Saturday, 12 August, 2017 --- Day 26 -- From Baku To Athens

ΚΑΤ’ΕΜΠΟΡΙΑΝ ΚΑΙ ΘΕΩΡΙΑΝ

ES MUSS SEIN

CARTAGO DELENDA EST

Nos perituri mortem salutamus

Saturday, 12 August, 2017 --- Day 26

From Baku To Athens

Stats

Day dist: 0 km

Riding time: 0 hours 0 mins

Avg speed: 0 km/hour

Max speed: 0 km/hour

End day odo: 2905 km

Dist covered so far: 1205 km

Coordinates: 40.369800N 49.839600 (Mr. Hostel)

Alt: 98.5

Uneventful day.

I got up sluggishly and late. Eventually went out to the same store I had been yesterday, Oscar market, and bought rope (ip) which I needed to tie Spithas’s box tight and securely.

Mr. Hostel

I did tie the box up and spent the rest of the day surfing the internet or just doing nothing.

When I checked my emails, I saw an email from Alex inquiring, whether I had arrived in Baku. I responded, giving all the info including my location. In the meantime, Khayle had made arrangements for a friend of hers instead of a cab to pick me up at 19:00 and drive me to the airport. Her friend’s name was Asia and Khayle insisted that I knew her. Actually, I did know her. She was the beautiful lady that had done the night shift for the last two nights. I just did not know her name.

The two Spanish viageros Ryan and Dani returned and we chatted for a while. Finally, as I was gradually starting to get ready, Khayla shouted to me that a friend was looking for me. I assumed he was Alex. Instead, he was Chris. What a pleasant surprise. He had gotten my info from Alex. Alex and Dea had arrived two days ago and it appeared they would bike another 70 kms to take the ferry to Khazakstan as it was difficult to catch it from here. We chatted about his trip, the end of my trip, and about biking into Baku. We had followed different routes.

Chris and I at Mr. Hostel

It was almost 19:00 and Khayla notified me that Asia had arrived. Chris helped me carry the box downstairs and Khayla kindly carried the bag. We loaded the staff in the car, I embraced Chris, wished him the best, and we took off. Baku is a splendid place so was the drive. As we drove towards, Asia gave a short tour by pointing at the different sites on our way. Finally, we arrived in time.

Asia – airport.

Asia helped me load Spithas on a cart and then drove away. I went into the building and located Turkish airlines. I just had to pay a 60 Euro fee for Spithas but everything else went smoothly.

We took off at 22:00 and arrived in Istanbul 3 hours later. It was uncomfortable but I managed to take a short nap.

The Istanbul airport is huge. I had to walk for almost a mile to go to the info booth, where the info I got was that there was no info. My flight to Athens was at 7:15, so I had 6 hours to spend. I was really sleepy. I found a bench and did what everybody else around me was doing, I took a nap. Rather uncomfortable but “beggars cannot be choosers.” I got up at 5:00. By that time the gates had been assigned, so I walked another mile to gate 308.

Off I was to Athens

This is the end of one more of Vassilios wanderings around the world.

If you liked it, tune in for the next one.

ΕΙ ΘΕΟΣ ΥΠΕΡ ΗΜΩΝ, ΤΙΣ ΚΑΘ’ΗΜΩΝ; Προς Ρωμαίους 8:31

IF GOD BE WITH US WHO CAN BE AGAINST US? Romans 8:31

Friday, 11 August, 2017 --- Day 25 -- From Baku To Baku

ΚΑΤ’ΕΜΠΟΡΙΑΝ ΚΑΙ ΘΕΩΡΙΑΝ

ES MUSS SEIN

CARTAGO DELENDA EST

Nos perituri mortem salutamus

Friday, 11 August, 2017 --- Day 25

From Baku To Baku

Stats

Day dist: 0 km

Riding time: 0 hours 0 mins

Avg speed: 0 km/hour

Max speed: 0 km/hour

End day odo: 2905 km

Dist covered so far: 1205 km

Coordinates: 40.369800N 49.839600 (Mr. Hostel)

Alt: 98.5

Woke up sluggish. Instead of springing into action sipped tea and chatted with the people there. I needed to do two important things. You might think that one of them was sightseeing but you are wrong. I had decided to sightsee beatiful Baku next year when I would return to continue my biking trip.

The agenda was going to the turkish airlines office to correct the mispelling of my first name and the second as going to a bikeshop to find a box for Spithas.

Ayshan helped me out. She called a cab which took me to the other end of town to Turkish airlines offices. The lady that looked at my case told me that I did not need to do anything. No name correction was necessary. All this struggle for nothing. Still, I insisted that she print a note with the correct spelling of my name, which she did.

