February 4th, 2007 | categorizilation: all categories,Turkey
My bike safely stored inside my tent which sat on the marina all day, I wandered aimlessly the streets of Amasra.
First stop was the local Museum. What a treasure trove. I shuffled around in a daze, trying to take in the reality that the things I was looking at were over 1,000 years old. Roman statues, other stone work, coins…
   
   
For all the dirt on Amasra, read about it on Wikipedia (article here). It has a fascinating history, one that I was not expecting here in Turkey.
I later wandered up the hill on an island connected to Amasra by an ancient stone bridge that makes up part of the Amasra castle/fortress.
The views from the top of the island were good enough for the cloudy conditions.
Amasra nowadays is a haven for tourists. There is a large city nearby (Bartin), so Amasra kind of reminded me of Akaroa in New Zealand. A popular place for city dwellers to come on a weekend. The town was fairly deserted however, and according to the locals it is understandably more lively during the summer months.
Tomorrow I face the hills once again and head in the general direction of Zonguldak City.
February 3rd, 2007 | categorizilation: all categories,Turkey
Todayâs distance / ä»æ„ăźè”°èĄè·éą: 44.88km
Average speed / ćčłćéćșŠ: 10.2km/h
Time on bike / è”°èĄæé: 4h 23m
Total distance to date / ä»æ„ăŸă§ăźç©çźè·éą: 3025.3km (plus 4200km)
Ascent / äžă: +1620m
Descent / äžă: -1575m
Inhumane, I tell you, inhumane! The Black Sea coast of Turkey has the most unrelentingly steep and numerous short uphills of any road I have cycled ever. Over a distance of only 45kms, I had a cumulative total of 1620m vertical metres climbed. I tried in vain to capture the steepness on my camera.
I was tempted to carry on to make it 2,000m, but Amasra was too inviting to miss…
I don’t really have much more to say other than today was tough work.
Pitched the tent on the marina.
February 2nd, 2007 | categorizilation: all categories,Turkey
Ascent: +1600
Descent: – 1600
Rain rain go away, come again no other day…
After a very wet dash to Inebolu Town a few days ago, Jean, a visitor to the 14degrees website, suggested that I duct tape over the zips on my jacket to stop water from getting in through the zips.
Jolly good idea, so much so that when it started raining today, I did just that. Worked a treat too. Only one small problem, and that is that water wicks under the tape via the outer fabric of my jacket, causing the adhesive on the tape to unstick. The tape kept much more water out than if the tape wasn’t there, so a success.
Cycling in cold rain (the temperature was 3 degrees centigrade) is no fun however, no matter how sealed up you are. With the big climbs again today, I was sweating in no time. Wet from the outside, wet from the inside. As soon as I stopped, I got cold very quickly. At one stage I decided to wait for the rain to stop. I hid in a bus stop.
The rain however wasn’t cooperating, so I headed out again.
Lunch was an hour late, at 2pm in Cide, a town of 9,000 people. In summer I imagine it is quite the tourist spot.
The day had a warm ending however. I was hoping to get to Kurucasile for the night, however it was already 6pm by the time I descended into Kapisuyu I (there was Kapisuyu I and Kapisuyu II). Kurucasile was a tantilising 4km away, but was separated by a 300m high point. I tried to climb up over the point, but half way up my legs quite firmly refused. ‘Ah, no. No Robert, we are going no further’ they said.
I rolled back down to Kapisuyu in search for food. It was raining lightly.
I stopped at the only store in town and bought some bread and milk. The owner of the store, Mr. Behzat Guler, suggested that I eat next door at his small cafe. ‘In summer it is very busy here’ he said. Tonight it was dead. Him and his wife watching TV.
I ate my bread and a delicious sweet desert thing I didn’t think to ask the name of. I motioned to pay for the delicious sweet desert thing I didn’t think to ask the name of, and Behzat firmly refused to accept anything.
I said that I had a tent, and asked where I could pitch it in the small town. Behzat would have nothing of it, and that’s how I ended up sleeping in his warm little cafe for the night. Thank you Behzat!
February 1st, 2007 | categorizilation: all categories,Turkey
Ascent: +1270m
Descent: -1270m
The weather forecast for today promised a one day break in the tough weather that has been lashing the middle section of the Black Sea coast of Turkey for the last few days. The forecast made good on its promises, and I managed to cycle about 75kms along the coast’s inhumane inclines before settling down in one of the many deserted campspots.
Only a few kms from Inebolu however, I had my first hold up for the day. The storm yesterday had caused a section of road to collapse, requiring some emergency maintenance work.
Cars were lined up on both sides of the slump in the road, but I was waves through after a few moments wait. I cycled gingerly over the slumped road, making sure to dodge the wide cracks in the road.
