Heading south towards Cappadocia
Days 7, 8 and 9 , 4395 km
Day 7 - Finally back on the trails again! We followed TET section 03 that led us from Istanbul westwards through the Marmara region into the mountains between Ankara and the Black Sea. We rode up to about 1500m in altitude and if there would not have been the minarets in the pretty and well kept villages we passed, you might think we were in Switzerlan. Deep blue lakes and high plateaus, what’s not to like? The deep mud and the thick mist. And there was plenty of both. At times, visibility dropped to just 10 meters. But in the afternoon, as we descended onto a gorgeous plateau, the mist lifted, revealing breathtaking views of the hills and mountains around us. We kept pushing west to hit our 250km target and set up camp around 9 PM.
Day 8 - It was freezing, probably around 0 degrees Celsius. And it was 5 am. Way too cold to fall back asleep. We got in late yesterday and set up camp in a forest for some shelter from the weather. I always pictured Turkey as just a big beach, ideal for that long-awaited summer getaway. But quite to our enjoyment, we found ourselves mostly above 1000 meters in elevation, surrounded by dense forests. Perfect for another day of off-road biking over high plateaus and through pine woods from Gerede towards Ankara. The forest workers had just cleared the big logs blocking our way, make it way for us to reach the stunning high plateau in Benli for a lunch stop. We continued on towards Ankara, where we camped just outside the city with an amazing view on the Ankara skyline.
Day 9 - We hit the road early and were on our bikes by 8 am, excited to get to the breathtaking Cappadocia by tonight. Little did we know the incredible sights we’d encounter along the way. After leaving the mountains and forests, we found ourselves in a savanna-like landscape, gazing at the vast, salty expanses of Lake Tuz that seemed to stretch on forever. Surrounded by desert bugs and swirling dust devils, we decided to take a break, brew some tea, and soak in the amazing views. Honestly, if it were up to me, this would be paradise. Open spaces as far as the eye can see. Endless horizons. It’s no surprise these views hit home for someone coming from a mountainous place like Switzerland, where you can’t escape the sight of a hill. After testing our riding and sliding skills on the salt flats, we finally rolled into Cappadocia late at night and, as usual this trip, set up camp in the dark.
