  In the meantime we inherited a mouse and 2 mackerel.  The former was found in a cupboard with the tins of soup and beans, god knows how it got there, our cats must have caught it and we must have put something in the cupboard ?? Who knows.....still we didn't have the heart to throw it in the tide so we gave it a little meal of croissant and some fresh water and he will be taken to Brownsea Island in about an hour via the dinghy and let free to make his new home.  Thankfully Bill has offered to inspect the cupboard later to check for droppings and a nest......

Here's the first mackerel :

The views of the  Harry  rock and the surrounding Jurassic coastline are spectacular.

The weather has been glorious this afternoon and a gin and tonic had to be had, whilst we sunbathed in the cockpit of the boat watching the world go by and the occasional irritating jetskier.  Planning to stop at the north end of the island in Poole harbour where the tourists have never been to, to anchor up for the night.  I made a large pizza yesterday which will be our evening meal tonight with some salad.

Bodrum

Having spent a very peaceful night in Sea Gardens bay after a very good moussaka lunch w are now in Bodrum for our overnight stay before we depart back to Blighty tomorrow afternoon.

Lots of  Gulets in this harbour mostly doing charter business but as my summing up at the weekend will show, not all are they seem to be.  Some look very expensive but that is not all money can buy.  One of the most important aspects is that the Captain and his crew have to work with ease and continuity, and be professional and helpful in all manners of their jobs.

 I can imagine the harbour side will be very noisy tonight as all the bars compete for business with loud music but hey we've got 4 hours on the plane to sleep tomorrow.

It is very humid and hot today with cloud cover so we are having iced drinks to cool us down.

One of the highlights of this morning is that Chris who has been on a fishathon since we set sail actually caught a nice octopus on his rod and line, so Sezayi our Captain had to go snorkelling to get another of which he was very successful so it looks like that is what they are having for dinner.  Bill and I are going out to a recommended restaurant on our own for a change to eat some lamb.

More later ...

Sea garden bay

Haven't had the wifi for 2 days until now.  Been to 4 more bays since, one they got the kayak out and I paddled rand in the crystal clear waters for half an hour.  I've been swimming without the wetsuit most days as it's so difficult to get on whilst its so hot I've just jumped in with a swimsuit.  I'd describe the water as refreshing but not too cold, but like gin it's so clear.  Mary's husband is yet again on another fishathon.  Yesterday he had a really good bite with a large fish (it now must have weighed 4 kilos !!!)

Also the other day we had an ice cream man in his moron boat whizz out to us as we were moored with a few other boats in a huge bay.

So here we are in another by called the Sea Gardens.  The skipper, Sezayi, his father used to own all the land around here when he was alive I've just been told.

More later....

Tuzla

Got a signal eventually on the on board wifi.

This bay is very secluded and there are no other boats, we moved from one bay earlier because it was too windy.  So here we are having had a lovely meal again from a BBQ from Chris, Mary's husband cooked some bream and steaks for me and Mum ( Betty, Mary's Mum we all call Mum!) they were delicious.  Earlier for lunch we had stuffed peppers which had a lot of flavour with the salads and tzatziki.

Travelling on the Gulet was a bit rough to get here but well worth it as it's so peaceful.

As we are alone I got the clarinet out and we had a bit of a sing song, all merry and jolly!

English Bay

Moored here for the night.  Dinner again was very nice, home made koftas with spicy beans and salad  with scallop chips.  Got out the clarinet but as there are others nearby decided it was too late to start partying.

Today decided to go to Marmaris which is about 40 minutes away on the other side of the mountains 1) to have a proper Turkish bath and 2) to get some boat stores.  I also went into a jewellery shop and bought some earrings and a new wedding ring !

The Turkish bath was a new experience not to be missed.  Mary, Sezayi Mary's mum and I got there via another of Sezayi's friends who had to take us to one out of town as the one he knew as shut.  We first off went into the sauna and seeing as it was 100 degrees outside was ridiculous so I managed to stay in there for about 3 minutes.  Next room was a huge marble room with several basins around a huge plinth which was hot !!  It's supposed to be relaxing but I found that very strange after the sauna so poured cold water over myself to cool down.  We then were instructed to lie on the plinth whilst a young lad then took a mitt like sandpaper and got rid of all my dead skin, then soaped me all over to clean up.  I was then drenched with lukewarm water.  After this lot we then went upstairs where the were several booths to have the massage.  If I thought my osteopath Audley was a strong man this one was stronger and  I had to cry out if the pain was too much and I have a high threshold when it comes to massage.  Then it was back to the changing rooms and dress.

So all in all an interesting day away from the boat but I'm glad to be back.

So now just having a G&T with Mary and recovering !