29/05/14 – 08/06/14: Samsun, Turkey to Tbilisi, Georgia

Shortly after Samsun there was a bit of accident. Will touched my back wheel and went down. Rhino cam mounts smashed… at least that was the worst of the damage.
This school group were so excited to see us they just crowded around our lunch table and giggled, probably trying to work out who/what we were. Cool kids.
We met 2 French guys, Antoine and Boris who were also doing a big bike tour, although for a couple of years. http://lesroisdelapedale.top-depart.com/
Cooking our last Turkish kebabs in Turkey. Sad times, but a great one to leave on. Pazar, Turkey.
Quite a scary pair of individuals driving this one… it caught me off guard anyway.
Sleeping under a bridge again. It was so difficult to find anywhere to camp along the Turkish coastline near the Georgian border as the houses and mountains were strewn out the whole way. At least it’s dry under a bridge. Near Findikli, Turkey.
Trying to decide how tidal the Black Sea is and whether our sleeping spot may just become a wet one. Near Findikli, Turkey.
We arranged a couple of rest days in Batumi, Georgia to get our visas for Azerbaijan.On arrival we were told that 3 weeks before they’d decided to stop issuing them in Batumi… so it became a beach session instead. Good tan-lines.
We found a quiet place to camp outside Lanchkhuti, Georgia only to be surrounded by wandering cows. This one was particularly interested in my cooking.
Just about managing to capture some of the masses of fireflies surrounding us in the bushes. (Lanchkhuti, Georgia)
The news had spread and by the morning the pig was there with the cows wanting some porridge. The persistent pig kept coming back. (Lanchkhuti, Georgia)
The dreaded sign. When they’re warning you in advance you know it’s going to be really bad. The road actually turned out to be just finished which makes a change. (heading to Zestafoni, Georgia)
The Cross over Kutaisi from Bagrati Cathedral. There has been an enormous change culturally from Muslim Turkey to Christian Georgia. (Bagrati is a UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Sharing my cake with a lizard. He was a courageous little guy. Outside Bagrati Cathedral, Kutaisi, Georgia.
After a long day with many downers including being assaulted by drunks at McDonalds and my front rack breaking we found a field to camp in. Gaia and his family from the other side of the valley had spotted us and came over with their home brewed wine for sundowners. Near Zestafoni, Georgia.
The next thing we new we ended up staying at Gaia’s house and I woke up to this beautiful view from his house. (Near Zestafoni, Georgia)
Gaia proudly showing us 2 of his cows.
Showing us how to eat the Cow Hoof soup they served up for breakfast. It’s a clear soup with Cow Offal and LOTS of crushed raw garlic thrown in.
There’s breakfast. To make things better, Gaia then started serving his homemade “Cha cha” – a clear spirit, probably vodka related. The combination was testing. Definitely a first.
Saying goodbye to Gaia and our first taste of the incredible Georgian hospitality. What a great family.
Crossing a very rickety bridge to find a shaded quiet spot away from the road to nap for the afternoon (most of the day actually).
We eventually made it as far as Khasuri. Only 66km todays, most of it climbing, with a hangover through thunderstorms. Tough gig. The storms were raging all around as we grabbed a spot to camp.
The final stretch into Tbilisi became much prettier and sunnier. A great view across the fields of the smaller mountains to the south.
An even better view of the snow topped Caucuses and South Ossetia to the north. (Just outside Gori, Georgia)