WE ARE IN Ardahan, spending the night in the city’s only clean hotel.
Starting in Eminbey this morning we pushed the bikes up Mt. Cecik, which has a pass at around 2300 metres.
It must be the adrenaline release from walking 18 km uphill, and the panoramas that widen every few metres that we don’t realise how far the village on the other side really is. Every time we think we reached the pass, it seems to have moved to the next turn of the road.
By the time we reach the top the views over the region are obstructed by snow showers and a fog that steadily descends from the peak. A short break is enough to freeze the brakes to the tyres. Ice starts to cover the road.
Cars stop and warn for bad weather, soldiers offer a rest at the army base, but we thank politely and plod on. If we’ve come this far, we.. can.. make.. it.. But the pass doesn’t end.
When workers from the Botaş pipeline compressor station offer a ride, we give up. We load the bikes on the pickup and fold ourselves in between. From a step-by-step motion we suddenly fast-forward to Ardahan. The landscape flashes by.
Down the road rescue workers are busy with a toppled van. The next few kilometres the view diminishes almost completely.
serkan said,
April 18, 2008 @ 8:31 pm
hi
roberta i am from botaş i am engineer you maybe remember me and my other friends from ardahan at a snowy day at mountain and our car, i looked your web site and you wrrote about your adventure in ardahan in ılgar mountain it became very good, if you want,you can add our pictures to your web site and if you want i can send our pictures which taken with you.
now where are you, how is the wheather and your journey
and now i am sendin some photos from that day you can add this pictures to your website… (attachment)
have good journey see you later again
bye
sadulela said,
April 19, 2008 @ 2:45 am
of course we remember you! how could we forget you after saving us from that storm. We are in Kars now and sun is shining here. Don’t think that it could get worse than on ilgar mountain:)
Thanks again.
HUSEYİN said,
June 20, 2008 @ 8:23 pm
hi I am from botas how are you? now where are you?remember me ardahan at a snowy day at mountain and our car