After a night of traffic and dogs and people noise, louder because we slept with the window open, we were woken at 4.48 by the Call to Prayer. Lovely fresh bread for breakfast, as well as meusli and meat, cheese, olives, etc.
We left at seven and immediately hit the rolling hills with fields of sunflowers (again) and wheat, then a long time riding through scrub which appeared to be cut for firewood. At 9am it was 27 degrees. The route was on Highway 20 for the day, but traffic was light and the road surface good.
We stopped at for chai at a little village. The men were all sitting out - it was not even 9am. There was a man there who was German and said to Rita he spends summer in Turkey and winter in Germany. He asked about our adventure and after we left would have told the locals
the story.
The lunch stop was at 50ks, slightly fresher bread than usual! The scenery was steeper rolling hill country, then up and down along a long ridge to the camp site. We saw the Black Sea again, and rode slowly towards it. The signs showed we were getting closer to Istanbul.
There were a number of lovely, large houses in some of the villages, complete with swimming pools - they and many other houses were surrounded by high razor-wire topped fences. We arrived at the little town of Tayakadin at 2.30. It was bustling with men, dogs and large trucks. There is major road construction nearby and there were endless numbers of trucks going back and forth.
We stopped at a petrol station and has a cold drink. There were about eight of us, and the staff got out a table and chairs for us so we had a picnic in the forecourt! When we left the young lad there said "busy road, very dangerous, be careful" Camp was on the outskirts of the town. It was a picnic area, so had toilets - squat with a bucket to flush. There was a bucket shower rigged up. So we put up our tent for the last time, freshened up and sat at the little shop under a large umbrella. After dinner, which was chicken kebabs and salads, we had baklava. Then we received our Tour cycling shirts, to wear on our final day. It was a lovely warm evening, and we sat around admiring the red sunset.
Distance was 90ks in 4hours 56. Ave. 18.
We left at seven and immediately hit the rolling hills with fields of sunflowers (again) and wheat, then a long time riding through scrub which appeared to be cut for firewood. At 9am it was 27 degrees. The route was on Highway 20 for the day, but traffic was light and the road surface good.
We stopped at for chai at a little village. The men were all sitting out - it was not even 9am. There was a man there who was German and said to Rita he spends summer in Turkey and winter in Germany. He asked about our adventure and after we left would have told the locals
the story.
The lunch stop was at 50ks, slightly fresher bread than usual! The scenery was steeper rolling hill country, then up and down along a long ridge to the camp site. We saw the Black Sea again, and rode slowly towards it. The signs showed we were getting closer to Istanbul.
There were a number of lovely, large houses in some of the villages, complete with swimming pools - they and many other houses were surrounded by high razor-wire topped fences. We arrived at the little town of Tayakadin at 2.30. It was bustling with men, dogs and large trucks. There is major road construction nearby and there were endless numbers of trucks going back and forth.
We stopped at a petrol station and has a cold drink. There were about eight of us, and the staff got out a table and chairs for us so we had a picnic in the forecourt! When we left the young lad there said "busy road, very dangerous, be careful" Camp was on the outskirts of the town. It was a picnic area, so had toilets - squat with a bucket to flush. There was a bucket shower rigged up. So we put up our tent for the last time, freshened up and sat at the little shop under a large umbrella. After dinner, which was chicken kebabs and salads, we had baklava. Then we received our Tour cycling shirts, to wear on our final day. It was a lovely warm evening, and we sat around admiring the red sunset.
Distance was 90ks in 4hours 56. Ave. 18.
1 comment:
Wow!
The final leg! By the time you see this - it will be finished!
So how does it feel?
Was it worth it? Would you do it again?
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