Petronella's Voyages: Bittersweet Times

Yesterday was a day of emotional ups and downs. Finally after months of work Petronellla was launched and spent the day bobbing in the holding bay whilst nasty winds bounced her up and down. Shortly after midday the crane arrived and her mizzen mast was re-stepped. Thanks to all the marina stalwards who turned out to help and watch the fun. Yesterday was also the day we said goodbye to our great friends Curt and Jeri who are returing home to Squim in the US (oh, all right then, Sequim) for the summer, returning in the autumn (oh, all right then, the "fall"). Curt, we will see you in the Caribbean, Jeri hopefully in Sequim.

Unfortunately my work rebuilding the raw water pump was not too successful with water pissing into the bilge when we switched on the engine. Ah well, it's not the first time and today when we brought her across to B Pontoon (aka "The Party Pontoon") it appears it might just be the face plate that is leaking. We'll see when this wretched wind dies down.

Here comes the travel lift. Fingers crossed.

In we go

Splash

Back in the water at last

So after the day's slightly stressful events we were all off to Çan MoCamp the campsite just outside the marina gates. Çan's place is a throwback to the 60s, the sort of place you would have loved to have spent your 20s in. Chilled out, good music, full of backpackers, couchsurfers and volunteers. Çan had heard we are due to leave and offered to do a deal for us and our friends. We were greeted by a 4' high model penguin with a scarf over its face to mark the first anniversary of the Gezi Park disturbances. The penguin became the symbol for the protestors lat year (something to do with CNN running a programme in their Penguin series on the subject I believe). Anyway, the wind finally died, the beer flowed and the campfire crackled. Then it was time for more goodbyes. This time to our Turkish boat assistant, Zerrin, and her husband Mete. No more dressing up in overalls, aprons or chain saw massacre antifoul gear for you Zerrin. Very sad to see them leave with not a few tears shed across this cultural divide. This is one of the few downsides of the cruising life. You build great friendships often over a fairly short period but before you know it one of you, or both, is leaving for somewhere new. Sure, there will be new people to meet and fun to be had but that doesn't mean you forget the good times you had in Kaş either.