>Bill Kimley of Seahorse Marine has provided photos of Nomad, a >Diesel Duck 44 steaming home to Florida from China--in a lesurely >fashion via the Med. > >The photos are up at <http://homepage.mac.com/gxk/PhotoAlbum1.html>. > >The initial post was ><http://lists.samurai.com/pipermail/passagemaking-under-power/2005-April/001033.html>. >I hope we'll be able to provide further updates as the voyage >unfolds. Here's the latest, relayed from Istanbul: Nomad and crew have spent the last 1-1/2 months cruising along the coast of Turkey. There are many beautiful anchorages and natural harbors to explore and the marinas are to a high standard. Prices are also more reasonable than in other Mediterranean countries -- although things are not exactly cheap. The cost of one meal in a restaurant here is equal to 3 to 4 meals in Thailand. Turkish people are friendly and often go out of their way to help. Istanbul is a fascinating city, with it's ancient roots and location between eastern and western cultures. We have spent more than a week here and are now waiting for the Meltemi to ease off before starting our return trip to Finike, Turkey. The weather is quite unique in this part of the Med. Right now the forecast is for Beaufort 8, gusting to 9 in the Northern Aegean. This usually goes with high, steep seas. The sky is blue without a cloud in sight. We have covered close to 6,000 miles since our departure from Thailand and it is time to take things easy -- so we just hang out until the weather gets better. Istanbul was our most northerly point and after a quick look into the Black Sea we turned around, heading back down the Turkish coast. In a few days we'll be back in Finike, Turkey. There, the boat will be hauled for the winter. Nomad and crew will take a well earned rest from cruising and return to the States, hopefully to be back next spring for another year in the Mediterranean-Greece, Croatia-who knows. Three weeks ago I had to make a quick trip home to purchase some spare parts for the John Deere engine. The coolant water pump (not sea water pump) disintegrated, seal, bearings and all. I did not have a spare onboard and shipping things to Turkey and getting it through customs is a nightmare. Lucky, this did not happen on the Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden or Red Sea! Jurgen aboard Nomad, Diesel Duck 4403