Dıstance: 49 km
Time: 3 hrs 21 mın
Max Speed: 37.4 km/hr
Ave Speed: 14.5 km
Temp: 43 C
Weather: Super hot and humid and humid morning! Bright sunshine out of town, then cool and cloudy afternoon. Our first light rain.
The ride up and out of Fethiye was scorching with intense sun. We met a retired British man who told us about all kinds of local things we totally missed; considered staying another night to check them out (nearby beaches and beautiful restaurant views) but decided instead to get moving. Too much tourist hoopla for my taste!
We're sweating already!
Once out of town the ride was beautiful and the road sloped down several km into a long valley. Cloud coverage cooled us off, and we took a lunch break at a roadside stand, enjoying the cushioned, raised platforms. Chris ate two meatball sandwiches but they refused to sell me tomatos (not possible!) so I ate an entire loaf of pide. In your face Atkins!
Comfy comfy lunch!
The turnoff to the gorge put us on a thin winding road through many villages. A lot like villages in Albania and Greece, a village is a village is a village: chickens and goats, smell of manure, occasional children screaming Hallllow!
Valley coasting cok iyi (very good)!
This road also happened to be lined with all sorts of delciously ripe fruit trees: figs, pomegranites, peaches, plums, and cactus fruit. I suddenly became one of those greedy children from Willy Wonka who arrives in the candy garden, glorious fruit! More! I'm a total glutton and fill several bags.
Suddenly there was a sign for a thermal spring and we thought we'd check it out. We turned into the village and up to a cave: Alexander the Great's Cavern. A nice man running a cafe showed us around, then spent several hours with us in his garden cafe giving us tea and grapes from the vines above. The thermal spring turned out to be a sulfur tub (and cold) so Chris hesitantly washed his feet and we called it that.
Alexander the Great was the Buddha of the Med. He left his pee marks everywhere!
Do I really have to? It smells like rotten eggs...
We practiced the Turkisk art of relaxation keyfir for a bit
The road was not long, but we stopped many times for fruit, caves, and photos, so we were still 4 km from the gorge when the sun set. We stopped in a roadside village house-turned-restaurant full of plush cushions and ate some gozleme (cheese and onion pancake). The women living there were super nice and suggested we stay there for the night, sleeping on the cushions. Why not?
Comfy sleeping spot at the outdoor food stop
So Chris ordered a big plate of chicken and we sprawled out, chatting with the daughter who is learning English and then falling into a deep sleep. Ahh back in the village, it taked practice to sleep through the roosters and donkeys. Added bonus here were the mosques competing during the call to prayer..
Now with clean laundry!
Slow rise in the morning, Nilgun (the daughter) brought us honey and cheese filled gozleme, which we ate with the peaches picked the day before. Now to the Gorge!
Mmmm peaches!
Well rested Team Jassler
2 comments:
HEHE Nice Peaches and Chris's wonderful morning hair. :) Looks amazing. The people seem wonderful. Turkey is now on my list of must see places! Do you guys wear helmets?! Miss you- Anne
Nice hair-do with the peaches, Chris. Maybe by now a comb just won pass through those locks? ;~D
We really enjoy traveling with you all! Take care and keep it coming. Tom & Carol
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