Packed the gear onto the bike, had a chat with the hotel manager who wished us luck and off we went at 8.15 into the peak of the Istanbul rush hour traffic. Just as in Albania I find the best way to get through and survive is to throw away , to some extent , the highway code and just ride very defensively and a little aggressive just as most of the Turks seem to do. The good old RT can still, even when fully loaded pull away quick and nip in and out.
We crossed the Galata Bridge that spans the Golden Horn and then took the wrong turning ending up deep in the city. We could see in the distance the next bridge that we need to get on but could not find our way through the maze of one way streets. Then I had an idea, I had installed a tourist guide to Istanbul on my iPhone that had a basic map that did not need any data connection to work. In ten minutes e had found our way and was crossing the Bosphorus on the Fatih Sultan Mehmet Bridge, the famous suspension bridge that takes you on to the Asian continent ! It was overcast and the visibility was not great but we still had a great view looking back at Istanbul. We pulled in at the end of the bridge before the toll booths so that I could buy the credit card that would get us through the toll booths along the motorway. It was a bit steep at 50 tl but I had a Kobe explaining what I was after and may have paid for a vehicle rather than a bike but still.
The motorway was hectic, loaded with lorries belching thick black fumes out the back. The surroundings depressing with nothing but heavy industry for miles.
Once we had left the E90 at Sapanca and got onto the D650 things improved. The road surface was fairly new and smooth , the lorries had mostly stayed on the E90 so the traffic was very light. We started to slowly climb into the mountains and the air cooled, this combined to make a great ride and before I knew it we needed fuel. We continued on the D650 for the rest of the day. Mostly the surface was that good we could safely cruise at 70+. The scenery was great up in the mountains with pine Forrest filling the air with a great clean fresh smell, it was such a relief after the early smog ridden traffic of the city.
We stopped high in the mountains at a small roadside restraunt , it was full of Turkish but the manager spoke a little English so we ordered food with out any problems. He chatted with us for a while surprised at how far we had come. He pointed out some of his favourite spots along the coast so we could check them out.
Back on the road we seemed to have finished climbing and the land levelled out. You could see for hundreds of miles in all directions. Dry, treeless landscape as far as you could see, it was easy to imagine the Turkish worriers racing across the landscape hundred of years ago.
after another fuel stop we starts to descend towards Antalya, although still some miles away the air began to warm as we headed for the coast. The sun was beginning to set and we still had a good hours ride before we got to the campsite near Antalya.
After reaching Antalya we headed up the coast towards Fethiye. It was now pitch black and we pulled into a small seaside resort ( can't recall the name ) as the campsite Should have been near , we rode up and down the main resort road but could not find it. We did see a sign advertising rooms so we pulled in and checked them out. Reasonably safe off road parking for the bike, decent shower and room all for 35 tl a night, done deal!
The plan is to Move on up the coast tomorrow exploring and if we can find a peaceful campsite with good rates we will hang around and chill.
Miles today - a very enjoyable 497
Hours in the saddle - 11 ( but it didn't feel like it ! )
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