I can’t claim to be a tremendously experienced motorcyclist, but, having endured a plethora of climatic phenomena and road conditions while riding past scenery ranging from the ugly industrial to heavenly snow caps for the past 80 days, I guess I just might be able to put my finger on what a motorcyclist’s travel paradise may look and feel like. The reciepe:
- Weather
- Temperature: warm but not hot enough to sweat under the heavy gear
- Wind: A sweet, mild breeze that doesn’t need fighting against
- Cloud Cover: white puffy clouds peppering a cobalt sky
- Road
- Surface: smooth tarmac
- Shape: curves in all the right places
- Traffic: as light as possible
- Scenery
- Beauty: unbridled, with strong visibility
Today was just such a day. We were blessed with the most glorious weather as we powered up the steep rises and coasted down the tight bends. The breeze was just perfect and the mercury followed suit. As for the road, if there is such a thing in the motorcycling community as the “1000 rides to go on before you die”, the South-Western coast of the Black Sea between Sinop and Amasra is sure to be on it. The 2 lane road cuts its way along the steep wooded walls of the coastal range, plunging through a series of hairpin switchbacks to the cluster of red-tiled roofs that make up a village in a tiny cove, only to climb steeply abruptly out of the small bay, to the rocky top of the following promontary, whence passers-by can marvel at the unparalelled views of the coastline.
In addition to its pure beauty, today’s ride had its challenges: roadworks peppered the way, with 2 major lengths of gravel track along our path. I can’t say I was happy, but the test helped lift the rest of the day to soaring heights. At 443km, the day was long (the longest in fact since our race to the Caspian in Turkmenistan); we were happy to pull in to Safranbolu, a charmingly ancient litte town (UNESCO protected) after 9 hours of riding, tired, but exhilerated. On the antepenultimate day of our fabulous trek from Beijing, we have been granted a glimpse of the “motorcyclist’s paradise”.
This sounds absolutely GORGEOUS and I’m so glad you had a perfect day right before your big finish! Keep going! We are cheering you on from the Big Apple. =)
Sorry we will not be there for the grand finale- but if you had timed it a week later I might have made it. The Barnett’s in Sydney, Bali and Kenya congratulate you both of your trip of a lifetime- heli skying will be positively 2008 after this.
I am sending my sister to represent me, a poor substitute I know , but what can one do!!Love Peter a.k.a. godfather