Take The Hat Off To Planning

On the advice of mine host we opted for a later start and doing todays walk in reverse.

Ample sized breakfast , quick photo snap and in the car heading for the starting point.

It’s interesting that the two hosts have had major career shifts one from Chemist and the other Film Producer to running a B and B . They definitely have the knack for the newest careers.

Heard more stories about the wild boars, wolves and savage dogs we might encounter today – I wonder if it’s their way of saying Aust is not the only country with fearful wild animals.

Again licked to death by the first 3 dogs we met on arrival, so hoping any other encounters are equally friendly.

I have always moaned about carrying a complete first aid kit, but today it worked wonders. Having left hat at home the trusty triangular bandage turned into head protection that made me look like a pirate or a Turkish housewife.

After about 20 steps we were wished well by two locals and provided with some apples and grapes to see us through. The rural people of Turkey seem to have a strong bond with those doing the walk.

 Better  trail today to start with, mainly consisting of flat uncropped fields with not a scrap of food for animals either – drought sure has affected them.

That said there were many wells  drilled into the fields and the old stone drop test proved they did have water.

Along with flatter track it was 10 degrees cooler with a light breeze, so walking was much more pleasant. Trusty GPS App also helped us find the way when markings failed.

Started to hear our first birds as we walked up amongst light cloud  which filtered our view of the coast.

The fields were mainly ringed by high stones and some old stone building were still there but obviously not used, as they were mainly filled with more stones. Why you would store rocks when thousands sit idly on the ground?

We heard about a local nomadic goat herder who often provides tea , food and  was a bit of a chatterbox We thought we spied him in a slightly tilled field , but no sign of goats only the sound of  rock breaking. 

On teaching his farm huge expanses of land had been gouged out from behind his house , rock breaking equipment was smashing huge boulders and new roads had been built – not something you would expect a nomadic herder to fund.

We walked passed without contact and on the top of the next hill came across a shelter which we assumed was his and like several other left a little thank you donation.

We were soon joined by a party of 20 British ramblers and their guide on a day walk. Guide advised the poor old herders land had been compulsorily acquired to allow a road to be built / to where nobody knows.. The tent was a workers hut, so guide scooped up the coins and promised to give them to the herder.

He had to find other accommodation for his 2000 goats with no compensation – sounds like treatment of people whose land made way for new airport in Sydney south-west.

Also joined by a couple of Russian walkers who we ate with at the B and B – they were disappointed, that what they thought to be a cafe was not open.

We continued on the dusty road getting great views off the coast of Kalkan which we had enjoyed at sea level. It is a remarkably picturesque coastline which photos don’t do justice.

After 3 hours we were back in the bush enjoying lunch on a rocky outcrop, before being back on stony paths rock hopping our way to the high point of the day., which was only an hour or so from home.

The difficult and often poorly marked trails didn’t pose as problematic to us, now we had walkers , not wooden legs, attached to our body and a new resolve.

Met a young German on our descent  who looked like a turtle with his huge pack, it must have weighed 20 kilos. He like us was headed for the finish in 20 or so days.

Again the effect of drought was shown by the gnarly old trees around the place.

After a minor navigation error we were on the final downward leg on a path covered in  pine needles or pebbles that had been laid to reduce erosion. Both great slip/ trip hazards.

Again a no fall day for both, but the last 10 metres of the track, ironically abutting the cemetery, was  the toughest part of the day- so barren of footholds it was a bum slide all the way down.

Finished walk in just on 5 hours and it was home to stand in the 1 square metre toilet /bathroom for a welcome shower.

Relaxing beer and snacks and a bit of blogging saw out a few hours in the afternoon, albeit with the regular interruption of the automated CTP from mosque amplifier and the 70 or so kids finishing school over the road.

No other guests so we dined with hosts and a friend around their dining table.

No worries all days coming up to enjoy the delights of seaside at Kas.