January 11th, 2007 | categorizilation: all categories,highlights,Turkey
English Summary: Big big day of climbing today. 1,470m of vertical ascent, only to descend 1,100m at the end of the day in about 30mins to Tortum. Friendly dog with serious collar. All in all just a really feel good day despite the hard climbing.
![More icy (frozen) beard maddness in eastern Turkey [EXPLORED]](http://farm1.staticflickr.com/142/352700115_d1414fff07.jpg)
今日は今まで一番きつかった１日でした。１日(7時間)で合計で1、470mを上り、それでも80km近く走行ができました。やった~!
オルツ町をでて、すぐに気温が氷点下15土に下がりました。時間が立っても、１日の最高気温はわずか氷点下7度でした。
10km走っていない内に、犬がやってきました。またか~と思いながら、いつも武器に使っているアルミのパイプをだして、攻撃を待ちました。しかし今回は違う。何と犬は静かに僕のそばを走っています。やさしいな、こいつ。
ちょっとリスクはありましたが、犬を呼んで、触ってみました。本当に人馴れで、何もしませんでした。そして首輪を見てください。このような首輪はよくみます。飼い犬が野良犬に首にかまれないようにつけてあります。
標 高2000mまで上る道は急ではなかったが、午後3時ごろに着いた真剣な坂道はトルコらしく、非常に急でした。トルトム村まではまだ後30kmの距離で、 標高400mほどを上らないといけませんでした。絶対に暗くならないうちにトルトム村に着かないと思って、気が落ちました。峠の頂上あたりにキャンプする しかない。
と思ったら午後4時に頂上に着きました。ここからは下り坂だけだ!やってみよう!
1、400mを上るには5時間以上がかかりました。1、200mを降るのにわずか30分かかりました。
トルトム村に見事に4時半に着きました。トルトム村にホテルがなくて、教師住宅謙旅行者宿泊の施設に泊まっています。一泊700円です。
What is this minor summary for the english speakers? Are you trying to force us to learn Japanese? BTW I like the jumping photos.
Kirk, the Japanese readers have had it harder – for the last week or so I haven't been able to post in Japanese at all because of lack of Japanese support on internet cafe computers. They have had to learn English!
Fascinating, really fascinating. Your jumping-pictures really make my day! And the great scnenery … WOW!!
I wish you many more such great days!
Cheers Daniel. Hope you get some days like that in Germany soon too!
Wow!!! Those photos are fabulous. I can't get over how like the McKenzie country the territory you have been going through looks like. That and Central Otago. In reality does it look like those areas do you think?
Hello, Rob!
There is a very simple traditional chinese cure for your knee ("9miles point" – with reference to acupuncture map points): you have to stick by a strip a single grain of crude rice four fingers beneath your suffering knee on the outer side – you may locate the point when you stretch out your leg, looking for a small depression. Ancient Chinese warrior used to massage this point to continue their very long march…
Take care! Stefania (Florence, ITALY)
Those photos are incredible! Do you have a pair of those new pogo/spring shoes that are fashionable with the kids these days?
Rob
that's a nice cover of the Toyotya ads even our poor Steve Irwin did that jump at the end of his Toyota Land Cruiser ad!!
Aunty Lyn, Turkey is the most Turkish of all the countries I have been in so far. That is, all the other countries I have been able to see some similarities with NZ. However Turkey is different. Not only in the scenery, but also in the culture, food, people. It is a very 'defined' country.
Stefania, thank you for your suggestion. I am hoping that a nice hot sauna tomorrow at a local bath house will help, but failing that I will give the rice remedy a go!
Andrew, no pogos. Threw them out after the first week on the trip coz they weighed too much.
The photos are amazingly clear. I guess that's because it's so dry. You might try some other gymnastic stunt – the jumping pics seem to be getting very familiar! (For those who only know Rob through this blog, jumping in a photo is one of Rob's favourite activities.) I suppose it does get some action into them after all that snowy stillness. Are the roads busy?- they look rather empty.
Wow! Look at the colour of those blue skies! Fantastic! Hey Rob, pity there wasn't a lake or river that you could do your jumping act into!! Like the photos Lil have of you two jumping into the lake with all your clothes on. Mind you, probably better that than in your birthday suits! Going back to the scenery, I must admit that it reminded me a lot of the Mckenzie basin, but then we are only getting a small window into your world, so we can't get the real feel of the place. Keep jumping though, it looked most ballet like?!
Mum, the road on this day was very quiet. Only about one car every half hour or so. Unfortunately I think the traffic is going to increase from here on in. Might have to find some more off beat roads to travel on!
Hi Rob,
your photos are great. I teach in a school in the middle of Italy and yesterday I talked to my students (11-14 years old) about your trip. They were enthusiastic about your incredible adventure and the special means of transportation you've chosen to realize it. They were so thrilled about your story that I couldn't but give them your website address. I'm quite sure some of them are going to send you a hello-message very soon. I'm doing the same right now: Enjoy your journey and take some other fantastic pictures for us. Bye, Gianluca (Florence, Italy).
Gianluca, I belive that I may have had a comment from some of your students already. Ilir and Dan, I think…Thank you for your encouragement, and I hope that your students find some inspiration in my journey. If I ever get to Florence, I will come and visit for sure!
