Flares, Tea & Military
Current Location: Bahceli, Turkey
Bike Days/Total Days: 50/57
Total Miles: 2,858
Elevation Gain: 109,400
Night Slept in Tent: 19
Total Spent (JL): $3,876
One correction from my last email. Turns out I was biking the Balkans, not the Baltics.
Istanbul has been reached, the mosques visited, and the calls to prayer not answered. It’s a solo journey from here on out.
Match Day
The most intense rivalry in Turkey is when Galatasaray and Fenerbahce play, pitting the European side of Istanbul against the Asian side. We were in Istanbul on match day so we bought some Galatasaray gear and headed to the supporters street. The atmosphere did not disappoint.
Jack even found himself some flares.
Other Pics
The GOP would be proud of the army in Greece. Just ending up too close to the Greek/Turkish border drew them on us. We were showed the “correct” road to use.
If a 10 is being held hostage and a 1 is free to go, this situation was an 8…for a google review of the restaurant. The entire meal the owner sat with me and adamantly reminded me to provide a review. So, if you google “Girne Kasap Kofte” in Zonguldak, Turkey you will find the below.
A valuable lesson has been learned - trust but verify the GPS directions. It doesn’t know weather or that rain turns dirt roads to mud.
One minute the father/son duo was giving my bike a clean and the next minute I was having cay (tea) with everyone at the car wash.
Got caught in thunderstorm so the fellas at Shell gave me a spot to R&R in their break room.
The mountains along the black sea are kicking my ass but there’s at least great views and empty beaches to camp on.
Is a toilet better than a hole in the ground if you have to play tetris with your body?
Have spent the last few days with Janik (German) who I met on the road
Random man stopped to give banana
Bad weather worse roads
Jack and his future wife
Up next is more of the Turkish coast until Georgia. A local told us today the mosques in villages will shelter you. Might give that a try tomorrow night.
Another great article, glad you ran into Janik!!