Next, I took a cab and returned to the hostel. By that time Ayshan had found a bike store, had called them, and had found out that they had boxes like the one I was looking for. When I asked her, she called a cab which took me to the other end of town to the bike store. They very kindly gave me the box. I returned w/ the same cab.

After I arrived at the hostel, I went out to do some shopping.

Baku near center

Went back to hostel, surfed on the internet, and then took a nap. After I got up I started to disassemble Spithas and put him in the box. First, however, I had to overcome the objections of sweet Khayle(dream) the lady attendant on duty who had replaced Ayshan, who wouldn’t let me proceed because she did not know what I was up to and also would not listen to me. Finally, I overcame the objections and proceeded.

Chatted with other travellers and went to bed rather late.

ΕΙ ΘΕΟΣ ΥΠΕΡ ΗΜΩΝ, ΤΙΣ ΚΑΘ’ΗΜΩΝ; Προς Ρωμαίους 8:31

IF GOD BE WITH US WHO CAN BE AGAINST US? Romans 8:31

Thursday, 10 August, 2017 --- Day 24 -- From gaz station To Baku

ΚΑΤ’ΕΜΠΟΡΙΑΝ ΚΑΙ ΘΕΩΡΙΑΝ

ES MUSS SEIN

CARTAGO DELENDA EST

Nos perituri mortem salutamus

Thursday, 10 August, 2017 --- Day 24

From gaz station To Baku

Stats

Day dist: 55.28 km

Riding time: 4 hours 50 mins

Avg speed: 11.44 km/hour

Max speed: 36.06 km/hour

End day odo: 2905 km

Dist covered so far: 1205 km

Coordinates: 40.369800N 49.839600 (Mr. Hostel)

Alt: 98.5

Was up before 6:00 and after connecting to internet and unsuccessfully trying to resolve the name mispelling on my plane ticket, I hit the road.

My petroleum motel

I biked well and as there was no wind I was fast.

At 12 kms I saw a nice cafeteria on the other side of the road and stopped for the morning tea. I did order tea and after exchanging a few words and info with the two guys that were there they also offered me a couple of sweets. I stayed for more than one hour and it appeared that I was able to resolve the misspelling issue over the interenet. The place had wifi and I used it.

It seemed that I would have an easy ending of my ride to Baku. I left at 9:30.

Man proposes, God disposes. Never forget that.

The promiced easy ride turned out to be the most difficult one of the trip. The wind that had been against me since day one, now it was against me with a vengeance. It was so strong that my speed slowed down to almost one third of the usual. I told myself that this is probably temporary or only for a small stretch BUT the wind kept going strong till the end. Hardly ever did I curse more in my life.

I had a resupply stop at 22 km (11:15)

Spithas patiently waiting

Stills the gods had not forsaken me, it seemed. When I parked Spithas and crossed the highway to the small market store, I left my helmet hanging on the handlebar. As usual, I left my bandana in the helmet. When I returned the bandana was missing. I realized that the strong wind had blown it away How can I be so stupid? At the very least I would search in a small distance in the direction of the wind. I knew it was hopeless but I had to do it.

Lo and behold!!!

Ten tons of luck

How could this have ever happened? The bandana was wrapped around a small rock on the ground. The gods still love me.

I made another stop at 35 kms at 12:15. It was at a bus stop so that I would be protected from the continuuous whipping of my face with sand blown by the wind.

When I was totally exhausted, I made my final stop at a gaz station where I had tea offered by the very nice attendants. The news was that I was closer to Baku than GPS was telling me.

I carried on, litterally dragged myself against the wind.

I made it alive.

Entering Baku

I biked to a hostel I had located on internet, “Mr. Hostel.” Thanfully there was a bed for me.

Also, a very nice lady, Ayshan, was in charge. She was not only nice but also very helpful. Thanks to her, I managed to resolve all the pending issues. I am really grateful to her.

ΕΙ ΘΕΟΣ ΥΠΕΡ ΗΜΩΝ, ΤΙΣ ΚΑΘ’ΗΜΩΝ; Προς Ρωμαίους 8:31

IF GOD BE WITH US WHO CAN BE AGAINST US? Romans 8:31

Wednesday, 09 August, 2017 --- Day 23 -- From Hacygabul Shirvan To gaz station

ΚΑΤ’ΕΜΠΟΡΙΑΝ ΚΑΙ ΘΕΩΡΙΑΝ

ES MUSS SEIN

CARTAGO DELENDA EST

Nos perituri mortem salutamus

Wednesday, 09 August, 2017 --- Day 23

From Hacygabul Shirvan To gaz station

Stats

Day dist: 72.26 km

Riding time: 4 hours 13 mins

Avg speed: 17.12 km/hour

Max speed: 31.76 km/hour

End day odo: 2849 km

Dist covered so far: 1149 km

Coordinates: 40.106555N 49.428622

Alt:

Left at 10:40. It was such a comfortable hotels that I wouldn’t mind staying longer. But a man has got to do what man has got to do, as you know, that’s all he has to do.

