• JoWi On Tour
  • JoWi On Tour

Fahrradtour Schwarzes Meer

Der Weg ist das Ziel, zum Schwarzen Meer. Read more
  • Keep going

    August 31, 2018 in Turkey ⋅ 🌙 22 °C

    As far as you can see. To the left - black sea. To the right - hazelnut trees. That is how we keep going the first 40km, very beautiful, then 10km of tunnels, it goes well, short lunch stop for some Mantis (turkish ravioli), 10km of city, 10km forest, 20km up the hill.
    A car stopped to gratulate us that we cycle up there. Jo sprints to a passing recycling car, holds on to it and gets pulled upwards for several hundred metres. Nice cheat!

    Then, short swimming stop, more food and another 20km until we find a cheap hotel. What an exhausting day. But we made 110km and 1.800 m of height.
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  • Leute von heute

    September 1, 2018 in Turkey ⋅ 🌙 21 °C

    Der Tag begann spät. Auf dem ersten Kilometer trafen wir Cevher, einen Musiker. Wir schlossen uns ihm an und schoben die Räder zu einem schönen Aussichtspunkt über Zonguldak. Als wir losfuhren war es bereits 14.30 Uhr. Auf dem Weg kamen wir an 7 nebeneinander gebauten Kohlekraftwerken vorbei.
    Wi hat sich für 5 km über 2 Berge von einem Kühltransporter mitnehmen lassen. Jo durfte sich verausgaben. In Filyos wurden wir wieder zum Tee eingeladen. Um 20 Uhr kamen wir pünktlich im dunklen bei unserem Warmshower (The Ghost Turtle) an. Dort trafen wir einen weiteren Gast aus der Schweiz, der mit seinem Fahrrad von Istanbul nach Armenien unterwegs ist.
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  • Stats again 6.241 km

    September 2, 2018 in Turkey ⋅ 🌙 25 °C

    Rückblick in Zahlen Monat vier:

    Mai| Juni| Juli | August

    Reisetage: 29 I 29 I 31| 31
    davon
    Radtage: 27 I 21 I 14 | 23
    Tage Pause: 2 I 8 I 15 | 8
    km per Rad: 1.786 I 2.031 I 859 | 1.565
    Ø km pro Radtag: 66,1 I 96,7 I 61,3 | 68,0
    Höhenmeter in m: - | - | 9.250 | 16.000
    Max km/h: 85,66
    Min km/h: 3,0
    Camping Nächte: 10 I 9 I 3 | 14
    Warmshowers: 7 I 7 I 0 | 5
    Pensionen/Hostel: 12 I 12 I 28 | 12
    Wasserkraftwerk: 0 I 1 I 0 | 0
    Pannen: 0 I 2 I 1 | 0
    Rad upgrades: 3 I 2 I 1 | 0
    Stürze: 0 I 2 I 0 | 0
    Umfaller: 0 I 2 I 1 | 0
    Fliegen verschluckt: 4 I 0 | 0 | 3
    Fliegen im Auge: 15 I 0 I 0 | 1
    Fliegen in Nase & Ohr: 0 | 0 | 0 | 12
    Schlangen: 0 I 0 I 3 | 0
    Regenschauer 0 I 3 I 10 | 0

    *Max. Wert bei Unterschieden gewertet
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  • Handwerkskunst

    September 4, 2018 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C

    Mustafa stellt Steinplatten her, die zum Kochen/Braten genutzt werden. Für eine Platte braucht er 4 Tage. Neben seiner Hütte, direkt an der Straße, schlägt er mit Hammer und Meißel große Stücke aus dem Fels. Diese werden anschließend zur einer Kreisplatte gehauen. Danach wird die Oberfläche immer weiter bearbeitet, bis eine schöne glatte Platte entsteht.
    Das Dorf, in dem Mittagspause gemacht wurde, hat einige kleine Werften in denen hauptsächlich Fischerboote hergestellt werden, alle aus Holz.
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  • Iran, Turkey and Germany

    September 5, 2018 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    We meet a Turkish biker, Mart, after 20km and decide that Jo continues with him while Wi takes the bus for today. In the evening, we meet a cyclist from Iran, Heidar. We go swimming together, eat and put the tent next to the harbour. Very nice company in a very small village.Read more

  • Zu viert unterwegs

    September 6, 2018 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C

    Nach einer unruhigen Nacht im Zelt mit Gewitter und Steinschlag neben an, haben wir uns von dem nach Westen fahrenden Heidar verabschiedet. Fünf Minuten später haben wir einen deutschen Biker Joscha aus Stuttgart getroffen, der mit seinem Klappfahrrad nach Neuseeland unterwegs ist! Mega cool. Somit waren wir heute zu viert unterwegs.Read more

  • Food

    September 7, 2018 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    We start the morning early with a powerful porridge with fruits made by Joscha. The cycling goes well and we arrive early at our destination Ayancik. To see four cyclists in the villages on the way must be quite rare as almost all people greet us. The views are magic again. Forests changes with coastline.

