Day 1-3 Istanbul to Gerede, Turkey

Day 1 Istanbul-Agva 140km Climb: 1510m

Day2 Agva-Gumusova 133km Climb:1240m
Day3: Gumusova-Gerede 130km Climb:1590m

Our first day started with photos overlooking the Bosphorous at 6.30 am in the morning.

Then we rode together for 140 km ending up at a lovely campsite on the beach at Agva. It was my longest ride ever and through beautiful woods following long undulating ridge tops (like Skyline Ridge for our SF, CA friends) with occasional stalls where a whole family got together to sell fruit or tea to the very few passing travellers. We passed a spray paint shop, no health and safety here:

Trying to set up our tent in sand proved impossible so we spent our first night in a little cabin near everyone's tents.

Mike powered on through the second day for 133km while I only did a half day to rest my legs. The countryside is much greener than we thought and hillier, . The locals are really friendly and will give you a cup of tea at a moments notice.

The last two days have been along a busy highway and while great for finding petrol stations for food and drink it is noisy, smokey, dangerous and very exposed to the sun. The only way I survived the third day doing 130 km was regularly taking a hose and giving myself a shower all over much to the amusement of the garage owner. Mike was in a good 5 hours before me but he again managed a find a hotel room so the tent hasn't been used yet.

The other riders are a huge mixture of ages and abilities. So far I haven't found someone to ride with but far from being the slowest I am right in the middle. I'm feeling really good and so far having fun which is for me the main reason for being here.