We have made the transition! Our daily life used to be a fluid experience. Our world, our view spun and twisted according to the winds and tides. Our sleep was punctuated by rocks, slaps, bumps and bounces. Our ears were attuned to the myriad of sounds that a boat makes while in the water.
No more, everything is still, nothing moves. It is strange to be moored on dry land. It is eerie that things are flat and level, that we are not constantly using our balance to stay upright. Our world view is fixed and limited. We miss the beauty that had surrounded us. Everything now feels static. We don't like it!
The boat yard is a primitive place. No modern travel lifts and marinaro's with Ph.D's. We are lifting out on a skid, a low flat trailer that uses hydraulic struts to lift the sides of the boat. This is a problem, as the pads don't apply an even pressure. We were very alarmed when our floorboards popped out of place as the hull deformed under the pressure. Luckily, it all came back into shape when the pressure was released.
The yard is very slow. They can manage 2 boat movements a day. We spent our first night on the skid, waiting for them to prop the boat.
The boat looks rather vulnerable, sitting on a few sticks wedged against the hull.
So, we are adapting to our new domicile. Without water, we can't use the fridge since its water cooled. We feel like we're living in a tree house, like Swiss Family Robinson. We're aware of all the people who have fallen from boats on the hard, as did the previous owner of Pavlov. Its also a long way to go for a pee in the middle of the night.
But again we are demonstrating our adaptability. We've been welcomed into the family of workers at the boat yard. Jamim, the care-taker, has taken to Megan like a love-sick puppy. We've been allowed to use the private shower and toilets, invited to eat lunch with the workers. We can use the fridge in the worker's kitchen. I like the family care aspect of Turkish businesses. Every-one sits down together for lunch, every-one does all the jobs. It feels like a big family.
But for now, the new rhythm asserts itself. We work on the boat, life is simple and strangely satisfying. And we can just gaze over the bay to remember our life at sea, and to recall the beauty of that life.
No more, everything is still, nothing moves. It is strange to be moored on dry land. It is eerie that things are flat and level, that we are not constantly using our balance to stay upright. Our world view is fixed and limited. We miss the beauty that had surrounded us. Everything now feels static. We don't like it!
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| Beginning the haul out. |
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| Pavlov emerges |
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| Inch by slow inch |
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| The skid emerges. |
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| What rough beast... |
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| this way... |
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| comes! |
The boat looks rather vulnerable, sitting on a few sticks wedged against the hull.
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| New dwelling has an elevator! |
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| Pavlov's new winter resting place |
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| Suspended in thin air? |
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| We need to cross brace the props. |
So, we are adapting to our new domicile. Without water, we can't use the fridge since its water cooled. We feel like we're living in a tree house, like Swiss Family Robinson. We're aware of all the people who have fallen from boats on the hard, as did the previous owner of Pavlov. Its also a long way to go for a pee in the middle of the night.
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| The long drop!!! |
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| The local mosque, so we will have music |
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| Our only shop |
But again we are demonstrating our adaptability. We've been welcomed into the family of workers at the boat yard. Jamim, the care-taker, has taken to Megan like a love-sick puppy. We've been allowed to use the private shower and toilets, invited to eat lunch with the workers. We can use the fridge in the worker's kitchen. I like the family care aspect of Turkish businesses. Every-one sits down together for lunch, every-one does all the jobs. It feels like a big family.
Its only a 15 minute bike ride into Bozburun, which is a charming little village. A dolmus will take us to Orhaniye markets and to Marmaris for serious shopping. We will see how the coming cold changes life aboard, and if our tree-house becomes untenable, then we may need to rent a small apartment in the village.
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| Remember the beauty |
But for now, the new rhythm asserts itself. We work on the boat, life is simple and strangely satisfying. And we can just gaze over the bay to remember our life at sea, and to recall the beauty of that life.
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