Distance cycled: 96.6km from outside Komotini, Greece to Ipsala, Turkey
Average speed: 17.9km/h
Moving time: 5h24
Total distance: 6107km
Border X'ings: 22
Money spent: €11 for food and €15 for Turkish Visa
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The rain last night was horrific and the sound of it dumping down on to my tarpaulin kept me awake for the majority of the night, so because of this I really didn't think I had it in me to cycle as far as I did today let alone find the time in the day to cycle into Turkey.
It was a rough start with wind, patchy rain and hilly terrain but I did my best to ignore it all and just get on with it.
I wanted to pitch my tent earlier in the day because of feeling so fatigued and I had plenty of opportunities to do so but for some reason I felt like it would be unsafe to do so, specifically one abandoned and blocked up building that literally had the smell of death to it probably due to the several dead cats I saw when i peeked inside but even outside there were empty backpacks strewn everywhere. At first glance I thought nothing of it but upon further investigation these backpacks belonged to backpackers, I found toothpaste and facial creams with just English text meaning these scattered bags were stolen and the thief searched them at this location. Unsurprisingly I didn't want to camp there.
The Turkish/Greek border crossing was entertaining and lengthy, all the guards working wanted to know everything about my trip and I was obliged to take their photos. The visa process setting me back €15 and lots of time waiting behind bus loads of tourists and I eventually made it into the country without having all my belongings checked - I was told for sure that my bike would be extensively searched here.
Entering into turkey I was greeted constantly by people waving and calling me but as much as I would love to meet everyone who calls me over I cannot.
I found my resting spot for the evening in the only small forested area in miles beside the road at the top of the hill just east of Ipsala.
Tomorrow will be an easy day as I have organized to meet and stay with a warm-showers host in the next town 20km from here, this means I get to sleep in - happy days.
My last camping spot in Greece
Storm clouds lingering overhead….
I had this little guy follow me for several kilometers while i cycled over the last mountain pass in Greece – he had a little cow bell attached to his collar
I was really hoping i wouldnt see any of there signs as i headed to the southern end of europe.
Almost there
Leaving Greece – I thought there was aminosity between Greeks and the Turks, these guys looked like they were have a good time together.
Enter Turkey – Country number 55 (i think) of 192 - over a quarter of all the countries of the world in 7 years of travelling.
what a nice plastic bag I could spot there ...
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