Day 108: Maku to Doy (67km) - Distance travelled so far 6,038km "Finally in Turkey..and closer to home.."
Onwards to the Border we go....Bazargan here we come!!!!!!!!!!! and roll on Turkey!!!!!!!
Dark roads to the Turkish border...
Getting out of Bazargan....
Safe Driving - (You like that one Mr Chips dont you!!!!)
But see if you can get this one?? Answers to Thaireland@gmail.com or the Guestbook
15km to Turkey...Get in!!!!!!!
Alas...The Bazargan Border...and initial sights of Turkey...."Looks hilly!!'
A steep ascent to the Border....Damn it to hell...
Closer..closer....We see a Turkish flag
Passports Please?
Yes...Definitely Turkey....
With a quick visa grap (10 euro) at the Border, we celebrate quickly before setting off once again for another brand new country....It has taken over 3 hard months but we really feel that the journey is now becoming increasinlgy less gruesome/grueling on us. We feel that we have completed the hardest part so to speak..viz a viz, the India's, and Pakistans of this world....
We can only take more positives going forward, for example, the food is better (albeit Kebabs!!!) for a start. The grasp of the English language is far greater too and coupled with the 2hr time difference, we are brimming full of positives. There is also the matter of supermarkets (Carrefour's/Tesco), designated camping zones/sites and better access to communications (card phones/wi-fi hotspots).
Thaireland - Turkey - Thank God
Give me joy in my heart, keep me singing!!!
Brian wishes he had tracks!!!!
Day 109: -Dogubayazit - Agri (97km) - Distance travelled so far 6,136km "Rain rain go away.."
First impressions of Turkey -
We got a hostile reception yesterday. Mike got spit upon. Brian and Paul got heckled and jeered at. Somebody also crashed their motorbike into the back of Mike's bicycle. They called us "tourist" alot... ie, "Hello Tourist!!" and asked for money quite a bit....
Turkey is also damn cold and the roads are not a patch on Iran's super-highways....It also appears from our map, that Turkish roads are far from plain sailing. Mountains dotting our very route up to Samsun on the black sea, peak (these puns are notorious!!) to 2,500 meters. Flashbacks of Laos creeping into our brains!!!!!!
Mike soaking it all up..
The next series of pics will give you an indication of the terrain we face in Turkey. Think 30-50 km of this at a time....It is testing to say to the least!!!!!!!!
Wet and cold but still peddaling
The Tarmac roads are very course (prob due to the harsh climate) and extremely patchy in places
Low cloud cover...and the threat of hale,rain and snow pretty much constant
