Day 18. Wednesday 8th July. Camping Emanuel, Bulgaria to Mocamp, Silivri, 70k’s west of Istanbul. Türkiye.

I had the best sleep. No barking dogs, neighbours slamming doors. Tranquility. The lake gently lapping the shore about 50m away.

The prime objective this morning is to download a map of Türkiye on the Sat-nav. We were camped too far away from the amenities block, and adequate wifi. 

That done we were on the road by 10.15am.  

Heading for the border.

It’s around 100k’s to the Turkish border and we drive through many villages in total ruin. 

An observation. Bulgaria seems to be stuck in the Soviet era still. Very different to it’s northern neighbour, Romania, who seem to be embracing modernity and Europe too. 

Russian is the dominant language. Signposts are in Cyrillic script with occasional translation into Roman script. Abandoned factories abound. New roading shows that Europe is having an influence but I think it will struggle to dominate. Bulgaria is in the EU but it would appear to be paying lip service only. 

It’s another lovely morning and we are on a minor road having left the main road to find the camp site. There is very little traffic and the first 20k’s are pot holed and rough but coming across a mound of dirt in the middle, the other side was brand new hotmix seal till we rejoined the main arterial route to the border. 

Exiting Bulgaria

The process was standard. 

Entering Turkiye

This was a different experience. We had to obtain insurance. A windscreen sticker to enable highway cameras to ensure we had purchased road tax. Change some money. Try and purchase a SIM card, Be inspected for contraband. Finger printed and photographed.  Most of these achieved with helpful Turks mainly returning from various European countries with their brand new upmarket cars. Those that helped could speak perfect English . One gentleman who was returning on holiday from Holland, was extremely helpful and patient. 

The whole process took us approximately one and a half hours with no real impediments. 

We have chosen the main motorway from the border to a coastal town of Silvri 70k’s short of Istanbul. Finding camping though was a nightmare. The sat-nav listed sights are not worth investigating. The database must be years out of date and most are either closed or never were..;).

First we needed cash and a SIM card. The first was easy but the SIM card, impossible. There is a new law that unless you have a Turkish citizenship card, you can’t buy a SIM card. Passports are irrelevant. We are going to have to rely on campsites for wifi and look for other options, such as an eSIM. We’ll resolve it.

Finding the help with google maps was nerve wracking. Directions not relevant to road layouts but a chap in a beautiful Porche convertible came to our aid and led us to the camp. It’s very very basic but right on the waterfront. So, after setting up camp we went in for a swim. It’s the Sea of Marmara. Refreshing but by this time dinner was overdue at 8pm!! At least there are not dogs but the camp is outrageously expensive at TL1000 per person which equates to 31pounds for booth of us. I think we had suckers printed on our foreheads…:)

Tomorrow morning I will take the second idler off and inject grease into the bearing. I have found a needle with a grease nipple attachment and will drill a tiny hole in the slinger, inject some grease into the bearing race and super glue the small hole. Let’s hope that works…:) What could go wrong!!

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