Time elapsed: 2 hrs 8 min
Average speed: 15.3 km/ hr
Max speed: 37.4 km/ hr
Temp: 38 C
Weather: Super hot midday but cool afternoon, no wind
On the road before the sun peaked the mountains, we had a long uphill climb over the greenhouse filled valley. Once out and on the coast, the badly paved road followed the water, a deep blue sparkling in the sun.
Morning wake up call
Happy coastal trekking
We came across a beautiful beach cove with only a handful of people, so we impromptly locked the bikes and threw on our suits (I will say for a Muslim country the west side of Turkey is very relaxed and doesn't bat an eye for bikini clad women) then descended the stairs to the water.
So refreshing after a sweaty hill!
The next several km were low coastal hills, broken occasionally by small coves. We stopped at a few more very isolated beaches for a quick swim, then had to continue to town quickly because we had no water and an intense midday heat crept in.
Spying boats in the coves...
Very excited to be on a beach marathon (again!)
Finally the town of Kaş before us: a small enclave of restored Ottoman house (turned into shops), restaurants and cafes, a harbor and some more Lycian ruins. Although this is a town for tourists, it's not so in your face disgusting as Fethiye or Kuşadasi (or god forbid Bodrum and Marmaris, yuck). There were lots of sail boats in the harbor, waiting to take people cruising out to the Greek island just off land, scuba diving, or to explore further islands like Kakova.
Another Lycian tomb? I'm sensing a pattern here...
Chris and I ate lunch and explored the town, enjoying the restored and beautified town and comparing it's similarities with Gjirokaster. Many restaurants covered in bouganville, hanging decorated gourds, and clusters of 'old world' spices. Several people invited us inside to their patios to see a view of the waterfront.
Restored Ottoman homes, looks familiar...
Harbor view from an upper terrace restaurant
We sat on the waterfront for awhile, people watching and carbo loading on fig bran cookies. A few parasailers landed in the marina, having jumped from the backdrop of mountains.
What do Turkish people shout instead of Geranimo?
Eventually we had to get out of town, hoping to camp a little further up the coast in a nice little cove if possible. As the sun dipped deeper toward the water, we climbed and climbed the mountain road.
Further and further uphil, exhausting! Stopped at a pull out rest area with a good view of the sunset and met the British version of the Hassler family. School teacher mom, husband, and 3 boys traveling the world together. They informed us that the beach we are trying to reach (Uçağiz) is far away still, with many, many km more uphill and lots of mountains. We'd never make it!
The climb had only begun
Instead we caught a lift to Demre and camped there for the night.
2 comments:
hey guys i heard about your trip around the world, i am sure you enjoyed it! miss u.
Did you notice that every one of those Lycian Tombs have a hole chiseled into one side, through which its valuables were looted at some point?
We're really enjoying the pix! Tom & Carol
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