We arrived in Gocek, Turkey on Sunday 28th April so completing this stage of our trip. Since leaving Thailand on the 12th January we have covered about 5,500 nautical miles.

Gocek is at the top of the Gulf of Fethiye, a really beautiful area, sadly becoming popular with the flotillas, but not at all surprising, as it's absolutely gorgeous. Steeply sloping, heavily wooded mountains and hills running down to the sea with numerous small bays, where you moor by putting down a stern anchor, and tying to a tree.

The marina is very much 5-star, run by Camper and Nicholson, with all facilities. Well ordered pontoons in crystal clear water, several restaurants and bars, all discreetly merging into the local scenery, an extremely well-stocked chandlery, and every yacht service you can imagine all on site. The toilets and showers the equal of anything we have seen elsewhere in the world, and up to the standard of the Singapore Yacht Club and Port Dickson Marina in Malaysia. All this for a yearly fee for Hygeia of only GBP 1500, including 6 months on the hard.

We're having some work done on the engine and generator, but nothing too major required, despite this being the first major service since we left the UK in Juy 1998. Whenever I've been in touch with a Volvo agent, they've always said " if she's going OK, then leave well alone" But I think the time has now come to get things tuned up again. The engine has given unbelievable service since we left. So we are spending a couple of days getting all the laundry done, cleaning up the boat and making sure she's secure.

We leave for the UK on Saturday morning, and look forward to getting home, though we'll miss Hygeia.

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