The next day, I stop along the way just for a beautiful viewpoint signposted along my route. A restaurant under construction, with a partial glass floor overhanging a canyon. It's a bit messy and deserted and I'm the only visitor, but the view is beautiful and the coffee is good.
Last night I reserved a cheap hotel with a Turkish hotel app, but when I arrive there, I am standing on top of a mountain with nothing in the vicinity, in front of a closed gate at an empty hotel. poop. I see that the gate can open and drive onto the area where fortunately someone is already waving. Fortunately, they are open. The good man seems to me to be the nanny of the empty building and does not speak a word of English, but he calls the owner who then speaks to me by telephone and explains. I get a nice luxury room with a gigantic bed in an otherwise empty and sheltered hotel.
There is no drinking water or breakfast in the hotel and when I have freshened up I jump on the motorbike to do some shopping at the bottom of the village. There I am approached by 2 men who are waiting for me at the motorcycle. It turns out to be 2 off-duty police officers who insist on drinking çay with me. One of them speaks good English and asks me if I can eat and sleep at his house. Since I already have a hotel for the night, we decide to eat together in the village and I am absolutely not allowed to pay. It is already dark when I drive back to my hotel. What a nice guests and pleasant evening.
After a wonderful night it continues towards Erzurum. Quite coincidentally, while refueling, I bump into the Turk who was unlucky at the side of the road yesterday. Luckily he is on his way again. Fairly early in the afternoon I arrive at the motorcycle garage. Oil and air filter are already in but my tires are delayed. I agree with them that I will first check in at my hotel and then bring the motorcycle. Fortunately the hotel is within walking distance and now we have to wait until the tires are in and the bike is ready for departure. A break that I could really use to update my reports and do the laundry.
