Tuesday October 15
Cycle: 72.24km//4hr55min//14.67km/hr
We braced ourselves for the disaster that might be cycling touring in Turkey. But, the disaster never happened! We left Antalya at 9:30, and slowly followed beaches and boardwalks as far west as possible, a good 10-15km of it, until we were kicked off by local boardwalk patrol, sighting that it is only for tourists! Yay, people already think we are locals! Eventually we had no choice to but to jump on the only road that skirts the coast where the beaches end, and the mountains rush in. Let me introduce you to the D400, a regular player in our Turkey story, and a shockingly cycle friendly dual carriage way (translation: highway). Massive shoulders make up for the at times rough surface conditions, odd truck, frequent honking and sadly, a seemingly endless amount of broken glass and abandoned water bottles. Also, we're in good company as we slowly plow up hills, as scooters loaded with three passengers, or giant loads of who knows what, don't move much faster. Cars don't seem to drive quite as fast here, and give us wide berth. So far so good! Plus, the grades are sensible, generally 10% or less, making the hills doable. And, at regular intervals, are water alters!
Water alters, as we have come to name them, are generously spaced out along most of the more minor roadsides and town,s offering drinkable water for passerby's We make good time whizzing by pine trees and cliffs and hills of limestone and sandstone. As 6pm approaches, dusk is falling, and traffic get strangely more assertive with their honking when they are just behind or right beside us (hostile?). Making our way up a pass through a national forest (we think, but we cant read Turkish signs very well), Jenns' nerves are frayed and is honked off the road by a garbage truck. Frazzled, we decide here is a good place to camp. Thankfully, there is a small unused road right 'here', and 100m further on, quiet clean peaceful pine clad forest for camping. An hour later night had set in, but an exceedingly bright and near full moon showered everything with light.
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| Leaving Analya along the tram line and board walk, the jagged mountains await close by. |
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| We decide to stop for coffee before getting very far. |
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| Everywhere you can get fresh squeezed orange juice, or pomegranate juice. |
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| Houses and streets in Antalya. |
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| Riding the tram line our of Antalya. |
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| Antalya beach headed north. Just can't get enough of that view. |
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| Yes, there is another Sea to Sky. A popular name, apparently. |
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| On of the many views along the D400 leaving Antalya (N). Shockingly, not too bad for cycling. |
