Day 21: The Wild West of Turkey, Yokuslu 24 Comments

This entry was posted in Travel Turkey and tagged 2018 Asia Breathtaking Views Castles Motorhome Mountain Pass Mountains Photography Travel Walks Wild Camping on

We leave Isper and continue along the D050. Just around the corner and the scenery change is pretty instant and dramatic. We are in the valley of the fast flowing Coruh River, the countryside narrows into a deep, forested gorge. A bridge held together with rope and cable ties catches our attention. A little further on we pass a heavily guarded hydroelectric power station. Just as everything seems to be getting steep and claustrophobic, the walls of the gorge widen, quite abruptly, to reveal the wild west of Turkey.

Remote Spot

The colours of the rock are intense and bright. Its like being on a movie set with the clouds shadows adding to the drama.  They are so weird, surreal and very beautiful.  We pull over for a toot over the edge and there below, a colourful and mesmerising green lake.

Road trips are a relatively new concept in Turkey and yet this country is made for driving. Vast sweeping landscapes, pine clad mountains and lush agricultural plains, with ramshackle villages punctuated by minarets and cypress trees. Sadly, a road system that is perceived to belong in the 19th century combined with the Turkish proclivity to see driving as a white knuckle (true) sport have tended to put visitors off the self drive option.

Constant change in colours

Having said that, the road conditions were brilliant until 2 hours in to our journey. We start to hit small patches of unfinished tarmac. The loose chipping ping under Vin and we cringe with each splatter. “Dont worry chuck” Craig says “we have some white spirit in the garage, it will get the tar off in a jiffy”.  Ahead a rather large boulder and a massive dent in the road. As we look right we can see a recent landslide has resulted in severe damage to the road.  Boulders and rocks have smashed through the reinforced wall and ripped the road to shreds. “Jeez Craig, I don’t fancy being around when that happens”.  

Beautiful Views

We turn the corner on to a grassy plain and I scream “Craig, Craig, look Dik, Diks”. There ahead of us are tiny deer. We stop but they are off like lightening. We are not sure of their name but we refer to  small deer as dik dik. Whilst on a Kenyan safari (many moons ago) we fell in love with the tiny dik dik deer and ever since we have referred to them as dik dik. 

Wild West Scene?

We wind down to the valley floor and find a suitable parking spot away from the crumbling cliffs.  After all the ups and downs in this sweltering heat, Vin is rather hot. The cool river breeze gently cools him down whilst Mac n Tosh play hide and seek the fields of wild barley. Oh before I forget, take a look at these guys!  Well impressed 17 years of travel and over 60 countries…you go Rick & Kathy!!!

Our Bumble wild camping spot Yokuslu N040.676686, E041.302281

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