It begins

---

It well and truly begins here.

While i am writing this about three weeks after it happened (im not a very dedicated blogger at the moment), our arrival in Goreme in central Turkey marked the start of our bike ride.

We collected our mound of stuff from the bus and were greated by a bloke from a local pansyion. Being laden with a large amount of stuff we accepted an offer for a ride to his place.

Here, in the shadow of the famous fairy chimneys we reassembled our bikes and began preparations for the ride.

Later that night we met up with some friends i was chilling with in southern turkey. Zac, Julie, and Pam. We went and hung out at Zac's place, played pishlie (a turkish cardgame which along with backgammon is a national pastime) and had a great feed.

The next day we went on a bit of a test ride. After about two months of general lethargy and living the good life it was a bit of a shock. I puffed and panted over the 65 or so kilometres we rode from Goreme to Neveshire to Kaymakli. The goal being to visit the underground cities in Kaymakli. However due to our slowish process we didnt get to check them out. I wasnt too phased, well i thought, its an old city thats underground how exciting can it be. We had a munch, and with the fading light fanged it back to Goreme.

But not before i was chased by a massive white Cangle dog. These dogs are something of a native Turkish dog, a bit bigger and more sleek than your average German sheppard they are used to protect sheep and cattle from roaming gangs of wolves. And yes they do take them down. Having one of these heaving beasts nipping at my back tyre while i was busting 70km/h down a hill was a slight bit unerving.

A rest day was in order for the next day, then after that, the curtains would raise and the main show would begin!

---

Photos

Goreme village
Built into the famous fairy chimneys, a very unique town.

Preparations in full swing
Spidey getting down to business

Comments

[bob bailin]

turkey & syria
did you go to pamakale the salt waterfalls for a fabulous sunset-turkeyt don;t miss palmyra in the desert in syria\don't miss isfahan in iran the mosque

[Sue Longmore]

The truth is out there
Marty I am relying om you to keep us up to date with what Kris is really up to. His Blog is full of pictures of you, so I am hoping you will return the favour. Hope you are feeling better and are on the roud to Ezerum at this stage.

[Marty of the Deep]

greetings from turkey
g'day sue. 1ll do my best to get lots of photos of kris on the blog. hope your enjoying the blog! cheers marty