Didn’t ride so far today – not the least because there was a gusty wind swinging about – sometimes behind, sometimes in my face, sometimes trying to knock me sideways. The D-650 is wide, straightish, goes on and onandon. The brown vista dotted with industrial works of various kinds: compost makers, dairy farms and processing units, petrol station after petrol station – many closed, deserted despite offering food, çay, shopping on their posters for miles ahead.
I haven’t seen much wildlife for ages – apart from sparrows. There are many many magpies along this road though. I see one, and (with the ‘one for sorrow’ rnyme in mind) immediately look for its partner – spotted with no trouble and usually get up to at least ‘six for gold’ before I give up.
I stop for çay several times – at the petrol stations that are actually open – and read my book “Homeland” by Clare Francis – which I’m enjoying and will finish today. My aim is to get to Keçiborlu – which I do, by 4pm, sauntering.
I find a hotel quickly– a HUGE hotel – which seems to house Uni students as well as guests. This place is 5TL cheaper again – and it includes evening meal as well as breakfast! I am bemused by the two tier structure in the dining room: A small number of tables have tablecloths and salt and pepper pots/ serviettes on. The rest are bare formica. The ‘guests’ get waited on – china plates, glassware. The same institutional style food, mind you, ie –plenty of it but not that exciting. The students do self service and used TV dinner style steel trays which have different hollows in for the food to be deposited – dessert and main meal all on the same tray (like in prisons?). Can’t see the point of the segregation myself. I just have soup – but two bowls of it and feel like Oliver when I ask for more.
I wonder around town after dark. All the shops are closing apart from the male dominated cafes. I have cake and coffee in a bistro opposite the hotel that serves as a meeting place for students in lieu of a bar. Not a drop of alcohol in sight (though plenty of fags).
Am allocated room 101 for the third night running. Is the universe trying to send me a message?
I haven’t seen much wildlife for ages – apart from sparrows. There are many many magpies along this road though. I see one, and (with the ‘one for sorrow’ rnyme in mind) immediately look for its partner – spotted with no trouble and usually get up to at least ‘six for gold’ before I give up.
I stop for çay several times – at the petrol stations that are actually open – and read my book “Homeland” by Clare Francis – which I’m enjoying and will finish today. My aim is to get to Keçiborlu – which I do, by 4pm, sauntering.
I find a hotel quickly– a HUGE hotel – which seems to house Uni students as well as guests. This place is 5TL cheaper again – and it includes evening meal as well as breakfast! I am bemused by the two tier structure in the dining room: A small number of tables have tablecloths and salt and pepper pots/ serviettes on. The rest are bare formica. The ‘guests’ get waited on – china plates, glassware. The same institutional style food, mind you, ie –plenty of it but not that exciting. The students do self service and used TV dinner style steel trays which have different hollows in for the food to be deposited – dessert and main meal all on the same tray (like in prisons?). Can’t see the point of the segregation myself. I just have soup – but two bowls of it and feel like Oliver when I ask for more.
I wonder around town after dark. All the shops are closing apart from the male dominated cafes. I have cake and coffee in a bistro opposite the hotel that serves as a meeting place for students in lieu of a bar. Not a drop of alcohol in sight (though plenty of fags).
Am allocated room 101 for the third night running. Is the universe trying to send me a message?
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