Day 77 – 22nd June 2014 Van
Chilled day at Lake Van and Van Fortress. Interesting seeing a ferry arrive at a dock thinking a few cars and lorries would roll off, I was surprised when a number of train carriages were pulled off. Why go around the lake when you can go across it? Bright blue skies daily now, I think […]
Day 76 – 21st June 2014 leave 10am Miles rode 264 Erzurum – Van
It felt good to be back on the bike this morning, I had missed it and hadn’t realised how much. The ride today was good although it was very hot, not as hot as it will be in a few weeks I kept thinking. Van feels like a vibrant city, more modern than Erzurum. The […]
Georgia
I spent over two weeks in Georgia and enjoyed every day, it’s a beautiful country where mountains rise straight up from The Black Sea in the west and continue across the country to Russia, Azerbaijan and Armenia. The country is lush with bright green foliage everywhere except on all but the highest mountain tops. You […]
Day 74 – 19th June 2014 Erzurum
It took two months in the end to be given the Iran visa, it was worth the effort as it feels great to have it. Some things in life are easily achieved others require more effort, roll on next Wednesday when I finally cross the boarder. I Skyped / FaceTimed my brother, son & daughter […]
Day 73 – 18th June 2014 Erzurum
I woke at 6 and by half past I was one of the first out in the city square. The men hadn’t even heated up the tea urns. I sat in the early morning sun reading and waiting for the city to join me. By 11.00am the Iran Consulate had our completed visa applications, we […]
Day 72 – 17th June 2014 leave 8.30am Miles rode 206 Kobuleti – Erzurum
The ride back to Erzurum was good, I couldn’t concentrate as I hadn’t fully recovered and I had Iran and beyond on my mind so I followed Garth and let him make the decisions. We checked back into our hotel, I collected the bike spares which had been delivered and I was so tired by […]
Day 68 – 71 – 16th June 2014 Kobuleti
I’ve not been well and spent the last 4 / 5 days mainly in bed. I’m pretty sure I had a virus. I’m through the worst and not permanently freezing cold and aching. I’ve been fantasising about bacon sandwiches, roast dinner and homemade chilli. 3.20pm TODAY – I received the mail that I’ve waited 58 […]
Day 67 – 12th June 2014 Kobuleti
Again it was raining when I woke up, this time heavy all day. It wasn’t as if I would have gone to the beach as for the first time since leaving home I’m not feeling well, freezing cold and aching all over. I had to put thermals and many layers of clothes on last night […]
Day 66 – 11th June 2014 Kobuleti
I think I may need a haircut soon. I slept for so long, I needed it after the ride yesterday. I woke to clouds and rain, so much for riding to the coast for sun! By midday blue skies emerged and at 1.30 I was on the empty beach. A while later 4 gorgeous Georgian […]
Day 65 – 10th June 2014 leave 9.45am Miles rode 222 Erzurum – Kobuleti
The 3rd bank I tried had the facility to send payment for some spares which I wanted to get delivered from BMW Istanbul to Erzurum and at 9.45 we headed out to find a beach back in Georgia. The riding was great, blue skies, amazing mountain scenery, 25 – 50 tunnels and so many bends […]
Day 64 – 11th June 2014 Erzurum
Day 63 – 8th June 2014 Erzurum
I woke at 7am and felt the ‘usual positive Dan’ which had been on & off for the past few weeks. I knew I didn’t have the visa but last nights news was confirmed by a further mail from the agency sent overnight confirming they have a guide and she also smiled and laughed when […]