The 31st was not very eventful. Just a long riding day. Could not get to the reststop we were aiming to camp at so we ended up sleeping behind the caretaker's house in a muslim cemetery. After several nights next to the busy highway and stupid dogs barking for hours on end for no reason, this was a much welcomed, quiet, restful night.
Next day we got on the large freeway to Istanbul despite the "no cyclists" sign. Those signs are well meant by authorities but just because the cars on this road drive a bit faster than on the secondary highway does not make it more dangerous. The shoulder is as wide as an extra lane and the gentle curves of the road make us visible from far away. The "safer" secondary highway on the other hand has no shoulder, passes through the center of all the towns which have conglomerated into Istanbul's sprawling suburbs, lots of intersections, terrible patched up road with cracks and bumps and tons of traffic going at least 80km/hr. Getting hit at 80 versus 120 probably does not make much of a difference on a bike so breaking a well meant law for ones own safety sometimes becomes necessary.
We stopped at a large truck stop to take a break. One of the truckers was about to prepare his breakfast when he waved us over to join him. Hakan made us tea and a Turkish style breakfast with peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, olives and white bread. He is a driver in his own trucking company which runs deliveries all over Europe. If I recall correctly, he was just on his way back from Germany. Sorry no pictures of this. They are on my other camera and I have no computer to upload them with.
THANK YOU HAKAN FOR THE DELICIOUS BREAKFAST. HAPPY TRUCKING!
From there it was a short ride to Baykent where we were expected by James' friends Sahibe and her brother Tevfik. They live in a nice apartment overlooking the sea. So beautiful.
Before we reached their house we got some more photos printed to give away to people. At the print shop we met Ahmet who spends half of the year in Mauritius where he established a Solidarity Foundation and several schools. It was very inspiring to talk to him. When a poor lady came into the shop selling socks, he bought three pairs off her and gave them to me. So nice! He had to leave before our prints were done and when we were about to pay we were told he already paid for our order. Wow!
THANK YOU AHMET! IT WAS GREAT TO MEET YOU. ALL THE BEST WITH YOUR WORK IN MAURITIUS.
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