Knowing it would mean all day in the van, we decided to try and get to the Black Sea today. The route was slow and mountainous, but was the most direct and would bring us out at a place called Hopa which is up by the Georgian border.
Once we left Kars, the landscape became really bleak again. Just farm shacks with tin roofs and animals everywhere. God knows how the people survive the winter.
Eventually, things became more green and mountainous with some quite picturesque gorges, but two pairs of eyes are needed on these roads due to the Turkish drivers being on their phones!
I’ve been trying to get a picture of the ‘very realistic from a distance’ cardboard police cars but every time I’ve gone to take a photo there has been an army checkpoint behind it so not a good idea. Today’s was out on its own though and they do look real at first glance!
Late afternoon, we came into Hopa. My God what a dump! The whole place was a kind of scruffy lorry park presumably with drivers taking a break before they enter Georgia or as the arrive in Türkiye. Not the place to stay.
Tempted to dip into Georgia, as Batumi looks much nicer, but no currency or phone data would be no good on a birthday. Turned west and managed to find parking at Findikli just a little further along.
It’s a nice, clean car park between a very busy road and a very rough sea, so Guy has reversed in so we can hopefully sleep with the sound of waves rather than traffic.
As for the birthday…thanks very much for all your kind wishes but I’ve decided to postpone it until we get to Greece! Happy to stay 60 for a bit longer 🤣🤣🤣
See photo of birthday drink of water in slippers!
