7 June, Pamukkale to Acipayam, 40km + 28km by bus
Saray Hotel 70TL (breakfast included) (negotiated down from 90TL)

Despite Charl having FOUR punctures, we had a lovely day – mainly because we cheated and took a bus from Denizli to Serinhisar, a 20km climb with the latter town 1km higher than the former. We cycled the bits at either end: Pamukkale to Denizli, and Serinhisar to Acipayam. Having conquered the pass, the bus dropped us in a wide, high, flat valley, dotted with trees and ringed by hills shadowed by clouds. The big buses travelling between relatively major centres, can accommodate bikes in the luggage compartment, but will not make unscheduled stops. Mid-size buses might take bikes on the back seat. Drivers of mini-buses reasonably shrug and say, “Problem”. At first today we were told we could not be accommodated on any bus, but we just stood around looking by turns helpless and optimistic and eventually we were put on a mid-size bus and dropped where we asked. Additional generosity today: at the bike shop where Charl went to top up on spare tubes, the guys insisted he drink a glass of wine with them; as did two armed military men at a neighbouring table at our hotel restaurant, who also bought us dessert. Subsequent diners sent over a bowl of fresh cherries! Our hotel room here is painted bright yellow and pink, and the furniture and curtains are orange. 

Denizli - lawn-mowing day

Denizli - lawn-mowing day

Between Serinhisar and Acipayam

Acipayam

Dessert from neighbouring diners