Hotel Olympias

Rode to the city, found a bank and took out 240 Manat from the ATM. After that I went shopping. Then it was time to hit the road and instead of going back the way I came decided to trust the GPS instructions. It seemed that it was taking me in a direction other than what my orientation instincts were teling me but I guess this is what shortcuts are. To make a long story short I ended up at a deadend street near a what seemed to be an army barrack.

One soldier came up to me asked me where I come from and then introduced me to an officer and a couple of other soldiers. They were all very friendly and cordial. The original soldier rushed into the camp and came back with a bottle of cold water for me. The officer invited me to lunch and kind of insisted. I could not accept, however, as I was already running late. I thanked them and left.

This time I dumped the GS and went the way I knew and got on the highway.

My fitst stop was at 21 kms at a makeshift cafeteria where I had tea. Left at 13:20

I somehow was sleepy. The truth is that I had slept comfortably but for only few hours. There was no place to rest out of the sun and it was really hot, so when I found an escape opportunity I took it. There was an abandoned little house at the side of the highway featuring a thick shade. I went there and napped at the shade (41 km). I stayed from 14:40 till 16:15.

The highway

I made one more stop under a bridge (overpass) at 53 kms from where I left at 17:30.

Within a short time, I saw the sea (Kaspian) for the first time.

Highway to Baku

Entering Gobustan

I carried on. My goal was to bike another 25 kms to Sangachal. There I would find a comfortable hotel and tomorrow I would be only 35 kms from Baku, and fairly easy ride.

It was already dark when I was 10 kms away from my goal. I stopped at a gazstation to asked the attendants about a hotel and all of them were categorical that there was no hotel in Sangachal and that the next hotel was at 45 kms distance. At that point 45 kms was an impossible task. I negotiated w/ the leader of the group and for 10 Manat they let me sleep on the floor in one of the rooms. The prick was actually demanding 20 Manats, the price of a descent hotel, but I did not budge.

ΕΙ ΘΕΟΣ ΥΠΕΡ ΗΜΩΝ, ΤΙΣ ΚΑΘ’ΗΜΩΝ; Προς Ρωμαίους 8:31

IF GOD BE WITH US WHO CAN BE AGAINST US? Romans 8:31

Tuesday, 08 August, 2017 --- Day 22 -- From Kurdemir To Hacygabul Shirvan

ΚΑΤ’ΕΜΠΟΡΙΑΝ ΚΑΙ ΘΕΩΡΙΑΝ

ES MUSS SEIN

CARTAGO DELENDA EST

Nos perituri mortem salutamus

Tuesday, 08 August, 2017 --- Day 22

From Kurdemir To Hacygabul Shirvan

Stats

Day dist: 86.98 km

Riding time: 5 hours 20 mins

Avg speed: 16.27 km/hour

Max speed: 25 km/hour

End day odo: 2777 km

Dist covered so far: 1077 km

Coordinates: 39.966184 34 48.954176

Alt: 11m

Got up late. Called Travelocity again to resolve the name issue. Had a quick breakfast and hit the road at 11:15.

Hotel Elit

Exiting Kurdemir

It was not my best day. After only a few kms (17) I stopped at an abandoned restaurant where I took a long nap. Stayed for about one hour and left at 14:00.

The never ending highway

My next stop was at 34 km at a nice café restaurant

There I engaged into conversation w/ 3 patrons that recommended following a different road than the one I had in mind. Also, believing that I would be exhausted by biking for so many days, the recommended that I get a good massage when I reached Baku.

Left at 16:27

Following the advice given, I turned Spithas’ bow to Hacygabul. It turned out that the town was several miles away from the highway and it got dark as I was biking. Passing next to by a café I asked two guys that were sitting there sipping tea, how far Hacygabul was and where to find a hotel. The answer was that there are no hotels in Hacygabul. The guys invited me to their table and after a long chat in “Turkish,” they spoke no English, I was given instructions on how to find a café at about 10 kms distance from there, where I could sleep and eat. 

My source of info

I stayed for half an hour and then biked on. As I was going through Hacygabul I asked several times for a hotel. Putting all the info I gathered together, I thwarted the newly formed plan for and extra 10 kms biking to Shirvan where I found Hotel Olympia and spent the night.

