18/03/2013 - Oslo to ... Day 98

Distance cycled: 88km from Mersin to 700m of the 1600m on this pass
Average speed: 18.5km/h
Moving time: 4h45m
Total distance: 8391km
Border X'ings: 22
Money spent: 10 lira

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50km of flat, city and highway cycling, this really is not my favorite. The roads were congested, I had stopping local buses cut me off continuously and being aggravated because of this doesn't help the situation so I took a slight detour along the waterfront, a pristine coastal bricked walkway that got me away from Mersin's busy roads. This was enjoyable and all but my security was limited by the length of the walkway which only stretched 10 or so kilometers; I was then back on the main road out of Mersin predictably amongst the mass of ill-minded Turkish drivers who spilled over their distinct white lines and into the shoulder where I cycled.
It wasn't until I reached the northern road into the mountains where I could stress less and enjoy the beautiful surroundings that progressively increased in lusciousness the higher in altitude I climbed.
Towards the end of the day I had a bit of a dilemma, I can continue higher and cover more distance but being at a higher altitude means that it is going to be colder, or stop earlier and be able to adapt to the evening cold but not cover as much distance. I chose the latter which benefited me because I was exhausted and evidentially so because as soon as I erected my tent and munched down some food I was out for the next 12 hours. 

just following the coastal walking path from Mersin

As you can see on the terrain profile it was quite the climb

most ideal place to camp.