August 31, 2023
Hopa
Another rather uneventful ride mostly along the D010. Traffic volumes were down noticeably compared to when we first left Trabzon so it was often easier to simply stay on the highway and not look for alternative routes running alongside it. The only important exception was taking the old road over a headland to avoid the second and longer of the two tunnels on the route. The first tunnel was just over 1.3 kilometers long so we took the relaxed option and walked the bicycles through. The climb over the headland was so mild as to have me wondering why they built a tunnel at all.
We have an uninspiring and over priced hotel room in Hopa for the night. We didn't want to push through to Sarpa at the border because, in our experience, border towns are best avoided. Nonetheless, Hopa still feels a bit like a border town even though it is almost twenty kilometers short of the border.
In many ways Hopa doesn't feel Turkish at all. Very few women on the streets have their heads covered and skimpy clothing seems to be the standard for younger women. The obsession with keeping alcohol hidden is absent and many of the restaurants in the vicinity of our hotel serve it openly.
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8 months ago
After supper we took a stroll along the esplanade. It was jam packed with people enjoying the summer evening in bars and restaurants.
Today's ride: 50 km (31 miles)
Total: 876 km (544 miles)
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I'm enjoying your journal a lot - I really admire your adventsuresome spirit!
8 months ago
8 months ago