Black Sea Rally 2009

[the venturer]

Hello all. I have been longing for this trip and I said ''Why not?''

I have been getting ready all along the year. I haven't started it yet but excitement is at its zenith. This Sunday at 7 am , I hope to set out from a coastal province named Tekirdag where my summer villa is located and in I will ride to the east along the coast with some discovery ridings on highlands. This will be a two-week ride with some 4000 km. Some Eastern Anatolian visitings will also be included to the route on the way.

As for accomodation, hotels, tents mostly will be of my choice though I have close friends there.

For more info, you can look at here.This exactly shows where I want to go and stay.

http://www.kackar.org/resimler/

Well, that's enough of intro for now, I think. I need to pack up everything that's vital to take.

This is an estimate route just drawn on GE with some waypoints shown.

And these are what I will take with me though many thingies are still missing.

Well, that's it for now. I hope to keep you informed here regularly with my reports and pics.

Looking forward to meeting some UKGSers on the way.

 

[Aidan1150]

I hope to keep you informed here regularly with my reports and pics.

I look forward to reading about your trip Venturer.

 

[AndyT]

I look forward to reading about your trip Venturer.

+1

The photos in the link are amazing, I had never thought such terrain would be in that part of the world. Take plenty of pictures and a pencil

Have a great trip

AndyT

 

[L]

Look at the state of that Kilim (rug to the non-Turks!) its got a pull in it...


Good luck, looking forward to seeing the report. There are some excellent back roads on the way to Karasu and beyond which may tempt you instead of the boring motorway... Am about to fly back to Blighty, so couldn't join you even though I'm tempted!

 

[the venturer]

I look forward to reading about your trip Venturer.

Thank you, I will try to keep you informed.

 

[the venturer]

+1

The photos in the link are amazing, I had never thought such terrain would be in that part of the world. Take plenty of pictures and a pencil

Have a great trip

AndyT

Thank you AndyT. I'll share the pics here with you.

 

[the venturer]

Look at the state of that Kilim (rug to the non-Turks!) its got a pull in it...


Good luck, looking forward to seeing the report. There are some excellent back roads on the way to Karasu and beyond which may tempt you instead of the boring motorway... Am about to fly back to Blighty, so couldn't join you even though I'm tempted!

You are such a great fun. It would be great to ride up with you.
I plan to reach the coast from the most western part of the Sea, possibly Şile and then to Karasu...

 

[the venturer]

I am back. It's been seven days today. And I am still hitting the roads, taking pleasure of each bend and curve. No problem so far, and the rally is due to end in three days. I am currently in a thermal hotel on the way and I need a bit of luxury after spending the whole week in a tent. So, here comes the report.
DAY 1
On 28th June, the journey begins at 7.30, the odometer showing 15812 km.and

Entering İstanbul

The ancient walls around the city centre

Shots on the Bosphorus Bridge. I risked my life on highway.

Fuel Refill

Before leaving İstanbul, I bought myself a tent and a sleeping bag.

 

[the venturer]

At the end of Day 1, I rode about 450 km and stopped at Akçakoca,once a famous Genoan port with fortresses.

Welcome to Genoan Fortress

The villages around the city

Today's dinner,delicious

Then I made my way to a campingsite. I bumped a nice area surrounded with hazelwoods and lime trees.

All neat and tidy inside

My neighbours at the camping spot. Two old friends friends in a caravan. And they are German. They invited me and we chatted around a coffee table after dinner.

Camp owner's house

A hazelwood and the lime tree smells so nice

 

[the venturer]

The route taken on DAY 1

DAY 2
The next morning I went out for some sightseeing. This is where a creek meeting the Black Sea. It started raining terribly here. The first rain meets me at this point.

More from the city

A mosque different in shape

I left the city to more panoramic views. The roads were bending up and down. They were narrow but worth going on though there are some main roads.

 

[the venturer]

The road is getting narrower but more scenic

Fully loaded. This is a handicap if you are riding on such a road I adjusted the suspension to the lowest to keep the whole weight closer to the ground.

Here comes the venturer!

A shipyard in a city called Eregli

Entering Eregli. I stopped to have something to drink and eat.

It was too crowded and I was boiling in clothes.

there are so many tunnels

Entering the city of Zonguldak.In this city, I visited a long cave called ''Gokgol Cave'' A must see place!

It was chilling inside and there was some airflow.

