Turkey Trotting

Lake Salda

We left Kalymnos in the middle of the afternoon and were in Bodrum by early evening - via two ferry crossings. We spent a couple of days getting sorted and exploring then headed across country to spend a couple of days at Salda with its amazing blue alkaline lake. It was a Bank Holiday and we thought it might be busy, but in the end, everywhere was pretty much deserted.. The town felt a bit like the Wild West, but the people were all super-friendly and the lake was intriguing.  

Taurus Mountains

Then it was onwards to our AirBnb in Geyikbayiri above the huge city of Antalya. It is four years since we were last in the area, and thought it might be a bit warm for climbing, but decided to give it a go anyway. 

Again everywhere was really quiet which was a pleasant surprise. The house was very impressive, cool at night and with the added attraction of some semi-feral cats and some very noisy chickens. We got a bit of climbing done, plus a lot of wandering and enjoying the sun.

Cool (and damp) at 6000'

We figure that we can cope with a couple more weeks before have to contemplate heading back to Kalymnos and on to the UK - we would rather not think about that just yet!

Kalymnos - same as it Ever Was

Kalymnos perfection

There was a time (fifteen years ago) when we had never been to Kalymnos - now I have lost track of how many times we have visited - certainly over twenty and over 2000 climbs done - though many of those ascents are multiple repeats. We always stop at Babis Bar and leave a load of our junk in the cellar so we can just travel with hand luggage, far and away the pleasantest way to go.

Climbing - it's what we do

When we were here in February the west coast resorts were 100% deserted, now in late April the season is up running, everywhere is open and the place is pretty busy, though nothing like 'peak season'. Of course conditions are pretty much perfect.

We have climbed, hiked eaten good food and generally had a great time. On a sadder note, one of our favourite cats, who always comes in when we are here - Big Boy - suddenly fell really ill one morning and Vasso the Vet diagnosed severe heart failure - with no prospect of recovery we sadly agreed to 'let him go'. We stayed with him to the very end - saddest thing we have ever done, sleep easy gentle boy - we will miss you.

Big Boy - so sad to see him go

UK - YES, YEUK

Cloudy and rainy

We had to come back to the UK for a couple of weeks to keep an eye on my mum (95 years young) whilst my sister jetted off to Dubai to celebrate her 70th birthday with on of her youngsters. Coming back to the UK was okay but leaving again could have been problematic as my passport expires in July - so we bit the bullet, shelled out £200 for the 48hr service and picked up my shiny new 'freedom pass' in Durham.

Sunny and muddy

Easter week in the UK incoming, the roads are packed, the weather is shite, everywhere is busy and really expensive, it is really not a lot of fun being back at 'home', even though we did it for years. Currently we have a flight booked back down top Kos (£50) in ten days time, back to Kalymnos and onwards to Turkey - we can't wait!

Wet and muddy

A few photos from the last week give a feel for what we have had to put up with.

Kalymnos out of Season

Sorting the dustbins from the cellar

The three weeks in Cyprus were very pleasant, then it was a double hop, up to Athens and back Kos for the night before an early crossing to Kalymnos as the weather began to get a bit too wild. Ten months since we were last here, and a lengthy six years since Colin was. We often arrive in mid to late March and the place is quiet, but getting here at the end of February saw the whole of the west coast resorts absolutely deserted. Within a week the 'works' had begun with people appearing and the whole of Massouri turning into one big building site - will it be ready for Easter? Probably!

Of course the climbing has been as great as ever, and combined with pleasant temperatures and deserted cliffs - it is about as nice as it can be. Highlights have been Palionisos Beach crag, Trois Illots and Star Wars wall where we have done a great set of climbs upto 6b and all new to me.

Classic Kalymnos sunset

Telendos from above Myrties

Back to Cyprus

Sunset off the balcony

The crossing from Santander was flat calm, a pleasant change from last time, and the complimentary upgrade to Club Class was appreciated - as ever. We had a night in a hotel in Portsmouth, the fact that rats broke into the car and stole a lot of our food was the most memorable thing about that. Then it was three days in Sheffield before we were off again!

Paphos winter sun

A taxi ride (train strike - how typical is that?) to Manchester, followed by another night in a hotel and an early transfer for the four hour flight to Paphos. A week in and we have had a couple of days climbing, spent a day volunteering at the Tala Cats Sanctuary - mostly cleaning food and litter trays, and done some local walks. 

We didn't expect to be back in Cyprus quite so soon - but the winter sun has been a real tonic after all that white stuff. Colin arrives on Wednesday so that will be more climbing on the menu and then it is off to Kalymnos for a month.

A couple of scrubbers as Tala Cat Park

The Six Month Trip Done and Dusted

 

The spectacular road up to Luz-Ardiden skiing

We left Chez Arran and headed west to the Pyrenees south of Lourdes, an area we visited about six years ago for a brief climbing trip. 

One of us (that would be me) made a slight miscalculation as the whole area was snow-bound, it is peak skiing season!!! We made the most of being up amongst the white stuff with some great walks in spectacular scenery.

The plan had been to head into Spain next but the forecast is cold and unsettled into the foreseeable future so we have decided to cut our losses and head back to the UK via the Santander - Portsmouth ferry.

Glorious conditions at Luz-Ardiden

On the plus side we have booked flights to Cyprus for next weekend at a very fair price of £50 each. It is currently around 20C - that will be a nice change. It sounds like Colin might be interested in coming along too - there could be a plan forming.

Costa Brava Cruising

Cliff top walks - Costa Brava

Chez Arran was full over New Year so we had to move out, plus we have already played the game where the place is full of noisy youths celebrating the end of the year into the wee small hours so we were happy to go.

Originally we thought about westwards towards Lourdes but because of the cool and manky weather we decided to head eastwards and over the border to Spain and the Costa Brava. A great call as it turned out, the weather was gorgeous, up to 20C, there was no one about and we got four days climbing on the granite towers of Solius.

Sunset from our tower block

Granite climbing - Solius

We last visited the area an amazing 16 years ago, back in March 2006 and it was certainly good to be back. We stopped on the seventh (top) floor of a tower block, which meant great views and complete peace in our island in the sky. After eleven lovely days we headed back to Chez Arran and back to typical mountain weather, cold, grey and damp.