Turkey, land of extremes

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Geo: 40.8204, 41.5374

13th July Sumella Monastery Early rise before the farmer awoke and off towards Sumella Monastery.. Arrived and it was grand, check the photo's. Went back to a campsite we noticed on the way in and headed straight for the showers…. Hum talk about Not Smell Well.

Chatted with a Dutch fellow who had just crossed Iran in his camper so got some real good info on what to expect. It seems the biggest danger in Iran is from heat exhaustion and the Iranians have banned Google and Facebook so we don't expect to update too much for a while.

14th July Tabzon

Great name for a crazy place. Nothing of interest, and no camping so we head east towards Yusufeli which is a place famed for its white water rafting.

Absolutely fantastic drive in with a climb from Trabzon up to 2437mtrs into the snow and then back down to 587mtrs.. up top it was a pleasant 18 degrees down the valley it pushed back up to the mid-thirties.

Drove along the edge of a newly constructed dam and hydro scheme. The dam was probably 70kms long and the road was cut straight into the mountain. Unbelievable, SA Water needs to come to turkey to find out how it is done on a grand scale. Even the road works are crazy. The Tuks don't do formalities such as diversion or construction sites, nope the road works occur around the road and product is crushed where it is needed hence regularly we drive right through the crushing yard, surrounded by various heaps of stuff, earthmoving machinery and trucks shooting everywhere and hopefully select the correct path to lead onwards.

Arrived Yusufeli and the campsite, it is basic however has hot showers good internet so we will stay a few days to recover and clean clothes.

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Photos

Even the Gasshoppers are big in Turkey
This bug was walking across the road and stood about an inch and a half off the ground

Mt Nemrud
Not too many people up here, we were not surprised when we got to the top. Everything engaged on this track

Turkey has a national hydro project
The road followed this reservoir for at least 70kms

The road to Yuselif
Looking back across the lake the telegraph poles indicate where the road is, not necessarily good for the faint hearted

Okay so the road stopped
We noticed an old ferry boat across the other side but it was pretty deserted. Eventua

Darren being pig headed
Really do you think we should park here

Road to Yuselif
2560m and snow at the top. Amazing white knuckle drive.

Comments

[David]

Awesome photo. More, please

[David]

Great pic

[Juliet]

You should be ok in Iran now that Barack Obama has just signed a deal with Iran to dismantle their nuclear energy plants!!! Might help you!! Keep enjoying. We have just arrived in UK!!!!!

[Linda]

Wow! You are really pushing the pace! Love following your antics. Keep up the good work. It is freezing back here in the hills. 3 degrees.