Autumn is here

Day #44

Saturday, June 13

From Beypinar to Beyciler

Country: Turkey

Why is it so cold?

Somehow, I had imagined Turkey differently, and instead of bright sunshine, I wake up to just over 10 degrees, it’s raining and stormy.

Maybe I should have pushed the sleeping pad into the hammock again and hope that I’m just feeling cold and wet and that no infection is developing.

The calf hurts, but otherwise the wound looks apparently good.

First, I take apart my bedroom, then I hang the tarp higher so I can move around properly underneath it.

I have breakfast sitting down, as a result.

I cut in a bar for some crunch, along with the last banana.

Shortly after starting, I have an incredibly wide view of the plain stretching out before me from the mountains.

And now it's going down.

The descent is fantastic. A winding road through the trees, past rock formations.

It becomes challenging when I turn onto a sand road.

Okay, I’ll just adjust the speed a bit and balance out the slight slipping.

The people I meet wave at me friendly.

I have the feeling I am experiencing an entirely new kind of warmth.

The bullet holes in some road signs are a bit disturbing.

Unfortunately, I am a bit unprepared when it comes to Turkey... I should have realized that roaming charges apply here.

In any case, I miss the Internet; luckily, the route to Istanbul is already in the GPS.

In the first city, I take care of basic needs:

Cash

Bakery

Börek

Well-equipped for the next kilometers, I continue through light drizzle that has been accompanying me so far. Accordingly, the break is quite short.

In a village, I get some water and the shop owner gives me some apples as a gift. At least I thought so.

It’s an unknown fruit to me.

Green, sour, tasty.

During another break, I can hardly believe my eyes.

Another bikepacker.

We chat for a bit before he continues his journey.

You have your own pace.

He is from China, started in Sweden, and is on his way to Tibet.

Now that’s an ambitious plan.

While riding on, I laugh a lot, knowing that another crazy person is out there in front of me and I wonder what the people coming towards me must think.

Although, as Istanbul gets closer, it seems more likely that other cyclists are passing through here.

Shortly after, I meet Kai again. He had a flat tire, and since we are heading in the same direction, we ride together.

We have a good conversation and take a break together in

Cerkezköy at a park or playground.

The connection to the public Wi-Fi fails. Fortunately, he can give me a hotspot so I can get an eSIM with some data volume, which I will use from now on.

In the meantime, more and more kids gather around us, very interested in our travels and bikes.

One of the boys speaks good English and acts as the translator.

Overall, a very funny encounter, and in good spirits, we continue our journey.

Really embarrassing, during the departure I overlook a small step and land in the grass to everyone's amusement.

At a supermarket, our paths part as I urgently need to do some shopping.

Moreover, we have different routes; he wants to go to the sea first, and I will pass by on the way to Greece.

Finding a suitable campsite is quite simple, as I come across a remote forest area in the evening.

Alternatively, I could have accepted the invitation from the couple I had encountered earlier.

But I wanted to cover a few more kilometers.

They showed me where they live and offered me food.

The next time I am here or need help, I should contact them.

As mentioned, super kind people I meet here.

Shortly after it is pitch dark, I have completed everything and can gently rock myself to sleep.

Song of the day:

Fulci - Tropical Sun