24 September, Cide to Kurucaşile, 26km
Tutku Otel 80TL (breakfast included) (negotiated down from 100TL)

A short day dictated by accommodation, and beautiful yet again. There was a violent storm in Cide last night, the wind blowing plastic chairs across the paving, toppling pot plants and raising white tips on the Black Sea. This morning leaving town we cycled through sea sand and sea water swept over the sea wall onto the coast road. Our road was wider than it has been for a day or so, and somewhat easier to ride, adding to our pleasure in the day. We have seldom seen isolated accommodation options while cycling through Turkey. Today we were surprised by a sign advertising a pension in a tiny hamlet on a stunning bay below the road, and decided to call it a day in this romantic little spot. Only to find the pension was overpriced and not at all romantic. In addition, on the short road down to the hamlet and back up to the main road Charl had two flats! So, on we came to Kurucaşile where our hotel room overlooks the harbour and ocean and a couple of the headlands we have had to conquer to get here. Every town in Turkey has its stray dogs and cats. These wander the streets, sometimes alone, sometimes in small packs. On the whole they are friendly and generally relatively healthy, being fed in casual manner by a tolerant populace. Today on the road we encountered three tail-wagging farm dogs beside two grass-munching roadside cows. The one dog kept licking the one cow’s nose causing the cow to shake her head, setting her cow-bell jangling. 

Between Cide and Kurucaşile

Between Cide and Kurucaşile

Between Cide and Kurucaşile

Between Cide and Kurucaşile

Kurucaşile