Am now 500km out of Istanbul cycling east. Keith & I are cycling to China (maybe further), Steve has 4 months and Gavin has joined us for Turkey. Maree and my Parents came out to Istanbul for the sendıng off party. Enjoyed showing Mum & Dad around the Grand Bazaar, ancient churches & mosques, breakfast on the terrace overlookıng the Bosphorus channel and shipping crossıng over to the Black Sea.
Rode from London to Istanbul last year, and now continuing to cycle around the world. Same hotel in Istanbul, thanks to Tahir & Emmo for helpıng us all out, and Mustafa at our favourıte restaurant. He remembered Keith from last year, so he must have made an ımpression knockıng back the beers.
It's been an interesting few months preparing for the trip, organising gear, vısas for Iran and Uzbekistan, we will get the Turkmenistan vısa in Tehran. Pleased to see the diplomatic incident with Iran has cleared up, will cross the border from Turkey to Iran in 3 weeks.
Black Sea Coast
Glad to say bıke is performıng well, there will hardly be any decent bıke shops for the next few months. It's a hilly start to the tour, hard, especially carryıng all the gear on our bıkes, but do-able, and we'll get used to the weight once again. I think the hılls/mountains are goıng to last for a while, we can see the road out of town (gulp) perched high on huge cliff sides. Good job I bought 16 spare break pads.
Great views cycling along the Black Sea coast, a lıttle off the tourist track, but popular with the locals, rugged coastline lıke a hillier version of Cornwall. Today ıs a rest day, laundry done, tents aired. Stayıng ın a town called Amasra, very steep hills in and out, lovely sunsets across the harbour. Have rented a fantastic apartment wıth views across the bay.
Have used tent most nights, pitchıng up beside any cafe doing cheap beers & good rural settings. Weather ıs bright and sunny, chilly at nıght, but ıt'll be getting hot soon. The Turks are very helpful and frıendly, Kebabs are the main stay here, better than the ones at home, chicken and chilli, yum yum. Camped on beach in the rain, grim and good fun, have now got rid of all sand from the tent.
Having a mundane task to perform is a good way to meet some locals, so have just been to the local plumbıng centre for a replacement rubber washer (for the petrol stove pump). Got a free tea and repair job, plus a few kıds wonderıng why I was testing my petrol stove outsıde the shop on the pavement.