From here to Doganyurt, the road climbed up, high enough for the snow to remain half unmelted. It was tough going, and I took a few falls. Some a little closer to the edge of the road than I would have liked…
The hardest thing about today’s snow was that in places it had been compacted by cars, which left an uneven slippery surface. In some places the snow had turned to slush, in others it was still hard. Potholed ice, I call it.
The inclines were steep. In places I had to push the bike uphill. I was beginning to wish I had some spiked tyres as Satoshi, a regular visitor to my site, suggested.
The snow only lasted until Doganyurt however, and from there I was able to savour the inhumanely steep Turkish Black Sea coast hills in all their glory.
The views in places were stunning.
It wasn’t until it was growing dark that I spied a potential spot to sleep. I was up at the top of a point, and down below was a beach in a small cove. There were a few buildings in the cove, well away from the small town further up the valley. I bombed down the road to the cove. There were some people in one of the small houses – a family from Istanbul, on holiday. I asked where I could pitch my tent, and they suggested I sleep in the porch of one of the buildings nearby.
Dry and relatively warm, I had just finished cooking up some soup and pasta when the father of the family from Istanbul appeared with a massive plate of fried fish and another massive plate of salad. I ate my fill that night.
(The next day)
January 31st, 2007 | categorizilation: all categories,Turkey,vids
Oh yeah, gimme some of that.
Gale force winds continue today. My little walk along the shores of the Black Sea this morning was a tough one. At times difficult to maintain balance, I decided that if it’s this tough just walking, that cycling would be impossible (at 2pm, the internet weather report was reporting winds of 67 km/h).
Horizontal snow followed soon after I shot the clips.
(click on image for short video clip – video will open in a new window)
Oh well, looks like another day inside, eating.
By the way, a few people have asked me if I know why the Black Sea is called the Black Sea. I consulted Wikipedia, and it appears that there are a few possible reasons.
‘The motive for the name may be an ancient assignment of colors to the direction of the compass, black referring to the north, and red referring to the south.’
‘Another possible explanation comes from the color of the Black Sea’s deep waters. Being further north than the Mediterranean Sea and much less saline, the microalgae concentration is much more rich, hence the dark color. Visibility in the Black Sea is on average approximately five meters (5.5 yd), as compared to up to thirty-five meters (38 yd) in the Mediterranean.’
REF: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Sea#Name
January 30th, 2007 | categorizilation: all categories,Turkey
Yesterday’s weather forecast was a day late, it seems. The predicted snow, rain and wind came in force today, soaking me through on the 11km ride from my campspot to Inebolu. As I sit here in the internet cafe, it is still snowing the same slushy, haily gunk that the sky spat on me early this morning. My waterproof gear is great in its intended use, but when I am lying back on my recumbent, water gets through the front zips. Not pretty.
Before the skies dumped their contents on me however, the views from my campspot were thrilling.
The wet weather even made my dead neibour let up her stinking for a while.
Perhaps this is why the sea is called the Black Sea…
January 29th, 2007 | categorizilation: all categories,Turkey
The weather forecast for today was rain, snow, and wind. I saw none of it, and had a great day of riding.
Snow and ice still remained after yesterday’s full day of cold rain and following snow during the night.
It was at times hard going up the very steep hills between Ayancik and Turkelli. The road had been cleared by a grader in the early morning, but the thin layer of snow that ramained meant that I had to concentrate on keeping the bike rolling over clear road. If not, the back wheel would spin.
I had read Peter Wulff’s account of his cycling along the Black Sea coast of Turkey yesterday, and according to him, there were some big hills. He is not wrong. The hills in this part of Turkey are the steepest I have cycled anywhere on this journey. I have only once ever climbed faster than 14m/min on this journey, and that was in Dushanbe in Tajikistan while cycling around the city on an unloaded bike.
I was doubting the accuracy of my map when it said it was 30km from Ayancik to Turkeli. The towns looked so close together. At least, as far as the crow flies they are. The road however snakes up rivers and up to about 400m above sea level before once again dropping down to Turkeli. The hills continued in this way for the whole day, but I was feeling strong and enjoying the challenge.
The steep downhills took their toll on my brakes however, and soon my front brake pads, which had not been changed since Uzbekistan, began making the tell tale sounds.
A simple two minute replacement job done, I was on my way again.
By the way, the next time I embark on a journey, it will be done like these guys. I met these Three Norwiegans (Nikolai, Per, and Ăyvind), on the approach to Inebolu Town. They began their round the world tour on scooters in New York. Legendary. Meeting them made my day. Full respect to the classiest transport on the planet. They have a website!
