What a great start to the first part of the walk when the steepest hill in the first 2 hours was coming up the driveway of the B and B

The walk was basically flat to slightly uphill on forest paths and rural roads, with an estimated timeframe of 3 hours.

We were always looking up at the huge mountains that were our costant left hand side buddies. Many were pock marked where huge faces had peeled off and created landslides that had badly damaged the road  in several spots only allowing foot or bike traffic. Several tree falls also blocked the way.

Coming to the end we came across 4 jeeps  full of hikers , obviously getting a head start for the day.  Just as we entered town there were 20-30 more at a huge hostel and who knows how many more at the old castle now converted into a camping ground.

We made incredible time reaching  our first stop off  point iin 2 hours- pretty slick for two old warriors.

Whilst resting and stocking up we were inundated with motor bikes of all shapes and sizes which we attributed to boys having a ride. Wrong – they were arriving for some racing on the hills and bends of the highway and we saw and or heard them for most of the next 3 hours.

Our fantastic race pace soon suffered a hit as we went up  about 600 metres on a very rocky track, with oower poles our only friends. That was other than our first wild boar, which thankfully lay dead and rotting on the side of the track. Not sure what bought about it’s demise.

Top of the hill allowed us to play chicken with a few of the riders before finding our first big flat spot of land under crops with no hothouses.

Flat ground did not last long and it was more ankle twisting stuff till we finally found a road, which although longer allowed safe and faster passage.

Another huge mosque for a town of about 10 houses and the best preserved road leading to it from all directions.

Reached what we thought was town only to be told our accommodation was down there.

A pretty apt description as we clambered over a stile with wonky holding on supports to start a down hill descent through rocks, creeks and muddy patches which was downright dangerous. In some spots a bum slide was the only option. 

Made it down to another road,with a couple of minor injuries, wichhad a sign Doga Camping 2kms. Was pretty annoying when we were already a kilometre into tomorrow’s trail and had been going neigh on 4 hours for second half of walk.

Next conundrum was whether to stay on track or follow the road. Unanswered  calls to owner and tour operator did not help,  so we took the road.

Then there it was the Rural Hilton, even had our baggage in the back of a tractor, along with smiling owner. Our 4×3 wooden bungalow wascosy to say the least and like a Chinese laundry trying to dry wet clothes 

We were soon joined by lots of weary travellers – mainly Russians, including a 50 something walking in socks and sandals for some reason. Reckon his Day 2 will be a challenge.

Some opted for the bungalows and others camped- it  would be a cold night in a tent , so small mercy in having our bungalow

Thunder and lightning, fortunately were not accompanied by rain as we have several tricky river crossings tomorrow, along with ladder climbs and rope bridges – sound like a SAS celebrity show. On top of that we are scheduled to stay in a place in the National Park Canyon not quite the equal of today.

700pm dinner was brought forward to 630 to cater for several sittings. Boy what a and soirée, alphabet soup, rice, salad fot for a Biafran refugee and 4 meatballs the size of a 50 cent piece – not what we needed after a cracker and tea lunch. Thankfully there was seconds on rice and Turkish tea.

Looimg forward to tomorrow’s now shortened day in what appears ideal temps.