Chasing Ideals

How many can say they have seen the broader side of a Turk and come out smiling? I arrived in this nation with little fanfare and have spent the last days resting my weary appendages. No excitement can I recall from the border experience apart from seeing young military types carrying man sized machine guns and eyeing me like an oatmeal cream. It was the first time I had to purchase a visa for entry. Ten euro for a stamp sized sticker that gives ninety day access to the Turkish delights.

I had my route carefully and oh so meticulously planned to the house of my hosts. Unfortunately my famed careful planning really only consisted of "This looks like the shortest route." From the border to Canakkale I was riding high on marvelous asphalt. Canakkale to Can however had me longing for some of Albania's finest. I was informed later that attempts have been made to fix this road but so far all have failed. Along the road one can see the remnants of those bowel bashing attempts at repair. The crowning experience here was my first over water shimmy. I like to think of it as a proverbial crossing of the Mississippi but truth be told it was more similar to a child's paddling pool. The sight of a motorcycle crossing before me quelled any fears of being struck down river and having to abandon ship at waterfall's edge. I was met with many snickers and general giggling later when I told others of my route choice. Apparently it is an route only for the hapless and unguided tourist.

One tries to keep a level head but upon arrival in a new place there are certain experiences one hopes to avoid. Night one in the area I was warmly greeted by a mild earthquake. Now this wasn't the type where women run screaming and the chubbier bits of infants begin to wriggle with frequency but was still my first. I was sitting on a couch at the time and was convinced for some moments that the person next to me had a major itch on the hind quarters and was using the couch as a scratching post. It wasn't until my host Nihal asked me if I was feeling the earthquake that I was clued in. The quake lasted no more than twenty seconds but left an eerie feeling in the lower intestine. Experiencing the earth move beneath you changes one's perception of physical stability in a way that nothing else could. I asked if it happens often and was told that damage causing quakes don't. Certainly reassuring.