ΕΙ ΘΕΟΣ ΥΠΕΡ ΗΜΩΝ, ΤΙΣ ΚΑΘ’ΗΜΩΝ; Προς Ρωμαίους 8:31

IF GOD BE WITH US WHO CAN BE AGAINST US? Romans 8:31

Monday, 07 August, 2017 --- Day 21 -- From Yevlakh To Kurdemir

ΚΑΤ’ΕΜΠΟΡΙΑΝ ΚΑΙ ΘΕΩΡΙΑΝ

ES MUSS SEIN

CARTAGO DELENDA EST

Nos perituri mortem salutamus

Monday, 07 August, 2017 --- Day 21

From Yevlakh To Kurdemir

Stats

Day dist: 95.28 km

Riding time: 5 hours 26 mins

Avg speed: 17.53 km/hour

Max speed: 29.60 km/hour

End day odo: 2690 km

Dist covered so far: 990 km

Coordinates: 40.335848N 48.151025E

Alt: -5.5m

I had breakfast and then hit the road at 9:50. The room was noisy and did not sleep well. Also, the owner was an extremely nice person. The Azeris, in general are very friendly and seem to be very nice.

The hotel

I did not make it to the city of Yevlakh yesterday but this would have been the way

I biked 20 kms on he highway till I made my first gaz stop. The wind so far was good to me, for the first time, and unlike all the days since I entered Azerbaijan was not blowing in my face. I could move fast. Unfortunately, the good luck did not last for too long. I left at 11:36.

I passed by Ucar, which had been yesterday’s goal but did not enter the town.

My next tea stop (32 k) was at a restaurant by the side of the road, which was actually out in the open air. I left at 13:30

The highway

Biked on and at 52 km was almost dragged from the road to share fruit and tea w/ a group of kids and adults.

Highway fruit stand

At 70 kms I had a long underpass napping break. Left at 18:15

I biked on. I had another 22 kms left, to meet my goal and it was getting late. Even though I was tired, biking at this hour is a lot easier. No scorching sun and very little head wind.

Entering Kurdemir

By asking around I found a good and well priced (10 euros) hotel, Hotel Elite.

ΕΙ ΘΕΟΣ ΥΠΕΡ ΗΜΩΝ, ΤΙΣ ΚΑΘ’ΗΜΩΝ; Προς Ρωμαίους 8:31

IF GOD BE WITH US WHO CAN BE AGAINST US? Romans 8:31

Sunday, 06 August, 2017 --- Day 20 -- From Ganca To Yevlakh

ΚΑΤ’ΕΜΠΟΡΙΑΝ ΚΑΙ ΘΕΩΡΙΑΝ

ES MUSS SEIN

CARTAGO DELENDA EST

Nos perituri mortem salutamus

Sunday, 06 August, 2017 --- Day 20

From Ganca To Yevlakh

Stats

Day dist: 71.45 km

Riding time: 4 hours  0 mins

Avg speed: 17.8 km/hour

Max speed: 30.46 km/hour

End day odo: 2,594 km

Dist covered so far: 894 km

Coordinates: 40.597268N 47.143722E

Alt: 16.5

I woke up rather early but did not leave early as I had to call trvelocity as and sort out my return ticket issue. This time it seemed to have worked out but this is what i had thought last time too.

After that, I went downstairs for breakfast and then packed up. I hit the road at 10:15.

I biked through beautiful Ganca and asking around I found my way to the highway.

I was on my way toYevlakh.

The ride was easy but for the face wind.

At 17 kms I made my first tea stop. There were four very polite gaz attendants and their boss. They imediately prepared tsai and and on my way out gave me a bottle of water.

My next stop was at 31 kms. The usual, by now, underpass stop.

My next stop was at 53 kms (left at 15:42). Once more at a gaz station, where once more was the center of attention and people from other assignments came over to talk to me. I understand that hardly ever do they see foreigners and I am a rarity. Curiously, when answering their question I tell them that I come from Greece, most of them insist that i am German. Probably, Germans are the only tourists they have seen and believe that I must also be German

My final stop was at a bus stop (63 km) where i lied down and rested for half an hour.

Entering Goran

Entering Yevlakh.

At Yevlakh I easily found a cheap hotel, Ruzi motel.

Went shopping and then to my room.

ΕΙ ΘΕΟΣ ΥΠΕΡ ΗΜΩΝ, ΤΙΣ ΚΑΘ’ΗΜΩΝ; Προς Ρωμαίους 8:31

IF GOD BE WITH US WHO CAN BE AGAINST US? Romans 8:31