Trabzon to Tbilisi

Georgia is full of beautiful old churches... Many being restored as they suffered under the Soviet rule... This one just popped up as we were on the way.. Think we got here when the light was just right, ( Gary would have had to be there for hours to get this shot!!!!)

Our last day in Trabzon with Phil.. Interesting city!! it has a lot more to offer than you at first think...

In Georgia... This was a beautiful valley that we traveled up.... and then back down again.. Never have we been through a country of such decay and beauty together. The rural houses are large with terraced balconies,wrought iron work...filigreed guttering...all different....but nearly all knackered. I think they were mostly built during the relatively prosperous 70's ,and absolutely nothing has happened since....not even a lick of paint. People in the country do not have even 2 beans to rub together. Everything is growing though...it is Spring at last.Most houses have huge vines for shade and wine !Giant bamboo grows in the black sea area..

We did this valley twice as after cycling 80kms to within 11 kms of the pass [at 2ooomtrs ]...
we were told it was closed...under 3 mtrs of snow....so back down 80kms again and the long way round. Just as well prob that jon vetoed my stupid idea of a mtn border crossing in eastern turkey [passes over 2500 ! ].

There is another very good thing about us having to retrace our steps....but jon can fill you in on that if he wants { i have photo evidence ! ]

Jon was unable to resist the opportunity of extra exercise. This one proved later to be the one exercise too far !

Can you imagine the pain involved in doing this exercise.... well then you will imagine the pain and frustration brought on by using our stove... It hasnt let us down too much but it has been the biggest pain for lighting running and everything.. It has a mind of its own! sometimes it can be really nice to you... but sometimes it can be the devil.... but mostly its the devil...

Nic will back me up by telling anyone that I have had allot of patience with it.. (Nic now knows when to say nothing too!!) one example is taking 2 hrs to make a cup of tea!!....

Well..... one morning I just had enough.... across the field went the pan ... closely followed by the stove... Nic very wisely stayed in the tent.. So no coffee for breakfast, and on with the day...

That night (however) I discovered that in my rage!!!!! the diffuser on the top of the stove was missing (this is the second time it has mysteriously gone missing! the first time we had to backtrack for it was in Holland!)

But as luck would have it.... being forced to go back down the valley.. we had the chance to pick it up again... ( phew!!!!!)

I did promise to Nic that I wouldnt do this again... (bloody stove!!)

Right. You see that large white lump below jon,s hands. That is poisoned cheese,which we are both about to gaily tuck into. The consequences later that night were dramatically sudden and fairly catastrophic,especially for jon. [no more detail is required]. It left us quite weak and wobbly,and together with the "detour"is mainly why it took us so long to get to Tbilisi. Ah ha though.....having just about recovered , thinking that the culprit was dodgy water, we then tucked into the same cheese again 2 days later. That night we finally ,using our well honed deducing skills,detected that the cheese was the source of all illness .We are still a bit "off " cheese.!

At the moment we are reeling around Tbilisi clutching our notebooks,,,,,trying to learn Russian . Honestly !!!We have our 3rd lesson in about an hour.....so have to rush off to meet Sasha ...so thats all for now ...da svidanya,,,,,