towards Syria

Turkey so far.. First of Jan.. 10000km

Jon trying not to look too cold

These are the dogs to watch out for!!! they can rip a panier off just for fun!! Central Anatolia

Caught by wind in the middle of no where!! only possible place to pitch a tent.. couldnt cycle any more.. riding at an angle to the wind!!!

Hobbit holes all the way out of Cappadocia.. better place to spend the night when its windy!!!

Deep depressions in Cappadocia...İ discovered that İ have lost my endura wool sweater!!! ( Alan ıf you find it at the ley ley put it to one side for me?) and also we found that out Gerber tool was missing! we figured out where it was last used (40km away (back)) and hatched a plan to get it..(not my idea!!) Hire a motorbike...We now have out gerber back..found where we had lunch.

İt will not surprise any of you to hear that we have had NO PUNCTURES.. since fitting the new tyres.. And thats just how we like it.. (we do however have two tyres that seem to loose air now and again.. but we have decided that they are not punctures and just a good way of warming up in the morning!!) So there....

We have however been stopped twice by the police... Nothing to do with my wild riding either.. No the first was just a routine stop.. they gave us oranges!! the second we were forced off the road to drink cai.. Quite nice really...

My best morning so far was when we had 3 breakfasts... the first was our normal one coffee bread and chock sauce.. A great way to start any day!! then just as the first was wearing off.. we were invited to have more with two men outside their shops.. bread and cai.. We left them after about 1 hr then 500m up the road a family forced us off the road to eat a local apple dish... what could we say!!!!

Nic. I,ve got a few animal issues that need sorting.....apart from the dogs which do roughly seem to be afeared of the sticks. Firstly the mices have made a bigger hole in my panniers than the dogs.and there wasnt even any food in there.!Then i.ve found 2 very sharp pointed animal quills

whilst camping one night.İs there an Asian porcupine ? We.ve also seen 1 dead (squashed) and 1 live giant rat thing. İts about the size of a small otter or copyu but is.nt eıther....what is it.? İt likes reeds and water channels and is quite furry.

Jon gave me my xmas present last night. İts great.just what i.ve been wanting for ages but he would.nt let me get. He must have finally relented over the weight issue.! So now i;ve got a lovely plastic red heart shaped pencil sharpener....and don,t have to use the opinel knife .How could things get any better.

Off to Syria now.. tomorow if they will have us (visa visa visa) we have heard that the internet is harder to find so......