Our voyage to Rhodes, after our escape from Symi, was uneventful and it was fun to be back in a big marina and enjoy being tourists for a few days!

Rhodes old town is magnificent, remnants of so many influences, Turkish, Latin, Byzantine dating back as early as the 3rd Century and all still intact and carefully maintained.

We made our way around the imposing walls of the town, took in the fabulous architecture and then had drinks in the ‘almost’ rooftop bar of ‘La Veranda” restaurant.

After sunset drinks on this beautiful bougainvillaea drenched terrace, we headed to dinner. You will not be surprised to know that we didn’t walk too far for our evening meal!! Can you guess where we ate!!??

We had also had the chance earlier in the day to revisit the wonderful restaurant we had eaten dinner in seven years ago but which Jacques had not had much chance to appreciate after his release from the custody of the Port Authorities! It was as charming as I remembered!

We were now on our last two weeks before the final leg and winter stopover in Kos so deciding what to do and where to go became big decisions! We decided that there were a couple of places we had fallen in love with so on leaving Rhodes we headed back to Halki. Hooray!!

Back in Halki, I took some time to get closer to the fabulous colours and buildings, wandering the back streets we had not seen on our previous visit.

Another showpiece of Halki is possibly the busiest restaurant menu ever seen!!

In the days before we arrived at Halki, Jacques had been in Navily ‘conversation’ with a fellow sailor who was asking about the available space in the harbour. Jon from ‘Let Go, Let’s Go’ was due to arrive the day after us and we looked forward to putting a face and a boat to the names! Jon and family, his wife Kirsty, Kai age four and Jay aged two, along with Sarah who was with them to help with the boys were an absolute delight! Jacques had met them all during the day but I had been working so when we were invited on to their boat for drinks that evening I was really pleased and hoping to make a good first impression! That turned out not to be the case!

Earlier in the day, the harbour master had spoken to all boat owners (about ten of us) advising us to move further away from the quay as big winds were forecast for that night and there was danger of the boats smashing on to it.

We had no gangplank in place as, previous to the move, I had been able to ‘step’ fairly easily from the stern of the boat on to the quay without any need for a hand to help or the performance of any particular athletics! After the move, taking us over a metre away from the shore, the ‘step’ became a more challenging ‘leap’ but with Jacques’ help I made it off of Mossy Joe and safely on to terra firma! The ‘leap’ on to Jon and Kirsty’s boat looked no more challenging and for my right leg this was the case but my left leg could not keep up!! Thanks to Jacques having my hand I was spared falling without grace into the water but I did fall in a heap on the port side platform of the Catamaran and sat in a state of shock, bleeding and mumbling my apologies!

Thanks to the very comprehensive First Aid kit on board (always a must with kids) Kirsty patched me up with anti septic cream and an almost indiscernible sticking plaster!

After Halki, our routes were to be the same, as ‘Let Go’s’ destination was Leros, the island 25 miles north of Kos. I was so happy to spend some time with, and get to know better, this lovely family along with Sarah.

Jon and Kirsty’s story is one which I admire immensely, having sold up in Cape Town, buying the boat and starting their trip in Barcelona earlier this year. The boys may be missing conventional social and educational experiences but the vast array of opportunities and learning they are having are priceless and enriching in a way that could never be achieved in ‘normal’ circumstances.

The boys were a delight, even at 7am when we could hear them start their day in their fabulous inquisitive fashion. I think being with our new friends led me to a small bout of homesickness, missing my family and especially Frankie, my three year old nephew but Kai and Jay kept us busy and laughing whenever we got to spend time with them.

We had a few more days with the ‘Let Go’ crew visiting Tilos again, then Nisyros and then back to Kos for Hallowe’en and some further adventures, none involving real blood, were had!

One adventure was truly terrible but thankfully not involving our boats…..more about that next time!

P.S. Stay tuned for the next instalment as we have ‘exciting news’ about the winch!! Could it possibly have caught up with us? Was it the right one? Has it been installed??? Do we like the colour?? All this and more next time!

Take care and be kind.

Love and hugs

Tracey xx