War games

After a very bumpy evening as the swell rolled in all afternoon and night making the lines, fenders and yachts creak and rattle; we didn't get much sleep.

I'm glad we are the first yacht out of Bozuk Buku, amazing ruins but that's about all.  We have an eight hour trip in front of us, heading for the southern end of the Gocek Islands; it's supposed of be a beautiful sailing area so very excited to be going there.

It's a beautiful day apart from the haze which has been hanging around for two days now, it's really thick and we can bearly make out the land on the horozin, however we are making the most of the sun and wind on our backs.  Then we hear over the radio something about a war ship.  I'm thinking yeah but must be else where. The coast is so large, it's not for us.  By 11am a Turkish warship is calling out our latitude and longitude, speed and length of yacht, just as well Greg has the VHF radio on channel 16.

After a few conversations it's obvious we have to change course as we are in the way of their war games. Basically we have to head in the opposition direction to where we are going, shame really as we were half way to our Gocek anchorage.  We do as we are told and listen in to the warship call out all the yachts individually to change course out of their play zone.  Initially we are surrounded by three navy ships and see a few more on our way back north.  About an hour later we hear some almighty big booms, but not sure from where but seemed to be coming from the land near Marmaris.  There is a no go zone there so must be the navy practising; maybe for Syria.  Unfortunately we can't see anything due to the thick haze.

Well that's our excitement for the day, and I'm thinking it was for a reason.  We decide on a new destination west of Marmaris called Ekincik, where we can visit the  ancient city of Kaunos and rock tombs in the cliffs, they look pretty impressive from the photos.  We have to hire a boat and travel up the river Koycegiz about five miles and we will save that trip for tomorrow.

We reverse into another make shift wharf, which some yachts and very large Gulets are using, however there is no swell in this bay this afternoon so very comfortable.  We will visit our local restaurant who owns the wharf for dinner tonight.