My goal this year was to "make it out of Europe on my bike". So, the idea was to ride down through Greece, over the border into Turkey, Gallipolli and back over the Bosphorous.

When I left my digs in Greece word was coming through on Twitter about a coup in Turkey. The little TV images I had seen simply seemed to be a few jets flying over that still had their navigation lights on. If the coup was serious, there's no way the jets would still be lit up...

But, the closer I got to the border, the more and more messages I received via Twitter advising me not to enter Turkey.

Eventually, near the border, I had a sit down at the side of the road to make a decision. I spoke with a few people I trust and, eventually, came to the decision that I needed to leave Turkey for next time. Then the tears started. I know I can be an emotional soul on occasion (I blame my drugs!) but I must have made a hell of a sight at the side of the road under a bridge, bawling my eyes out. 

Still the road up to the Bulgarian border was epic. 🤗