Going to Samarkand 2005 - Part 2 and 8

After visiting all over Europe in long and wide, last winter we join a group to go to Libya, we were very happy and delighted in this country with its deserts, salt lakes, towns and villages, we already visited Morocco in Africa, but the Libyans with their kindness and hospitality we have conquered.
This preamble to explain our thirst for adventure beyond the borders of Europe, in countries as yet untouched by mass tourism.
Through the Internet I started looking for other campers on a trip to these countries unknown, among the first I found a group that went to Iran in the spring, after the first contacts we have ruled it was too close to the previous trip to Libya and plus it was very expensive as an agency-organized by the newspaper industry camper, then through the Caravan Club Trajan in Benevento I heard of a group that last year after visiting Iran, would like to extend the trip to Samarkand in Uxbekistan, contacted the group leader, I announced the itinerary of the maximum cost to the organization, including visas, guides for various countries, the parking lots at the various hotels in electrical connection and supply of electricity ( Iran and Turkmenistan Uxbekistan), estimated at € 1850.00 per crew, he decides to meet in Porto Recanati by the campsite Bellamare June 2, meanwhile sending a confirmation with 50% of the total.
MEETING: camping Bellamare is very nice and welcoming, we arrived the previous day, the crew of Aosta came before us and make friends right away. On departure a welcome surprise, a stay at the camp has been offered by the crew of Osimo.
CREWS: We are 12 campers from 9 different regions, the average age is 64 years old, the oldest crew is already known: both have 76 years, Piedmont has two crews who were with us in Libya, the last crew was added although over a predetermined number (10 +1), as are doctors, very useful for the group.
Logistical problem: The group leader lists the various problems: logistics, border, water supplies and fuel.
DOCUMENTS: lists the various documents required to obtain visas: passports, passport-size photo 8 (women will do 3 pictures with the headscarf) compilation of various forms and a photocopy of the vehicle registration with the full list accessories (radio-stereo-CB-PC), brand and number of tire sizes, number of the engine. Everything is quite complicated because not all embassies in Italy: for Iran to Rome for the Turmenistan for Uxbekistan in Paris and Vienna.
Carnets de passage en DUANNE: Each crew will have to request a bank guarantee for the double or triple the market value at the age of the second half and through the ACI be releasing the document that will serve to pass the Iranian border, my half has been evaluated in an amicable manner, € 10.000,00, half the figure has doubled since 6 years, the acute and I paid € 180.00 to the bank (Friuladria) € 60.00 to € 359.01 for spending longer fixes the guarantee of one year (interest all1.80%), presenting the documents to the return duly signed by the various customs incoming and outgoing will be returned to me the months not used.
LICENSE: In these countries, an international driving license is required, for having an agency I paid € 50.00.
SPARE PARTS: The group leader advises us to equip various parts, filters, various belts, oil filling, as well as wheel-mounted spare, inner tubes and a gas can in addition, I have also in possession of a motor ZIP revision (€ 120.00)
MEDICINES: The two doctors are sending us a list of medications that we can be helpful, they endeavor to procure drugs for extreme cases that will be available to all.
CLOTHING: Women in addition to foul in the lead, must wear long dresses with long sleeves and wide, to cover the forms, Tina, my wife has procured two Moroccan clothes at a shop in Udine, men can not wear shorts courts, the head group advised to wear long-sleeved shirts, I saw that on TV instead wear shirts and polo shirts with short sleeves. All this only for Iran, the other two countries, we dress as we want.
Maps and guides: through the internet I found the Lonely Planet (www.lonelyplanet.com)
Guide to Iran € 23.50
Guide to 'Central Asia to € 28.00
and maps of Freytag & Berndt (www.freytagberndt.com)
- Central Asia Scale 1:1 750 000 to € 9.80
- Iran and neighboring countries scale 1:2 000 000 to € 9.80
bought everything in a library of Udine.
FERRY: Company VENTOURIS Line, all campers will be accepted as 5 to 7 mt. (Some, including mine, are over 7 mt.) for € 156 (Bari-Igoumenitsa-trip) Boarding September 4 at 20.00. Be paid immediately to the company by 30% for booking. The group leader takes charge of a single payment, pay that amount with the balance of the share trip in July.
CATS: Cats are our problem, we have two, have always been with us on all trips, are now old men: Sketch has 14 years and 18 princess, we do not feel for him to do a similar trip, we plan to put in a boarding house in a neighboring country, we will cost about € 800.00, but you can not help it, plus we are warned that they could refuse border animals without reason, and this convinces us completely.
MEETING: The starting point is Benevento, for various reasons we can not be there, we will embark in Bari
Tell us that two teams, for different reasons, forego the trip, I am sorry for them, but in this long journey is better to be in a limited number

