We stayed in a small local B&B for a few days while we closed up the boat for the winter. Lovely experience living in a local area even though our hosts spoke no English and our Turkish is limited to good morning and thank you! Bodrum town has changed a lot since we were last there – spoilt by tourism and after the tranquillity of the islands it seemed a bit too busy! As well as the normal servicing jobs (engine, generator, watermaker, sails etc) and quite a few small repairs, ALMA’s deck caulking is being replaced this winter so we hope next summer she will be looking much smarter and we won’t get black tar marks on our shorts! The sailing season is now over for us for this year and ALMA is stored ashore near Bodrum in SW Turkey. We had a great trip across the Aegean and look forward to exploring more of the Aegean islands in future years. Most of the islands were relatively undeveloped and unaffected by tourism (Mykonos was the terrible exception), we visited some wonderful places and the people we met were friendly and helpful. It all seemed a million miles away from riots in Athens and the country’s financial troubles. Now we’re back home we’ll think about our sailing plans for next season and hope to see many of you on board. Thanks to everyone who joined us this summer – we love to have your company and its great to have help in sailing the boat. Be in contact again over the winter and hope to see many of you soon. All the best Iain and Helen

Sailing with Nick and Lindy from Kos to Bodrum

then Kos (a bit touristy but still some lovely buildings and the sanctuary of Hippocrates is another of the special places of ancient times) before we crossed into Turkey (with Nick and Lindy who had joined us in Kos for a few days sailing in the Greek islands before flying back from Bodrum).

Levathi

Looking at Amorgos

Amorgos and the Monastery of Hozoviotissa

Paros (beautiful, very well sheltered anchorage which we are very keen to return to), Amorgos (where we waited a couple of days for strong winds to blow through and we visited the monastery of Hozoviotissa perched half way up the near vertical cliffs on the south coast of Amorgos – astonishing site), Levitha (small island with a wonderful natural well protected harbour, and only one family who keep a herd of 700+ sheep/goats, catch fish and provide dinner for yachties! A special place and pleased that we visited before it is developed), Leros, Kalimnos (where North Face were sponsoring a major climbing competition at the spectacular overhanging cliffs on the west coast – seemed quite incredible that anyone could climb up given the overhang)

Anne at work, at play, bathing in a hot spring and a Delos

Olympia to Mykonos with Anne

Our route from Olympic marina (where Anne joined us) on the coast east of Athens was via Kea, Kithnos, Siros, Rinea, Delos (centre of the Athenian league – ruins of the old port indicate what a significant trading centre this must have been in ancient times), Mykonos (convenient airport and Anne left us here to fly back to UK then Australia – it was great to have her company and share some of our sightseeing as well as being able to relax and leave her on the wheel for hours!!),