I found a nice campspot right on the beach about 11kms from Inebolu. I made sure to pitch the tent upwind of the rotting dead cow though.
January 28th, 2007 | categorizilation: all categories,Turkey
Rain, wind and snow.
I spent the day in an internet cafe.
Brrr.
Dinner was Lahmacun once again. But this time it was Kurdish Lahmacun. You would think that all Lahmacun is equal. However, Kurdish Lahmacun is all good. Herby, spicy paste is served along with the salad. The best I’ve had. And I’ve had many.
January 27th, 2007 | categorizilation: all categories,highlights,Turkey,vids
It was windy during the night. I recalled seeing on the internet that the weather forecast for today was for snow. I have to get off this mountain.
I got up before day break, and battled with the cooker in the wind to boil some rice for breakfast. I checked my barometer often to look for any tell tale drops in pressure, indicating the oncoming of precipitation. It had only dropped 4 bar in the last 7 hours over night however, so I was safe for the time being.
As the sky grew light, I could see that the feared snow clouds had not yet appeared. A blue sky to aid my escape off the mountain to Ayancik.
I gave Akgol Lake one more longing glance before pushing my bike back to yesterdayâs fork in the road. I studied the signs once again, while I filled my water bottle.
Now thatâs odd, why didnât I notice that yesterday?
On one of the signs that pointed to Akgol, was âAyancik Belediyesiâ in small lettering. My Turkish phrase book told me that âbelediyesiâ means city council.
The road to Akgol leads to Ayancik after all! I thought with jubilation. I re-resolved to go to Akgol, and then follow the road to Ayancik.
(click on this photo for a very large version – look at the red Akgol sign,
youâll see âAyancik Belediyesiâ in black lettering)
Pushing my bike back past my camp spot towards Akgol was easier than the day before. With yesterdayâs tyre tracks, I was able to push the bike without having to cut tracks in the snow.
The road going from where I camped to Akgol was for the first half what I had hoped. Snow shallow enough to be able to sit on the bike and roll down hill. This only lasted for about 100m however before once again the road went behind the trees, and the snow was in its full unmelted glory.
I repeated yesterdayâs process of removing the front panniers and walking them about 1km ahead. I walked them all the way down to the lake.
There it was. Lake Akgol. In summer I imagine it must be quite the picnic spot. Today there was no one. The lake was frozen over. Massive chunks of snow had fallen from the roof of the adjacent council administration building, bocking the doorways.
The road did indeed carry on down the valley next to the river. But it was such a tiny road. And covered in deep snow. Is this really the way to Ayancik? Perhaps the reference to âAyancik City Councilâ on the sign back up at the fork in the road was referring to the administration buildings.
I tried breaking into the administration building to try to find a detailed map of the area, but the windows were closed fast.
I was torn with indecision. Small road leading down a narrow valley, assumably to Ayancik. Deep snow to push a heavy bike through. If I turn back however I still have to push my bike back up through snow. A least I would know what to expectâŠ
I decided that assumption being the mother of all stuff ups, I would turn back. I kicked the snow in frustration and yelled at nothing in particular. Or maybe I was yelling at common sense. Mr Common Sense, who always knows better, when I am so sure that the small snowy road goes down to Ayancik.
I firmly told me, myself and I that the decision was made. So I picked up my panniers and trudged off up the hill again to my bike.
As I walked I noticed the biggest footprints I have ever seen in my life. I would later learn that there are bears around Lake Akgol. Ignorance is bliss.
Once at the bike, I began pushing it back over the tyre tracks once again. The going was easy enough, but pushing uphill required a rest every 5 metres or so. It was going to be tough pushing the bike up yesterdayâs hill, but all going well, I would be back on a clear sealed road by late afternoon.
Just as I rounded the corner to the fork in the road, I saw it. The most beautiful sight I had seen in two days. A huge grader was carving through the snow, leaving a beautiful clear road in its wake. A man was walking towards me with a small bore shotgun hanging over his shoulder.
The man didnât seem at all surprised to see a foreigner pushing a bicycle-like contraption through the snow. I asked him which was the way to Ayancik. To the right, he motioned, and that was that. A true answer to my prayers.
The road went over a small crest before easing into the most spectacular downhill ride of my life.. The road was mostly clear of snow, and went through villages that clung to the mountainside for dear life. Locals waved in confusion as I sped by. A little toddler saw me coming and ran for cover, sneakily watching me roll by from behind a fence post.
The road descended down to join a road that followed the river downhill. A sign pointed upstream to a tourist spot called âAkgolâ. That was the small snowy road that I had decided not to take, on the advice of Mr. Common Sense. I didnât care any more.