    We have a lot of wonderful local food and try everything. Turkish food is just awesome. (Köfte, Bulgur, Chickpeas, Moussaka, Rice, Beans, Gözleme, ... you name it) Also the deserts! (Boyabat Ezmesi, Künefe, Catmar, Baclava...) Delicious. We find a place to sleep in the "teachers house" through a German-Turkish family from the city that uses their connections. We enjoy a beautiful seaview there. In the evening, the waves are so huge! They hit against the walking area and people stand and stare.

    Our "how turkish are you" - index just rose today as we had 5 times tea today :D
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  • Nördlichster Punkt in der Türkei

    September 8, 2018 in Turkey ⋅ 🌬 23 °C

    Heute wurde ein kleiner Umweg an den nördlichsten Punkt der Türkei gemacht. Mit dem Wind und den Wellen sieht die Landschaft noch atemberaubender aus - Gänsehaut feeling. Unterwegs haben wir Joscha und Mert wieder getroffen, die wild gecampt haben und daher schon früher los sind.Read more

  • Prison, flat tire, dinner

    September 10, 2018 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    The evenings live music on top of the castle yesterday was beautiful but tiring. We start late and visit Sinops historical prison firstly.

    Unnecessary knowledge: Sinops prison was built in 1215 and held famous prisoners as well as political exposed persons. It it said that the guards were like dragons guarding everything and not even let a bird flew over there. We were told that nobody could flew.

    Then, we ride trough Gerze, a wonderful cute town. We swim in a phenomenal place next to hundred metres of rocks. Then, we make it to Yakakent where Jo has his first flat tire. Meanwhile we fix it, we get invited for dinner which we agree to. So, we enjoy local food with a local family and communicate via google translate.

    After that, we 'wildcamp' at a gas stations garage with a roof above us. (Camping at gas stations is normal and always possible as a back up option).

    Tomorrow is the first day after we entered Turkey, without elevation!!! (Wohoooooo!)
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  • Hamam

    September 11, 2018 in Turkey ⋅ 🌙 20 °C

    From Samsun, the very modern, clean, lively and big city, we pedal fast on the flat streets. A food stop at one of the local food restaurants and a nice break at a beach area in Terme and we almost arrived at Ünye. Another Çay and very nice conversations with a family from Witten and we arrive in one of the oldest cities in Turkey. Ünye is known for its small old streets in the city center. It starts raining and Jo is going to the local Hamam which is open for men only today.Read more

  • Psycho Stress im Tunnel

    September 12, 2018 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Der Weg an der vierspurigen Küstenstraße ist mittlerweile weitestgehend flach und verfügt über einen Standstreifen. Heute ging es jedoch noch einmal durch ein hügeliges Gebiet, mit einem 3,6km langem Tunnel (etwas länger als der Elbtunnel aber schlechter beleuchtet) ohne "sicheren" Standstreifen, bestückt mit einem kleinen blinkenden Rücklicht als Schutz.
    Im Tunnel hört man nur das ohrenbetäubende Heran-Donnern der LKWs. Die Angst sitzt einem im Nacken übersehen zu werden. Es ging aber alles gut.

    In Altinurdo ging es mit einer Gondel auf den Berg der Stadt mit einer schönen Aussicht. Es gab sogar eine Startbahn für Paragleiten.
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  • Nothing special and a bit of history

    September 13, 2018 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C

    Cycling today was good and fast. After an early start we are eager to make some metres and cycle 90km at once. Then, we enjoy swimming in a small stony bay in Tirebolu. Found a cheap pension and had an amazing sundowner on the beach. In the evening we ate with a view and got to know a guy whose parents have been living in Germany, told us a bit about the region and invited us for desert. Delicious. Again. The name of the city: Tirebolu developed from Tripolis (meaning: three cities)

    Interesting historical fact:
    This part of Turkey was inhabited by 1.400.000 Greece people. In 1923, the Turkish and Greece governments made a deal: They forced an exchange of the ethnic minorities. The Orthodox Greece population needed to leave Turkey and got exchanged by the Muslim population in Greece (400.000). It was an 'ethnic cleansing'. Consequences today: Empty and unused Orthodox churches along the coastline in Turkey and abandoned mosques in Greece.
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  • Trabzon

    September 14, 2018 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Gestern Abend haben wir Yasars Restaurant mit Verwandten kennengelernt. Wir waren morgens zum Frühstück da. Es gab Suppe und Reis. Anschließend wurden wir noch mit den besten Haselnüssen und schwarzem Tee beschenkt. Die Strecke nach Trabzon war nicht besonders, aber mit Rückenwind.

