There’s a cockerel somewhere close by that wakes us, before it’s light. It just pips the morning wailing to the post. This is no normally wailing, its from beach tannoy system, which we can only assume its hooked up to a local mosque. Although scanning the horizon we can’t see any minarets close by. The crackle of the poor quality transmission is cringe worthy. 

It might be early, but after a good nights kip we feel fresh as a daisy and ready to tour the coast. But first things first we take the dudes for a walk along the beach. Just as we are about to them roam free and play in the sea we spot several wild dogs. No collar but they are tagged in their ear (not sure what the tags mean?). The pack dogs are on guard, so we walk back to Vin and head off towards Amasra. Then just as we were leaving “ping” and we get a lovely email from Michael & Pam with a few tips of Turkey…cheers guys.i

We head east, passing small farm houses with rough winds textured, dried-mud walls. Cowpats neatly arranged and drying on the side wall.  Bakers with wood for the oven piled high outside the shop. Storks circle above, carrying food to nests high on chimneys or tall trees. It really does remind me of India all those years ago. 

The coastal road continues to be good quality just with the odd bumpy bit were traffic repairs are under way. Again, mainly dual carriage thats slims down to single roads through villages. And have to say, we love the town and village information boards.  As well as the town name the boards show services available and that can include a tap.Yip a free fresh water tap so you can fill up your motorhome! It also show the town population, which we think is kinda neat. Oh and nearly forgot, dotted along the beach are toilet and shower facilities.

Every so often we keep seeing these odd pull in points for cars and vehicles along.  Some look like they have tiny camping ground and others look like small picnic stops. Each one is surrounded by a reasonable high wall, so often difficult to see inside. We are not sure if they are private or public and if the are restricted access? 

We are having fun with the GPS.  It could be a few things…the map data is out of date (although we’ve only just updated) or if the powers that be are playing with the satellite system. Every so often we appear to be heading in to the middle of nowhere or the GPS tells you to turn right when clearly there is no right (and never has been). Very weird and a bit off putting especially when its never really happened to us before. All we can do is look at the end point and make sure the dotted line is heading in the right direction.

On the subject of roads, Turkey is certainly making huge investment on its infrastructure. Everywhere you look there are road repairs, new roads in the making and plans for new roads in the future. And the road repairs are dam good with a reasonable topping of tarmac.

Zonguldak city is huge and we arrive at peak time. We say peak because its manic with cars and people but this could well be life for all we know. Smack in the centre is a huge roundabout under going repairs. Workmen have dug up half the road without any redirection of traffic. The road repairs extend in to the bus station, so folk have no where to walk except the road. Its bedlam and cars just make up their own rules which means some cars go clockwise and others go anti-clockwise around the roundabout. Its anyones guess and all we can do is follow our gut instinct and pray.

On a plus point there is a Migros supermarket on the other side. It is the most decent looking supermarket we’ve seen, so we pop in. With a reasonable selection of foods we fill a basket with goodies and exit the shop £4.20 lighter. 

Can you spot us?

From our motorhome we can see two coves divided by a long, thin promontory jutting out into the water.  Two small islands a stone’s throw from its tip. The larger of the two is ringed with white, craggy rock and the remains of fort. Our eye leads us down towards a small roman bridge connecting it to the mainland. Red roof tiles houses dot the peninsula and the minarets of the Fatih mosque rising above Amasra’s low skyline.  We roll in to the harbour car park, park up right on a small bay and enjoy a wonderful sunset.

Our Bumble wild camping spot Amasra N041.747955, E032.381743

We arrive just in time for the Turkish bride & groom photoshoot.

By night, the central square and the short thoroughfare linking the two sides of the peninsula come alive. The whole town smells of grilled fish and smoke fills the alleys. Later, one of the restaurants is host to a local singer and the volume is so loud that you can hear him all several miles away.