Midday Express - Istanbul on the hoof

[Fluffmeister]

ROD !!! Von Stolberg. Doh!

I don't advise anyone to follow me at all, in fact they should always do the opposite!

If there’s a left fork that leads to a golden paradise, and the right fork that leads to a bleak industrial estate, you can guarantee i’ll pick the wrong un’

I am excellent at finding foreign police officers and their radar units tho…

FACTS!!!!!!!!

Don't give the blue job the map

 

[Fluffmeister]

Great reading so far

 

[Guru Gora]

Great reading so far

Thanks FM.

Hope you’re well


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[Guru Gora]

FACTS!!!!!!!!

Don't give the blue job the map

Only 2 things scared me in my former life;

The ZSU 23/6

An officer with a map.


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[Von Stolberg]

FACTS!!!!!!!!

Don't give the blue job the map

See!, Independently corroborated !

(Ive not launched a deluge of fists on Mr Garmin tho - GPS RAGE.. Its a thing!

 

[Guru Gora]

Day 11

Sofia Bulgaria to Alexandroupoli SE Greece

296 Miles

Up and at it with a great hotel breakfast. As much as I like discovering quaint and sometimes very basic places to stay, sometimes a bit of Holiday Inn action is what you need, comfy bed, pool, hot tub etc......

Run to Bansko was great. First few miles on dual carriageway then onto the fantastic Route 19 which will deliver me to the Greek border.

The roads up and down the mountain are, yet again, mile after mile of 50 mph sweeping bends, the bikers will understand

Crossed into Greece , bit of a drama exiting Bulgaria, bloke on the desk was 'professionally unhelpful' even though I was Uber polite, engine off etc etc.

I call in a favour and luckily my friend Len Grossman helped out.........

For the first time I get the frission of being somewhere I haven't ridden before, save a scooter on a 'normal' holiday.

So through we go and much to my surprise the roads are in fantastic condition.

The route down from the border crossing was great. Zero traffic, blue skies

Arrive at the small village I found on Booking.com and the Hotel is fab, the lady on reception sees I'm on a bike and changes my room to ground level, and in an area she says I can get the bike close to the door, she aint kidding.

Its surprising how small acts of kindness have a disproportionate effect on how good they make you feel.

Its a very short walk to the beautiful beach too so I amble down for a dip, fantastic.

Rest day tomorrow so here tomorrow night.

I’ll give my sore sphincter a rest and read some books, do crosswords. Kind of like a normal human being on holiday.

Pics have it

Be safe all.

 

[Guru Gora]

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[Guru Gora]

The Ski resort of Bansko.

Very quaint, I suspect the skiing may be a bit limited but seeing as I’m an old fart “blue only” skier now that works for me.

Got to be cheaper than the Alps too.........

Park up prior to the border crossing.

Ensure I have my act together to save any dramas ….. I have some friends on standby to help should I need it …..

 

[Guru Gora]

It’s time to call in some favours …….

And if Ron can’t get the job done……

Call for the big guns ……

Les Grossman takes it up ......

That’s worked, I'm in Greece , onwards.

I can smell a walk on the beach approaching ….. and a day of rest.

I should make the coast at a reasonable hour at this rate.......

 

[Guru Gora]

Lovely run down the border crossing at Kulata in the hills. Made it to the coast.

Turn left, keep the blue bit on the right and should bump into the hotel in about 100 miles.

However, important business first …

A brew and I even wash the bike down as she’s gathered loads of dusty crap everywhere.

Oohh, Re the bike …….. what a great bit of kit.

Comfy, and capable of hustling more than one night imagine.

A mate calls me and asks if I’m missing anything…..

“Just apexes”

 

[Kitsilano]

Just Brilliant!

 

[Guru Gora]

Another breather, flat winding roads now but in good condition and the driving standards seem to be ok. I'm probably the weakest link in the accident chain so ride accordingly.

As I get close to the hotel I pull off down a small track and end up in a lovely little beach.

Rude not to rest up.

An hour with kit off and then ready to push onto the hotel.

Even though I say so myself, I'm the coolest cat in the beachside cafe.

Brown Y fronts with cream piping, socks with boot pinch marks at the top, and a T shirt which looks like it was removed from the nearest duty hobo.......

I consider breaking out the Crocs, but don't really want women crawling all over me as I'm on a bit of a timeline as I quite fancy a walk on the beach.

I reluctantly get rigged again and crack on......

The views on the right tease me with a beautiful blue sea, and on the left stunning looking hills.

Sure enough Mr Garmin delivers me to the hotel, how much time does he save us not having to dick dance around the last mile trying to find an address.

We likey bike tours eh

 

[Guru Gora]

Approximately 30 seconds after reaching hotel …..

Approximately 30 seconds after previous photograph ….

So check in in all good, I have to say I'm looking forward to not having to repack blah blah tomorrow.

This resort of Makri is ideal for me.

Great beach, quiet, cheap, and secure ish parking.

So walk on beach, watch sunset, light meal as I'm belvatad up to the max.

Hotel and enter night time routine..............

1. Bed

2. 10 seconds of Netflix

3. Collapse knackered

4. Wake up with a mouth like Gandhis flip flop

5. Drink 2 gallons of water; brush teeth

6. Bed; collapse again

7. Get up to have a wazz

8. Stumble around dazed trying to find the bog

9. Consider wazzing in sink, discounted due to potential requirements of multiple Step 5s again

Repeat Stages 6, 7 and 8 until 0700.

As days go, magnificent.

 

[Guru Gora]

I'm a little bit disappointed....

Location Location Location and all that .....

 

[Guru Gora]

Anyway, admin day to come;

Not often I'll say this but .......

I'm looking forward to a day;

A: Not on the bike.

B: At the beach.

Stay safe all, and see you tomorrow in Croc order for a swim............

 

[Guru Gora]

Just Brilliant!

Thanks, I find the quality of the days on these trips get better as the distance from home increases.

So its nearly all downhill in a few days

However there is still an encounter with wild bears to come...... so its not all boring roads, just honking it home

 

[richie]

Thanks, I find the quality of the days on these trips get better as the distance from home increases.

So its nearly all downhill in a few days

However there is still an encounter with wild bears to come...... so its not all boring roads, just honking it home

Very droll , i am enjoying it

 

[Guru Gora]

Very droll , i am enjoying it

Thanks, good stuff.

Thinking about it the trip back, the northern route of the teardrop as it were, has the potential to be even better................ shall see.

 

[Von Stolberg]

The danger with Greek resorts is the temptation to hole up for a chillaxed week or two on a diet of Goat-on-a-stick, Gyro's, n'Raki

Best not mention to them which country you are heading for next!

keep up the reports

 

[Guru Gora]

No danger of that Don Von Ron , I’ve done a replen of local knock off Bel Vitas

It says sustained energy so I’ll do an extra 50 miles day after tomorrow, even if it means riding round and round the Istanbul ring road.