Sunday 10^th July – Erdek

40:23.753N 27:47.421E

Wash day.  We got the twin tub out, stripped the bed and did some washing – making the most of having water and electricity here.  We tied the line at a lower level than usual to try to keep our laundry discreet as a lot of people take photographs around the quay.  The wind was quite fresh from astern, despite being in the lee of the land, and with the temperature in the mid 30s and very low humidity, the washing was dry very quickly and we were totally finished by just after lunchtime.

A small German yacht arrived this afternoon and, later, a Turkish yacht – they are berthed where the yacht had its anchor stuck but should be fine now the chain has been removed. 

A number of the shops here are selling very cheap inflatable lilos, dinghies and rubber rings for use by the kids on the beach.  One of the small dinghies looked just right for us to use to go around the hull of Pyxis and scrape off some of the weed that has been growing at the waterline (to save us having to blow up our dinghy until we get to an anchorage).  So this afternoon Richard bought one and blew it up.  We dropped it in the water and Richard gave it a try; OK, so he is a little heavier than its recommended weight limit. 

Having got to the side of Pyxis and given the weed a couple of experimental scrapes, he noticed that the dinghy had started to go down a bit.  In clean water this wouldn’t have been a problem but as there is some black oil in the water at the moment (plus the odd jelly fish), he didn’t fancy a swim in the harbour.  I had to stop laughing and pull the dinghy back around to the transom so he could get out quickly before sinking (he managed to get oily water over his white t-shirt off our electric cable in the process - yuk).  Maybe the plastic was still stretching or maybe the valve wasn’t closed properly or maybe we already have a puncture.  We have put some more air in and will check it stays up before trying again.  At least it kept the neighbours entertained for half an hour J

This evening we have enjoyed a balik ekmek again from the boat just along from us.

The meltemi is blowing quite hard from the north-east at the moment.  This evening, at the mast top the gusts have been reaching 30 knots; fortunately we are well sheltered by the town and çay houses behind us and are not feeling much of it at deck level.

Erdek: Do you think the outboard will fit?

© Pyxis 2011