One of my happiest sailing moments is captured in this picture. It was at the end of a great day’s sailing in Turkey on the Carian Coast.
We sailed from Torba to Gumusluk in frisky conditions, me, the missus, my son (seasick as ever poor bugger) and his friend. Most of the day was spent in 20-25 kts, wind on the nose trying to get round a bloody big island. Crap navigation on my behalf meant that we never went out far enough to clear the island on the return tack and had to tack back out gain much to my son’s dismay. “Are we there yet?”
Towards the end of the day and still not having cleared the island, seemingly spending more time going in the opposite direction, the crew (and me too I confess) started to worry that we would not make Gumusluk before sundown.
We finally cleared the big bugger at 4:30 pm and then it was one of the most perfect reaches to Gumusluk. If you ever have the opportunity go to Gumusluk do it. In fact go now! It’s one of my favorite places on the planet.
After 8 hours at the tiller in 20-25 kts, getting wet and salty with no foul weather
gear, first order of business was a nice cold beer,. After that to the
barbers right on the dock. This was a once in a lifetime experience.
First a haircut, a massage, a clean shave including plucking. The best
bit was at the end the barber took a smoldering taper and singed by ear
and nose hairs. Sounds scary and not something you want to do to
yourself but it was awesome.
I have been trying to find a barbershop that would replicate this but
all I ever get is weird embarrassed looks as if I were a little nuts.