 

[the venturer]

Entering the city of Amasra. If you ever make your way to here, don't miss it.
It is so lovely here.

Seeing another Genoan spot

Not an Italian town but it seems so, doesn’t it?

difficult to believe it's on the coast of Black Sea. It's very hot.

Riding on these roads was sheer pleasure

It seems like a Mediterranean Town

Me, overlooking and saying ''Goodbye'' to this wonderful city.

On the way, I met two ladies selling these jams made of all kinds such as nuts, figs, apricots.

 

[the venturer]

Continue...
Well, it's time to look for a camping spot. From now on the roads were getting worse but more scenic. Lots of bends and curves.

Then I bumped into this spot. http://www.giderosbay.com/
Here, a nice family welcomed me with a kettle of tasty tea.

Sunbathing ducks

Taken from a top of a hill,showing the same area

Another coastal town named ''Cide''

I left the town quickly to find a suitable place erect the tent

I found this place to stay overnight. There was heavy rain that night but the tent was durable enough to resist the wind especially.

It was getting dark but I managed to put up the tent.

 

[the venturer]

The route taken on DAY 2

DAY 3
I woke up early that morning to look what's around. I had camped between the beach and a stream.
The nature was so peaceful.

BMW,waking up.

And ready to serve in anyways.I love this bike!

Yesterday's log. Not a long mileage.

Inside the tent.

All packed up and I am ready to go.

The better the roads are getting, the more I am enjoying. I was tired of riding for the last two days, especially yesterday.

Another stream, meeting the Black Sea

As I was riding, I braked suddenly because I had seen a beast sunbathing on the beach.

A French couple with their small kids were travelling along the coast.Their destination is Georgia and then to Armenia. We chatted for a while.

About 20 ltr per 100 km.An economical vehicle!

We said ''Goodbye'' to each other and I went on riding

I was approaching to another big city named Sinop.

Diogenes was from Sinop. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diogenes_of_Sinope

Overlooking the city

And more from the citycentre

These are very popular here
An Ottoman Galley

A Frigate named ''Ertugrul''

And look at these

Then, I made my way for another campsite. I found a good one. There four caravans parking (a Brit, two Italians and a German Family)
And a German cyclist couple, touring the world for three years on their beasts. We met, ate and drank together. We talked about bikes and routes taken and to take. I helped them choose and buy their tyres. We ordered them on the phone and the next morning, I packed up everything and left for the next stop.

 

[Irishdude]

Great report man

 

[the venturer]

Great report man

Thank you very much. The rest is on the way.

 

[the venturer]

After dinner, I slept very early. It was hot and mosquitos were all around.
Next morning, I went to swim and then had my breakfast. Some more tea with the German couple and then, I went on to ride after packing up.
Destination: Samsoun.
Road: Getting much better. Full throttle. Being stopped by cops many times. Regular check-outs. I learned the radar hide-outs from many of them.
Samsoun,seems so crowded to me after staying in deserted places.
No pauses, just for food and fuel.
Somewhere between Sinop and Samsoun

And this reminded me of a famous mountain pass named Soganli.
Just a bit greener with more trees around.

A nice wooden barn to store the maize harvested

I photographed as I rode. Entering another big city named Ordu. I covered quite a long way today, thanks to the four-lane road along the coast.

I went faster to arrive at destination. I didn't want to take pics of tall buildings but the nature.
After leaving Fatsa, Unye and Ordu in turn, I took the road along the coast and higher up though there was one highway. I preferred the difficult one.It was getting darker but no hotel visible around high cliffs and the road only. Suddenly I saw a restaurant stopped the bike suddenly to ask for a room or a camping site. He said ''No''. I was angry and rode further to see what was more ahead.
Another restauant sign with a picture of a tent on it.
I met the owner and he was kind. He showed the spot for the camp. Both the restaurant and the camping spot were great with TV, internet, some papers to read.You will see that below
Great name. It's called as ''Secret Garden''

The next morning

This shot taken from just inside the tent. worth camping here, right?

These local chaps woke me up in the morning with ''Kolbastı''.
A folk song and its dance with strange figures.

Outta, there you'll will soon visit Iason Church.

And one more from the sea

The route taken yesterday

Cape Iason and the church

Out of others, I like this picture most.

And the church

Really gorgeous, isn't it?

The coast in front of the church

 

[Mr K]

 

[Stewart H]

Thank you for sharing

Stewart

 

[the venturer]

Thank you so much for your interest. The rest is coming.