to Horasan: nice ride

June 27, 2015

After riding in extreme heat on previous days, we set off today needing to wear our jackets. Rain poured overnight and threatens still then clears off until the afternoon when clouds build again. We reach Horasan and check into Otel Karaca.

An 8 km climb out of the city of Erzurum, then becomes a gentle downhill following the Aras river downstream....a delightful ride with beautiful scenery. When riding through the town of Pasinler, a touring cyclists comes up behind us. Patrick starts speaking Dutch, Luc is Belgian and started from Holland around the same time as us, with a different route. He plans on cycling 150 kms today. We are not. Luc does stop at our break then continues on ahead of us. He says there is an older Dutch couple behind us.

After rough stretches, a nice ride is good for the soul and reaffirms that even in bad days, it's good to be on a bike.

Otel Karevansaray. This is a great hotel for cyclists with very friendly and helpful staff along with security for the bikes.

Bee hives are very prevalent all along eastern Turkey

Beautiful wildflowers along the road...Rachel's interests

Strange architecture....Patrick's interests

Luc and Patrick showing off the Dutch stroopwafels we found at the BIM stores in Turkey.

Rain threatening over the Kargapazari Mountains

Cobandede Arcbridge at the conjunction of the Kargapazari Mountains and Aras River, originally built in 1295.

As we check into the Otel, a Turkish man speaks Dutch with Patrick

Today's ride: 86 km (53 miles)
Total: 4,279 km (2,657 miles)

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