Day 2: Year 2013, the month of May, Saturday 11th

The map of our 2nd day's ride.

We say our farewells to Anil's parents to meet them down at Bodrum 1 week later and head on to Motolab:

Anil:
As per planned one night earlier, we leave Motolab with oiled chains, checked air pressure, engine oil and brake fluids. My gf Inci is with us and is seeing us off. After a short stop at Motomax shop to gather up a couple of last minute details we are off at last. It's a sunny day and the wind is welcomed with joyous yells in our helmets. Using the 2nd bridge route we head out to Europe with our many technological gadgets (GPS, intercom, head cams, external chargers, etc..). It takes around 1.5 hours to leave the city traffic. First stop; meatrolls in Tekirdag. We arrive as hungry as one can be, gulping down the food in minutes. It takes us at least 30mins. to gather up our equipment each time we stop. Later, we would figure out quicker ways pack and safer ways to keep things on the bike.

We gulp down the meatrolls we've been dreaming of all morning:

Kemal seconds before jumping in. 


The infamous cheese halva with ice cream. Only this much survived before I could take out the camera.

Kemal:
After we free ourselves from Istanbul's traffic, we squeeze the throttle and enjoy the beautiful weather. We want to make our way through Ucmakdere since I've heard only good things about the course. When we arrive something very unexpected from my side greets me; offroad... This is the first time I'm riding on something different from tarmac. I feel fairly relaxed, having dropped the Yamaha even before the dirt started, several hundred meters before the entrance of the park. After receiving some crucial tips from Anil I learn to let the bike find its way through the dirt. (Watch the video below as he gives some pointers through our intercom) Oh what joy! I just wished we had enduros under us to really enjoy this place!

Anil:
The road is dirt and difficult. Two tarmac bikes and riders are being tested. In the end we somehow make it through without dropping our bikes even once.

After the tough offroad course we give a rest-stop at a local Mocamp for a tea where we meet Colonel Alper. He has a black Transalp. He has a German wife and tells us about his plans to move there after he's retired. Unfortunately he slips his front wheel on gravel right as we were leaving. The bike drops on his leg, injuring him. We escort him to his destination, 15km away.

At Mocamp with Colonel Alper. The boys are on the right resting across the beautiful view.

IMO one of the best courses of the entire trip, summaries in the best edit possible:


Kemal:
We continue to Sarkoy as 3 bikes. Managing to catch the ferry to Lapseki from Gallipoli at the last minute, we arrive to Canakkale at 21:30. We're tired but happy, content. We celebrate our first day out on the open roads with a beer.

Taking the ferry from Gelibolu to Lapseki.

Anil:
We sail across the strait as the last vehicles to be loaded on the ferry. Our guest, Ozgun who we know now will host us like kings for the next 2 days, greets us to Canakkale. We drink a couple of beers in his bar and fall into a deep yet uncomfortable sleep in his house.

Day 1: Year 2013, the month of May, Friday 10th

AA: 

"To give life to a motorcycle journey which had been in the planning for months, my buddy Kemal Hekimoglu, just barely manages to throw himself out of the office to set out to Istanbul from Ankara. While he has a rough time under the heavy rain all day, I wait anxiously all the while hustling to get my equipment ready. What to put in which bag, will it all fit and who knows what we forgot."


KH:

"After receiving the good news of my grandpa's successful surgery and seeing him in the hospital, I decide to set out on 10th May to Istanbul. It's a very cloudy day but I'm determined to start the trip. I hastily secure my bags on my motorbike and set out in a rush. A voice inside my head keeps telling me that I forgot something crucial. Another voice is telling me I packed too much stuff. The truth of the matter will only be seen in the upcoming days.

A black rain cloud is following me throughout the way. This is the first time I'm riding under such conditions. My one hand is constantly on my visor, wiping the spray from the accompanying traffic. My hands are wet and freezing which forces me to tighten my grip, tiring me out. Which in turn forces me to give more rest stops. During my lunch-stop I meet two friends riding from Switzerland. We complain to each other about how awful a feeling it is to ride under such rain and cold. Pointing to their BMW GS' they joke: "You've got it tough, don't even think about taking this Yamaha to your Africa trip." The rest of the way passes by with the dreams of the -hopefully- dry&hot days to come."

Due to my inexperience as a blogger and the fatigue brought on by the rainy ride, I fail to write down the fellow travelers' names. 

This would be the first GS we encounter along the way.

AA:

"Meanwhile, thanks to his complete technological trick-up, I am able to pin point KH's position on the map. As he crawls closer, hours pass by and finally an hour or so after sun down he arrives to our carpark. After a shower, a quick recap and planning we call it a day and go to bed. It will be an early morning for us. The bikes will need to be checked one last time at Gokhan Yeniceli's service in Kadikoy before the wheels turn."

Better late than never...?!@#

No matter how cliche, it is true that life is journey and as in any journey, it's full of unexpected surprises.
This time, unfortunately  the unexpected development is a health problem in my family. We are sadly obliged to postpone the start of our journey.
I just hope this whole situation will come to a positive conclusion as soon as possible and we can set off as planned...

“If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans.”
Woody Allen

The Route Map (draft)

Click to see the map details: Istanbul to Ankara / The Long, Turquoise Route.


You can find details about the stops in the Google Map link. You're free to download the route as a KML file if you like. I guess we can share the final version of the route as GPX or XML files from this blog, so that people who want to repeat the route on their own can insert it directly to their GPS.
Here's a sum-up of the route:
Start- Istanbul
1st Stop: Eceabat
2nd Stop: Canakkale
3rd Stop: Cunda Island
4th Stop: Cesme
5th Stop: Bodrum
6th Stop: Datca
7th Stop: Fethiye
8th Stop: Kas
9th Stop: Side
10th Stop: Konya
Finish- Ankara

5- Whuuooomm Whuuoomm

I decide the racing position is not for me since I enjoy taking long trips. I start researching, again. I consult to enthusiasts, again. I want to feel the wind, I want it to really pull when I twist the throttle.

I come across this picture on the web. I feel week in the knees. I end up buying my Yamaha XJ6 which will accompany me throughout this trip.

I try to describe it to people who ask:  “-Whuuoomm Whuuoomm”. Oh what joy.!

4- The First Motorcycle

I consult enthusiasts. I make the decision to buy the best looking smallest CC bike I can find.

Result: CBR125. With its weak structure, flimsy engine and paper-thin wheels it looks like a bicycle rather than a motorcycle. That said, I come close to a wipeout on it and thanks to its lightness I’m able to get myself out of trouble easily. I pat myself on the back for choosing a light bike as my first bike.

After a year I sell the bike to a 17 year old with one arm.., No really.. 

3- The First Ride

My so called ‘tutor’ is working as a pizza delivery guy at Domino’s. He’s trying his best to pass on his knowledge, but is not able to answer most of my questions. My Arai helmet is on my head. My riding pants, jacket, boots, back protector is all Dainese. I’m in a restaurant’s parking lot. I’m on a worn out YBR125 given from the training center and there’s a guy wearing a Domino’s uniform running next to me with one hand on my bike. 

This wasn’t what I had imagined riding would be like but I stick with it until I get my license. As I slalom around the cones during my driving test, I win the attention of the uninterested officials by honking at them. License –check, next...