NorthCape-SouthCape: 060102
U-turns
Temperatures today were between -2 degrees and +19. We have travelled 650kms between Ankara and Gaziantep in Turkey.
Sat on the bike and thought about being a ”Farmerlip” – our expression for somebody from the countryside whose main occupation is playing with his lips, nothing else. Strange, but our average is one U-turn every 1,000kms. Like a magic hand is dealing, in spite of maps, GPS and other navigation systems – the U-turn will come. We are keeping a nice Farmerlip average.
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Stefan is complaining about getting too little to eat. In roundabout ways I have heard that his wife is worried about him. With this photograph I want to show that we are eating constantly, more or less. In the deal with Stefan food was included. But it is difficult to satisfy everybody; Mikko’s wife asked me to hold back on the food.
Mikko and Stefan spend 10-12 hours a day in their cars. The difference between motorways and ordinary roads is enormous, considering the traffic intensity. I have never understood how much transit traffic goes through Rumania, Bulgaria and Turkey. All goods from Europe to the Middle East goes here. This makes traffic conditions difficult on all roads below motorway standards. . |
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The last two days went well, however. Turkey has fantastic roads and must have spent a fortune on their infrastructure. Hats off for Turkey. The terrain is the same as in Norway, but the roads are wider and better than in Sweden. From dawn till dusk Mikke and Stefan have sat in their cars. |
The front tyre that I mounted in Gävle about 4,700kms ago was changed for a summer tyre after the last high mountain passages, 1490 metres above sea level with high snow barriers on both sides of the road.
Tomorrow will be exciting when we cross the border to Syria. All sources tell us, this crossing is a challenge. Visas have been organised through Lundin Petroleum, let’s see tomorrow how it works. Anything under ten hours I see as a big success. I want to try without buying these services except if it becomes necessary. If I’m not through before it gets dark, I have to get my wallet out. Marketing laws probably apply here too. You know, demand and supply.
/PG
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High
Performance Riding
www.pgdakar.com |
Per-Gunnar
Lundmark
Fjällbonäs 15
933 91 Arvidsjaur |
Per-Gunnar
Lundmark
Eva.PG.Lundmark@swipnet.se
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Updated
2006-01-11
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