Day 35 Giresun - Savsat
We have done a bit of planning. We have decided not to go to Iran, we just cannot risk being turned away at the border, we have a date to enter China that we simply must make. Bit sad as we were really looking forward to it. But it is what it is. On the plus side we can explore Georgia a bit more. We think we can still enter Turkmenistan so a shorter and more reliable ferry across the Caspian sea is a bonus also.
So we followed the Black Sea coast almost to the Georgian border. At one point we stopped for a break and so I could have a paddle, wish I’d had my togs on, it was so warm. We were standing around and family nearby were having a picnic, next minute a lady and young lad came over to us and offered us a bun and a drink which we gladly accepted. They were travelling for a family party for a graduation presumably at the nearby Recep Tayyip Erdogan university.
They were interested in what we are doing and wanted to know what a lot of people have asked us, "how old are you?" Geez I’m getting a bit of a complex. Photo opportunity all round and we went on our way.
Turned inland onto a single lane road, passing by a large hydro scheme which has very impressive earth works all around. Huge cuttings into the rock, very spectacular.
We ran into a Spanish guy on a bike heading for Mongolia so we stopped and had a chat. We may meet again in Alat. He gave us disturbing news about the ferry booking system (there isn’t one) and the Mongol rally is due there in July which puts enormous pressure on services. So we will get there early I guess.
Anyway the road was awesome as far as a town called Artven and we thought about staying the night, but the only hotel we could find was just over our maximum spend so we decided against it.
Unfortunately for us the road deteriorated markedly and the bumps were grueling and relentless, in the end down to 49-50 ks just to hang on to our internal organs.
I had seen a town on the map last night which had hotels so we aimed for that, first impressions weren’t great, if we were in America the banjos would would be dueling!
So Tomtom to the rescue which took us the nearest hotel 5km beyond the town set in a steep valley. It was really strange they said the hotel was full but there was no one there, however they had a nice log cabin available. When we woke up the next morning the hotel was full! Two bus loads had arrived whilst we slept.
Today we traveled about 450km, the last 60-70 were tough. Also the temperature plummeted from 33 to 20 in the space of about 5km. We are also at 1250 metres which explains the temperature drop. Such steep sided valleys and the towns are perched precariously on the ridges and the roads are incredible the way the wind their way up.
This is lovely countryside and I’m glad we came this way.
So we followed the Black Sea coast almost to the Georgian border. At one point we stopped for a break and so I could have a paddle, wish I’d had my togs on, it was so warm. We were standing around and family nearby were having a picnic, next minute a lady and young lad came over to us and offered us a bun and a drink which we gladly accepted. They were travelling for a family party for a graduation presumably at the nearby Recep Tayyip Erdogan university.
They were interested in what we are doing and wanted to know what a lot of people have asked us, "how old are you?" Geez I’m getting a bit of a complex. Photo opportunity all round and we went on our way.
Turned inland onto a single lane road, passing by a large hydro scheme which has very impressive earth works all around. Huge cuttings into the rock, very spectacular.
We ran into a Spanish guy on a bike heading for Mongolia so we stopped and had a chat. We may meet again in Alat. He gave us disturbing news about the ferry booking system (there isn’t one) and the Mongol rally is due there in July which puts enormous pressure on services. So we will get there early I guess.
Anyway the road was awesome as far as a town called Artven and we thought about staying the night, but the only hotel we could find was just over our maximum spend so we decided against it.
Unfortunately for us the road deteriorated markedly and the bumps were grueling and relentless, in the end down to 49-50 ks just to hang on to our internal organs.
I had seen a town on the map last night which had hotels so we aimed for that, first impressions weren’t great, if we were in America the banjos would would be dueling!
So Tomtom to the rescue which took us the nearest hotel 5km beyond the town set in a steep valley. It was really strange they said the hotel was full but there was no one there, however they had a nice log cabin available. When we woke up the next morning the hotel was full! Two bus loads had arrived whilst we slept.
This hotel was in the middle of nowhere!
Our accommodation - very nice!
Today we traveled about 450km, the last 60-70 were tough. Also the temperature plummeted from 33 to 20 in the space of about 5km. We are also at 1250 metres which explains the temperature drop. Such steep sided valleys and the towns are perched precariously on the ridges and the roads are incredible the way the wind their way up.
This is lovely countryside and I’m glad we came this way.
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