Category Archives: Turkey

Bicycle touring Aladağlar (less mountain eye candy)

Posted on September 6, 2020 by Bryan Keith

I’ve had three big mountain sections of riding on this trip (so far!): Dedegöl Dağları, Bolkar Dağları, and Aladağlar, in that order.  The riding got harder, the elevations got higher, and sadly the scenery was, well, what should I say?, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bicycle touring, Turkey | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Gülek to Aladağ: more castles, mountains, and canyons

Posted on August 27, 2020 by Bryan Keith

From Medetsiz it was mostly downhill to the town of Gülek, then mostly uphill to Gülek Kalesi (a castle), the guardhouse for the Cilician Gates.  I arrived in the evening, pitched my tent, and handled the guard duties for one night.

Posted in Bicycle touring, Turkey | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

From sea level to Medetsiz (3524m) (and Tarsus)

Posted on August 17, 2020 by Bryan Keith

It’s one thing to drive to a trailhead and walk up a mountain.  It’s quite another thing, and much more aesthetically pleasing in my opinion, to make your way under your own power to the trailhead and then continue to … Continue reading →

Posted in Bicycle touring, Turkey | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Çamlıyayla loops: castles, mountains, and canyons

Posted on August 7, 2020 by Bryan Keith

Fixing my infected tooth requires going to Tarsus (pop. 340,000; elev. ~sea level) once a week to see a dentist (she cleans out the infection, and once she doesn’t find any more, she’ll do a “permanent” filling, and I’ll be … Continue reading →

Posted in Bicycle touring, Turkey | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Bicycle touring Bolkar Dağları (more mountain eye candy)

Posted on July 28, 2020 by Bryan Keith

I said goodbye to Ferda in Ayrancı and knew that I had a climb ahead of me.  I was leaving the Konya Plains (Karaman, in this case, I suppose) and heading into the Bolkar Mountains.  The first 40km climbed a … Continue reading →

Posted in Bicycle touring, Turkey | Tagged , , , , , , | 2 Comments