7 Jan. Ride to Avsallar

 It was a simple ride. 19 mile as the crow flies. I use maps.me as it has a cycling option whereas google maps does not. Usually, maps.me takes me on the back roads. I enjoy it, especially here. It's pleasant. I swear different side of life than is visible in the cities or tourist areas. Lots of MC Hammer pants and headscarves, chickens, goats, nature, dwellings of all manner. There are few cars. 

I til the "avoid unpaved roads"option, always. Usually, this works. On this ride it failed.

It started out nicely enough

The roads here can be rustic. I trusted maps.me would keep me on roads.

Then, a bit uphill...

Oh how cute. A doll.

Now it's fully dirt road. I hope this is temporary. My bike and bags weighed 65 kg at the airport. We do poorly on uneven surfaces.

But look at the view

Oh crap. More uphill dirt road

I didn't photograph the steep rocky parts, or the sandy or muddy parts. I was occupied pushing Loretta up with all my might. And cussing. Loudly.

Down this hill. Can't ride it.

After an hour of this hell I start to hear cars. Oh thank dog. Road. But where is it? The map shows this "road" I'm on ends here and connects to the road-road. All I see are trees and bushes. This way-

That way-

This, this is the road end. Great. Just great.

I leaned Loretta up against a tree to go find the road and the way to it. Not pictured: the gully in-between the actual road and where we stood, the thicket of shrubbery between it and us, and the fifteen foot drop off to get to the gully. 

Great.

More cussing at maps.me. Well, girl, we'll just have to barrel through this, I'm sorry, I told her. I pushed us through the jungle wishing I had a machete. I unhooked the bags, tossed them one by one into the gully, then eased her and I down the side of the drop-off. I really wished I had a bottle of wine right then. And dammit I gave all my smokes to a man with a walk eye some time ago.

I reattached the bags and plotted a new course. I'd been riding for about three hours. I was too scared to trust the "cycling" option again. The sun was going down. I remind myself of my resources- plenty of lights, layers, food, coffee packets, water. If I stay on paved roads I'll be doubling back to nearly my origin inorder to catch the D400, Turkey's main highway. It was worth it just to pedal on predictable terrain. I had 19 miles to go this way. I started off. Came upon a petrol station half an hour later. Bought cigs and chocolate. Because I love you, girl.

Rolled into my hotel at half past right.

The end.