The Drive to Samsun
We woke early to a beautiful blue sky day and left our beachside camp before 09.30. It was a bit of a manoeuvring job to get out through the trees and the low power lines strung between the trees. The assistance of the owner with a broom to hold up the wires and directing us through the trees, enabled us to get out in one piece.
Last night we had stopped 60kms short of our chosen destination, Samsun. It is a question of camping where we can find somewhere. Campsites are few and far between and are mainly used by locals spending their summer holidays there. Not for tourists passing through. They are quite fussy about parking on the grass. When we have a tent which attaches to the vehicle, this causes a few issues. Only tents are allowed on the grass.
We reached Samsun quite quickly. It is a large city and feels more Western. I stopped at a supermarket and there was much more choice. It was quite heavy traffic and a lot of traffic lights, but we still made reasonable progress. Beyond Samsun it began to open up a bit with less dense habitation and lights.
Heading for Sinop
What a difference sunshine makes. The sea was a beautiful blue/green today.
In places where there is some sand, or shingle the beach is packed with sunbathers and swimmers. Most of the shoreline is rocky, though.
We stopped for lunch at a small beach.
Although the road had opened up, there are still towns to slow you down a bit.
Once beyond Sinop the terrain changed. The road is no longer a dual carriageway, but now single track, but traffic is less. The road is no longer coastal but tracking the coast over mountains and valleys. Often high up looking down over cliffs to the water.
When we reached Catalzeytin we could see campers beside the beach below the road. We pulled in and, yes, we could camp. Then the process of trying to find us somewhere to camp began. Not on the grass. Eventually we settled on some hard standing with grass growing between the stones. The cracks allowed us to put in tent pegs. Once again the facilities are very basic.
View along the coast from the campsite at dusk.
Tomorrow we will continue along the coast road, although for some reason the sat-nav doesn’t recognise this road.
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