 

517/2078 – E80 Highway – Autogrill

Continued from "Going to Samarkand, 2005" Part One

On leaving the car park by mistake you go in the opposite direction to the highway.
The border greek no problem, turkish that it took three hours different practices and expectations much, fortunately there was not much traffic in August, who knows!!
Turkish Lira exchange rate € 1 = 1.665
We bring the clock forward an hour.
After taking the E80 we have stumbled on the freeway during rush hour in Istanbul, a chaos, road to 4 lanes undisciplined and overbearing persons maximum.
Tip of the Day: Do not do the bypass of Istanbul during peak hours, be careful not to do the inside but the outer ring road.
The group scattered, we found ourselves only with the help of CB. first supply of oil, first surprise, it costs 2.30 Turkish Lira, much more than we
We stopped at a convenience store, with plot: silent, with water and a guard with the baton, so safe for the night.

628/2706 – Yozgat (Turkey) – stadium camping

Continue on the E80, start the tolls, as in France to toll scattered along the route, sometimes the highway stops and continues on the old road and then return later.
The trail continues on the E88 for a little then continue along the old road, the highway you can see it being built on the sides.
The No. 1 (the head) have a problem with the pulley of the generator, the first workshop advised him to change the bearing, but they are not able to do so, they will tomorrow in a workshop Fiat Rivars.
Now we stop next to the soccer field of Yozgat, where a very kind old man made us park, women suffered, have rushed in stores still open to make pennies.
The muezzin sings his chant to prayer to Allah ... ... ..
Little spat between the teams, the No. 2 and 4 (camper 20 years old) are accused of going too slowly, someone is offended and wants to retire or go on their own, common sense wins camperistico all and you decide to go to their maximum speed.
It's cold, we are at 1300 Mt

232/2938 – Rivars – Service station

This night was very cold, early morning light the stove.
At 7 o'clock we start, the E88 continues among bad roads to the new highway under construction.
On the way into a police roadblock was stopped on No. 4 for speeding, what in recent days had been accused of going too slowly, fined 90 Turkish lira, we should have all since it was tail and that everyone was going the same speed and 98 km per hour and it was impossible to do on that stretch of hilly, curvy road after several checks and found nothing to dispute was their only way to make a statement impossible contest.
Tip of the day: watch for police.
Sivars met, we immediately Fiat. Dear staff and managers have set to work immediately to find fault at No. 1, that was not only the supply but also buffer the water pump, the repair will take all day, the Young was invited to lunch at the cafeteria of the branch, in our workshops whenever something similar happens!.
In the afternoon we decided to visit the city, provides us with a Fiat van with driver and hostess at a cost of € 20 a pair, but with a modern city center very interesting and characteristic.
We have since arranged in front of a dealer with Fiat, transmission gentilissimi after making full oil have offered gaget of water for campers and afternoon tea.

527/3465 – Horasan – Service station

Last night was very cold, we turned on the stove at once last night.
Departure at 7, the E88 is that E80 is again just a big construction site along many km.
The No. 2 has problems with the clutch, while lunch goes to the next village, accompanied by No. 4, then we will achieve them around 15, with half already settled, it was just the disk overheated.
During the break for lunch I had with the distributor of diesel fuel in which the stop was made, unfortunately the fuel was of poor quality and the campers did smoke for several miles. Until we have redecorated a full second to mix the rest.
Council of the day: Do not be sourced from a distributor of a brand unknown.
This evening we are at a gas station that is also an inn, almost all agreed to dine at this place: pretty good, rice with various vegetables, grilled meat, yogurt and mineral water, all for 40 Turkish Lira (€ 12 ).
The No. 5 to the end of dinner brought two pies and a bottle of Fragolino well accepted by the company.

