DATCA & KNİDOS - TURKEY

I found a local mechanic who was willing to make me a tent rack for the top box and a luggage rack frame, I had to buy crash bar sets for scooters and have them cut and welded up to make the frame, you honestly can not tell the difference from originals. Our trip this time is around 600 km.

September is still bloody hot in Turkey so I am riding in vest and shorts again, my confidence has grown with the bike and tend to cruise along a little faster than when we had the run out to Pamukkale, I wish Honda had made the petrol tank a little larger, 19 litres is soon eaten up or should I say 15 litres I rarely use the 4 litre reserve. The best return I've had so far is 310 km but generally the return is around 270 km taking it easy.

We soon pass Marmaris in the photo above and head along the picturesque peninsular towards Datca, we came this way once before for a motorbike rally at a camping ground 40 km before Datca.

The ride along this high and narrow peninsular is by far the most beautiful I have ridden along in my three years here in Turkey, at one point along the way you can see sea on both sides of you from high up.

The road climbs with many bends, some short and tight others long and sweeping, at every moment a fabulous view.

Datca was a very pleasant surprise, a large but well maintained town right on the sea front with marina and public beaches, just before entering Datca there were some old and partly renovated windmills.

We stopped in Datca for a much needed drink of water and a ciggie or two then headed off towards the ruins of Knidos.

The road very much deteriorated from here on progressively becoming more and more narrow over the next 50 km. but the views remained as spectacular as ever.

About 10 km before reaching Knidos the road narrowed considerably, barly a cars width clinging to the cliff edge with some very sudden hairpin bends on the brow of a hill, progress was very slow here, second gear most of the time taking it easy.

The ruins at Knidos were not that well taken care of which is always sad, but we made it here and had a good wander around.

Heading back towards Datca we went a little quicker, it would be dark before we could possibly reach Dalaman never the less we found time to stop for a ciggie where some forestry workers were working.

Between Datca and Marmaris the light was fading fast and my right wrist was starting to cramp up which meant even more stops, going to have to search around for some kind of cruise control for the bike.

.