DipKarpaz

I'm claiming an extra 15 miles on top of these Garmin stats as I didnt turn it on until I got to Bafra...so there!




 Bang bang, yell yell yell some more, crash bang, yell yell yell, crash......these are the sounds of the builders dawn chorus that welcomed me to the land of the living at 7am. This was a very good thing as it instantly confirmed to me I was actually in Cyprus and not in just one more weird dream state. This was real!

Instantly I leaped out of bed with all the delecacy of a drugged up hippopotomus, found the kettle and plugged in the kitchen. This was going to be a good day, all good days start in chaos.

The plan was to follow a route I had imported to my Garmin edge 800 last night. Little did I know that God Garmin and that bar steward Cyclops ( the God of all things Cycling) had other plans for me today.

Fully kitted out in my new team Cube cycle God Lycra I jumped on Rubic. Rubic let out a groan, I was reminded of Celestes whining in such moments, and had a 'quiet word'. If there is one thing I cannot abide it's an insolent bike.

I turned Rubic south and we negotiated safe passage over the newly laid Tarmac road to the main road running along the coast from Famagusta. Rubic wasn't happy, his indexing sucked and shifting down to the lower rear cogs wasn't happening. I pulled tightly on his reigns and parked him on the side of the highway. A quick glance at his rear end told be he had a loose tension cable. Not a good thing on any bike, let alone a male bike.

I rode back to base camp where I could sit down and re fit the loose cable easier than on the side of the road. Relaxing the shifters to get some slack, re clamping the cable and bingo....it seemed to work! I headed off again over the tarmac road to oblivion. Rubic still wasn't happy, I pulled up in a garage and, with the 'help' of three teenagers on one moped, re tensioned his cable a couple of times until finally he stopping complaining and got on with the days adventure.

We headed East to Bazra...erm...I mean Bafra., as I am informed by more politcally aware peeps than me is it;s real name. To be honest I think Bazra is a little more apt, but hey I didnt write the map.

Noahs Ark

Here I found Noahs Ark. Apparently he left it here after a minor flood issue a few years back and somebody smelt gold and turned it into a huge hotel were he beached the thing! This is where route one was supposed to start, so here is where I turned on my Garmin full of expectation.

God Garmin however had decided I wasnt worthy of a track line to follow. I could hear Cyclops wetting himself with laughter as I remained cool, calm and only swore a few times. In such situations mere  men have a plan B. Cyclists however go directly to plan C. Make it up as they go along.

Plan C for me today meant following the good road until it became a bad road, having a rest and coming back again. This is how I  ended up riding to the town of Dip Karpaz today. Here the good roads goes into town, and the bad road back comes out of town. As I dislike bad roads, Dip Karpaz became my destination.

This road is about as flat as it gets here on Cyprus, no hills, just anoying bumps once in a while. It is mostly open countryside and as such it is WINDY. It was hot , very hot and there was zero shade. Cyclops had however provided plenty of market stores stocked with cold drinks. He must have been in a good mood that day.

I was feeling strong and I reached speeds in excess of 30 mph at times on the way to DipKarpaz. There were the ever present goat herds, a few underfed donkeys and a wrinkly bloke selling his melons beside the road.

I rode past a school and the kids waved and shouted 'hello sir hello sir' at me. I hope they all have happy lives, they made mine happier today.

Downtown DipKarpaz

DipKarpaz is a smallish town, with several mosques, a war memorial and about six small shops. It also had a few English lads and lasses in flip flops trying to get into a hire car they had locked themselves out of somehow. I sat on the war memorial resting and enjoying the show. Drivers, nuff sedded.

Rubic taking a leak

I turned Rubic into the wind and headed West back towards Iskele. The headwind was very strong and energy sapping all the way back. Rather than admit if was beyond knackered I stopped and casually took some photographs. It's important to maintain 'cool' at such moments I feel. Nothing worse than a dying MAMIL (middle aged man in lycra) at the side of the road eh!

 

Riding on the aero bars helped cut some of the wind drag, but I did need to stop at a gargae to down a shark energy drink and a green iced tea. Here an elderly bloke started stroking Rubic. Lucky I wasnt on Celeste or I may have decked him! Nice fella though really, little did he know he was chatting up a male bike, poor sod.

Onwards we rode into the incessant wind. The cars all pass wide here and some toot and wave in support. One guy slowed down next to me and tried to pass me water. I had nowehere to put it so had to decline but how nice was that eh!! UK drivers should adopt this attitude, only I suggest replacing cool water with hot chocolate and a slice of cake.







This road has a lot of debris and litter on the roadside which is a shame, however just off the roadside are some lovely little beaches and bays if you take a look. These are easier to see on a bike than in a car.

Cyclops holiday home on Cyprus

Look! NO CARS !!!!!

Mine!

The skies were darkening as I pulled into Bogaz fishing port for a looksee. The first heavy drops of rain hit my helmet about ten minutes down the road. Cyclops had saved his worst until last as usual. Stepping on the gas in a final 'sprint'  to the line I we made it back just as the heavens opened. Hot water fell from the sky, the first rain here in months apparently and a welcome sight indeed. Instantly the electricity went off all over the region. In the uk the wrong type of snow is an issue, here more than two rain drops seems to have a similar effect.

Storm brewing at Bogaz

I was invited to go to an Amy Whinehouse tribute gig tonight, but I elected to avoid a late night out. Life here starts early because of the heat, so I want to recover and be fit to ride again in the morning.

So in excess of 80 miles today, not a bad first ride this trip!