I felt I was embarking on a Homeric Odyssey when I stepped onto the beautifully timbered gang plank connecting the stone wharf to what was to be my new home for two weeks. For a fleeting moment I imagined I could hear the tom tom sound of the war drums and the crack of the whip keeping the oarsmen in time. Perhaps my passion for Sunday afternoon movies would hold me in good stead for our forthcoming voyage.
“Welcome! Welcome!” bellowed a bronzed, heavily-moustached Turk who introduced himself as Ozden, our Captain. Our bags were collected by Memhet, another crew member, leaving us simply to negotiate the narrow gang plank to the large aft deck where our hostess Adelet, had prepared some light refreshments.
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Log of 'Sadie' by Gordon Reid
Friday 23 May
Booked into the UNLU hotel in central Gocek. This hotel has recently been renovated and is very comfortable with full range of facilities. We found the staff friendly and the restaurant excellent value. The hotel is about 100 metres from the ferry wharf and Skopea Marina.
Saturday 24 May
Morning spent shopping and locating a friendly supermarket that would deliver our boat supplies to the Sunsail Base. Although we were scheduled to board the boat at 1600 we were asked to remain at the office while a group filmed the boat’s interior. As this process appeared to be dragging on we decided to board and let the film people move around us. In the end the film group did not turn up.
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