Return to Greece

After our delightful visit to Bruges Belgium and a tour of Versailles Paris, we made our final stop on our return flight to the Island of Rhodes Greece on April 25th and where Sea Turtle had been waiting for us on the hard at Nereus Marina for the last 11 months (N36°26.476' E028°14.174').

Sea Turtle required some work before splashing: new bilge pumps, freeing up a number of fixtures and fittings that had seized up while sitting for too long, and creating a stern boarding plank for the anticipated "Med-mooring".

From boat to shore (photo taken at later date)

Lastly we painted the bottom with anti-fouling paint and then slowly dropped her into the water on May 8th.

Lowering into water

Jordan turned the key - but no start! The old starting battery, which was isolated from the system, had lost its life. So with jumpers, we got enough juice to it to start the motor and get going. Half way out of the bay, the motor died. So quickly, up went the headsail and we sailed out so Jordan could bleed the air out of the diesel line and get her going again. It was Sea Turtle's way of letting us know that she doesn't like to be left alone for so long.

We motored over to Mandraki, the next bay and main harbour of Rhodes and tried our hand at Med-mooring (N36°26.950' E028°13.646'). Now Med-mooring is backing into and tying up to the seawall while your anchor holds the bow out. For newer fin keel type boats, the knack comes easy especially if one has a bow thruster, however with a full keel boat, they just don't back up straight so attempt was made with a little juggling and twisting while the anxious yachties on each side were fending us off. But we did it with only our nerves taking the chaffing.

We spent a couple of days in that splendid setting, enjoying Rhodes again and doing a few more minor repairs including a new starting battery and provisioning, now that the keel cooled fridge was operating.

Windmills at dusk

Another boater, Jubilee, introduced us to the best-tasting calamari in Greece at a small tavern, so if you are ever here, ask a local to direct you to this place near the Old Town - we went back numerous times!

Can't be beat!

A word about visiting Europe: We are only allowed to stay 90 days in a 180-day period in European countries that belong to the Schengen Group. We will be in Europe until around November, longer than 90 days.

So we will have to spend time in countries that do NOT belong to the Schengen Group (such as Albania, Croatia, Montenegro, etc.) When we enter one of these countries, the "clock will stop" on our time in the Schengen Group and restart when we next enter a country that does belong to the Schengen Group (such as Greece, Italy, Malta, Spain, etc.)