Friday October 25
Cycle: 62.18km//4hr 19min//14.36km/hr
The day had to come. Sadly, it was this day. The day we packed up the tent, loaded the panniers, and started turning the pedals out of Faralya. Kat filled our bags with fresh bread, hot pepper spice, chunks of honey comb, and an SD cards full of movies and TV shows. What could we give in return? Well, our company for the last four days have to count for something, as well as invitations to join us in Spain once she tires of the UK winter. After hugs goodbye, and comments from the George House family that we couldn't because all the grapes weren't sorted, we set off. I feel like a broken record talking about the big mountain climbs and descents. From now on, assume this. If there is a flat section, I will exclaim and rejoice in person, and via blog. Hills or no, we were in Fethiye in a flash, having zipped through Olu Deniz (encountering our steepest grade yet). For 20 L, a bike shop provided me with two missing bolts for my front brakes, and some much needed chain oil. Madalene suspects that if she had 10L in her hand, then the price would have been the 10L. We loaded up on groceries at the local Migros, and got out of town.
Today's ride was fairly uneventful (Lycian ruins a dime a dozen) as we chose to ride the D-400, and not explore side roads. Nearing the end of the day we were gathering water at a roadside spring, and were treated to a cay by nice tea shop owner. A little ways down the road, we encountered a cyclists nemesis: a tunnel. Were confronted with one of two options: a) travel through the toll tunnel with the most treacherous side walk I've seen yet, or b) cycle over the mountain using a series of tight switchbacks (not surprising, free). We opted for the latter. At the peak of the switchbacks, we found a campsite for the night.
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| The pekmez is still reducing in the morning. We never tasted the pekmez we helped make. For shame! |
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| Good bye strange bags of red stuff (peppers) draining around the yard. |
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| Our last breakfast at George House |
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| Hours later, we encounter 'the tunnel'. To the left, loud, dark, fume infested toll tunnel. To the right, tight switches up and over the mountain/hill in the way. Up we go! |
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| The highway becoming a distant memory. |
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| Sleeping on a summit has its benefits. |
