Ground Hog Day

Well, Ground Hog Day has come around again. That's the day when, once again, we try to leave Orhaniye.

Sure, you know, its ground hog day... again

First time we came to Orhaniye, on a charter boat 'Papalagi'  in 2011. We stayed just a few days longer than we planned. We loved the Bee festival, ate honey cakes and drank chai. Next time was a planned 2 day visit in Pavlov, 2012. We ended up staying for a month, and had lots of canvas and stainless steel work done on the boat, and the decks re-caulked.

View over Marmaris from the bus

This time, we planned to lift out at Marti Marina for 2 weeks (at an exorbitant price). We ended up staying on the hard for 2 months, major hull work and rudder repairs, engine overhauled, plumbing re-jigged. Finally back in the water, we thought we could get away back to Fethiye (where we have a contract at the marina for our berth).

Check the mosque poised on the cliff

We made our first attempt 2 days ago. We snuck out of Goekova Bay, only to get hammered by 40 knot winds and horizontal driving rain. Our forward progress dropped to 2 knots, so we decided to beat a hasty retreat, and headed back to Orhaniye.

Desperate for something to do, we jumped on a couple of busses up to Mulga, the administrative capital. It was a wet rainy sunday, but the bus ride through the mountain passes was spectacular.

A rather proud Attaturk adornment

We saw our first Turkish demonstration. About 30 placarded demonstrator were holding a peaceful but vociferous meeting. Totally outnumbered by the police, including a riot van, SWAT team, water cannon and crowd dispersing tank. Tight rein indeed.

Old Ottoman building sandwiched by modernity.

We wandered around till it was time to catch the bus home. We've just ridden out 2 more days of gale force winds. We'll try to depart again today, but I have the sneaking feeling that ... 

its still ground hog day!!

Mulga side street

I think I'll teach the theory of 'Eternal Recurrence'