203/3668 - Dogubayazit - Camping Murat

Departure at 7
The old road continues alongside the construction of the new, a single site, between valleys and parts dirt.
The No. 7 does not notice a big rock between the earth and breaks through the oil sump, the initial panic, but settled on the skill and spirit of initiative of the No. 9 and 10 that readily detach the cup and another camper Back to Horasan where a mechanic weld the piece, reassembled immediately starts again joining me at the campsite where we had already settled.
Council of the day: One of the parts bring a sump.

Excursion to the fortress of Ishak Pasa Sarayi overlooking the valley above the camp.
Dinner and dancing at the camp restaurant, as well as eating well and just spent the evening was enlivened by a complessino who sang in Kurdish with the characteristic dances of the area, some of us have tried but with little result.

497/4165 – Miyane – Solmaz Hotel

Continue on "Going to Samarkand 2005" Part Three

506/11365 – Erzincan – Autogrill

Continued from "Samarkand 2005" Part Eight

7.00 am last checks passports and leave the perimeter of the Customs, we are in Turkey, it brings the clock back half an hour.
After the border station to photograph Mount Ararat in its majestic beauty.
They travel to Agri km. 120 from the border, where the No. 4 with Fiat is the right pipe, the other on the ramp make a coffee break, it starts up again, down the road a controversy blows un'inferno, the No. 4 was accused of wasting time stopping slowing down to take pictures throughout the column, while traveling at the CB traveling big words, in the meantime, the No. 1 stops at a yard for lunch and not alert on the radio for its decision, the No. 2 which goes before me and I do not we see that it stopped and continue the race in the mirror I see the rest of the column stops, I stop myself and warns those who preceded me, all this neglect of No. 1 for the group irritates me and added to everything else The nervousness in the group, the RV with its various noises after the accident and the foot hurts, I'm with my wife decide to leave the group and proceed alone, unfortunately the group is composed of so many ideas different from what is assumed would have a camper, that of solidarity, tolerance, the will to live and travel together, many of these people had only one goal, to get to Samarkand, to say I was in Samarkand, only grind km on miles, without seeing or admire the scenery, visiting the towns, talk and know the people, are added to this proposal, the No. 2 and 4, I feel the No. 1 back of my decision and after a short discussion continued on together the other two crews. Did not want to go that far, but see some people arguing and fighting over stupid reasons, disturbs me and I prefer to avoid further litigation bringing with me the cause of these disagreements.
The road was good today, many sites no longer exist, the pavement is gravel, asphalt will do after the winter it is presumed, however, can travel at a good pace, the point where the No. 7 has broken the sump is well paved and have struggled to recognize the scene of the accident, work is progressing quickly, some in the future redo our route will cross the turkey quickly, it is recognizing the talent of this people is not to be compared to our SA / RC !!!!!!
You notice the change of season, first leg, in the woods, predominated the green, now red, brown and yellow, the colors of autumn.
Now we stop at a convenience store for the night
All the others end up at the ferry to Igoumenitsa.

628/12263 – Kirikkale – Service Station

After refueling at the 7:20 part is all good road, there are still some stretches of dirt road but not as deep leg holes.
The No. 4 occasionally stops to take pictures, but we're only three and does not disturb too much
A Kirikkale always in the direction of Ankara we stopped for the night in a small gas station and after filling parked in a corner of the square, while I'm in the shower, we hear a knock is the operator which takes us on a tray cups of tea with boiling water, marveled at the taste, so kindly thank you and everyone in the company.
Early to bed, tomorrow we do a lot 'of km.

683/12946 – Tekirdag – along the seaside

Departure at 7.00 again on the highway, there are no yards, there is still the old road with asphalt to be placed with dips and cracks, however you travel, shipped, the ring of Istanbul is fluid, not the peak time we found that leg, you pay three points for a total of TL 6,500,000.
By the ring road to Istanbul I realize that is not made during the first leg, then the dreaded inner ring road that absolutely did not have to do: We did it!! ... .... The No. 1 hit again.
In the last stretch of the highway exit at No. 2 wrong, it will end the country where it was decided to stop.
Now we stopped for the night in a cape with the muzzles of campers turned to the sea, is a splendid sight.
Tomorrow is a 120 km border Ipsala turkish / greek

CONTINUE ON "Going to Samarkand 2005" Part 9