The riverside road was glorious. Walls of rock, waterfalls, steep hard packed road. The recumbent was in its element, only slowing for blind corners where the likelihood was high that a local would be speeding up the hill just as fast as I was speeding down it.
(click on image for short video – video will open in new window)
I finally reached a sealed road. The road that I would have been on had I just gone downhill yesterday rather than be lured down the road less traveled to Akgol.
I couldnât help but think that it is indeed more worthwhile taking the road less traveled. You are sure to suffer, hurt, curse and get frustrated. But in the end youâll always come out the other end with more than a tale. Youâll have spot in your memory that will always take your breath away every time you revisit it.
I bombed down the asphalt to Ayancik. I caught glimpses of the Black Sea as I descended. The Black Sea. I was euphoric. What on earth is a guy from the one of the southern mot cities in the world doing looking at the Black Sea with his own eyes.
I checked into a hotel (rain was beginning to fall) and washed my clothes for the first time in three and a half weeks.
January 26th, 2007 | categorizilation: all categories,highlights,Turkey
Turkey has among the steepest roads that I have encountered on this journey. This morning I cycled one of them. Had I not already cycled almost 7,000km, I would have been pushing.The pass was called Sakiz Pass, and it joins a small town (don’t remember the name) and Ayancik on the Black Sea coast. I inched up the slope at an average speed of 4.6km/h for over 2 hours. I can tell you, it felt good to be at the top.
Now, from the top of the pass, the smart thing to do would have been to bomb down the other side, savouring every vertical meter of the 1,250m from the top of the pass to sea level, on a nice sealed road. However, I got just a little sidetracked, which turned a 1 hour descent into a two day struggle..
The brown ‘tourist information’ sign said ‘Akgol’. A muddy snowy road turning off to the left of the main road. I glanced at my map and saw that it indicated a tourist attraction at ‘Akgol’. I didn’t know exacty what ‘Akgol’ was, but the road was going downhill, and I was keen to take some pictures of nice scenery…
The road was snowy, but 4WD vehicles had been on it recenty, meaning that I could cycle OK in first gear.
That was for about 100m. Once again the road forked. Cycleable 4WD tracks going right, and a sign saying ‘Akgol’ pointing left.
The road to Akgol was covered in snow about 30cm deep. If you were walking, you would sink about 15cm with each step. If you were pushing a loaded recumbent bicycle with a small 20 inch wheel at the front, the bike would sink down to the axles in the snow.
After 50m of fruitless pushing, I realised that the bike was too heavy. It would sink into the snow, and pushing would become impossible. I did however notice that if I removed the front panniers, the bike moved with relative ease throught the snow.
I spent six long, long hours carrying the front panniers 1km, dropping them, walking back to the bike, then pushing the bike km to the panniers, then carrying the panniers 1km…
It was painfully slow progress, repeating the ferrying of panniers and bike through the snow. My legs ached, and at times I could only push the bike for two or three meters at a time before needing to rest. I was tired and hungry.
The reason I chose to forge on however was because I was going downhill. Surely the snow would thin out as descended, I nievely thought. Problem was that I was in the middle of a pine forest. The road saw very little sun during the day, so the snow had very little chance of melting.
Also, according to my map, if I could make it to Akgol, there was a sealed road leading from Akgol straight to Ayancik. From there it would be pain sailing, I thought.
By 4:30pm, I had come to another fork in the road, with signs pointing to ‘Akgol’. The mystery tourist spot. ‘Akgol’ to the left, some small villages indicated by a sign pointing to the right. No mention of Ayancik Town.
It was here that I began to doubt the accuracy of my map. Perhaps the road forking to the right does actually go to Ayancik, and the road to Akgol is just a dead end, I thought.
About 100m down, I could see a lake, surrounded only by large hils. If I go down to the lake, would I have to push my bike up through the snow over a pass to get to Ayancik? Would the snow really thin out?
Hang on! Lake. Gol. In other countries such as Tajikistan, lake names always ended in ‘kol’. Qarakol, Sasikol…
I looked up ‘gol’ in my Turkish-Japanese phrase book, and sure enough, gol means lake.
That lake down there, surrounded in snow, is my mystery tourist spot.
By now however I had had enough. I was sick of snow. Once I get off this mountain, I thought, I don’t ever want to see snow again.
There were powerlines coming from three directions, and converging closeby. One set of powerlines went off to a small settlement on a distant hill, another down to Akgol, and another set coming from the north – the direction of Ayancik.
It was too late in the day to turn back, so I decided to camp for the night near the fork in the road. Tomorrow I would go up the right hand road for a while to see where it would lead me. If not to Ayancik, then I would have to resort to the most unappealing option of pushing my bike back up the way I had come.