    Unnützes Wissen:
    Der öffentliche Nahverkehr funktioniert hauptsächlich mit Minibussen. Es wird sich brav in der 100m langen Schlange angestellt und gesittet aus- und eingestiegen. Eine Fahrt kostet dann ca. 0,25€ und es darf überall ausgestiegen werden, auch wenn dort keine Bushaltestelle ist.
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  • Breathtaking mountains

    September 15, 2018 in Turkey ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    This day has changed my view of Turkey. Here is why. We organized us a rental car in no time and went to the famous Sümela monastery first. It hangs in the rocks. The Greece Orthodox monastery was founded in the 4th century, it was abandoned in 1923 after the creation of the Turkish Republic and the ‘exchange of populations'. It is now a tourist magnet and recently under construction.

    We follow the road up the hill to a village. We feel like we moved to Mongolia and enjoy Köfte, salad and tea facing this view. We move further up and up the serpentines and need so stop every minute to take a picture. It looks so impressive! The mountains are 3.040 metres here and the pass is small. It is 11° only. We plan to go down on the other side and hit a real street there again.

    We take an old men with us who is hitchhiking :) He wanted to go to the next village to drink çay with his friends. So, we join for one tea and they show us the Orthodox church in their village where the cross can still be seen in the stone but it a mosque tower was added.

    It takes forever to drive down. When it is already dark, we take a girl and a woman hitchhiking with us. They want to buy eftek (bread) at the next bakery. It feels as Turkey must be really safe when women hitchhike in the dark somewhere in the mountain villages.

    I wished to have a drone to catch more of these breathtaking views. Turkish mountains are definitely a must! And they are worth the trip in itself. So, my view of Turkey has adjusted even more to the positive than before!
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  • Okey (Türkisches Rummikup) - Am Limit

    September 16, 2018 in Turkey ⋅ 🌙 20 °C

    Das Bild von den Haselnussbäumen, welche bislang den Großteile der Hänge gesäumt haben, wird nun von Teeplantagen abgelöst.

    In Rize, die Teestadt der Türkei, wird eine Teefabrik mit Cafe und Botanischem Garten besucht, zu der es ziemlich steil bergauf ging. Jo wollte wie immer oben ankommen ohne zu schieben, schaffte dies auch. Doch oben angekommen wurde sein Licht ein wenig gedimmt und die Farbe wich aus dem Gesicht vor Anstrengung. Nach einer kurzen Liege-Pause und etwas Zucker ging es aber schnell besser.

    Zum Übernachten ging es zum Warmshower Mustafa in sein Cay Cafe. Mustafa ist begeisterter Radfahrer und hat schon einige Rennen gewonnen. Uns wurde das Spiel Okey beigebracht.
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  • Tea production

    September 17, 2018 in Turkey ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C

    Our warmshower at the Çay house gives us a generous breakfast and we cycle to Hopa, the last larger town before the Georgian border. Along the way, it is full of tea plants everywhere. It is partly raining and the landscape is pretty green. We ask at several tea factories for a visit and at number 6, the women explains us how Lipton is producing the tea. However, entering is not allowed. Almost before dawn, we meet a very friendly security guy at the Çaykur tea factory, number 7, and he shows us the whole production site and explains each of the steps. Tea is made by fermentation. They add only water and heat. And as smaller the result, the better the tea quality.

    In Hopa, we meet a warmshower (a good friend of our host before) who is bringing us to his beach house. We can stay there for the night and listen to the ocean.

    It was our last full day in Turkey. From here, we can already see our final destination! Batumi in Georgia. It feels unbelievable that we have cycled so far. However, can't wait to cross the boarder and enjoy days of resting and holiday.
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  • GEORGIA

    September 18, 2018 in Georgia ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
  • Mtirala National Park near Batumi

    September 20, 2018 in Georgia ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    After we arrived in Batumi, Georgia, we decided to disvover the this country (in the 6 days left) by car and go hiking in the northern part 'Svaneti' in the Caucasus mountains.
    Batumi itself is a mixture between Las Vegas, Dubai and Nizza. Old rosty sowjet houses change with modern hotels. Casino licenses are cheap and Turkish people come to bet and gamble. My favorite place in Batumi is the local food bazaar. Old, wrinkled Georgians selling herbes, spices, whole pigs, hens and everything you can imagine. They speak only Georgian or Russian. The Georgian food is very tasty. Especially the eggplants with walnut pastry and of course the homemade wine! (but not all of them :D haha beware).
    We start our journey in Batumi and reach out to the Mtirala national park in the south. It is the wettest part in Georgia. The green color of the plants is intense. We hike to a waterfall and a clear water lake and then walk the long route trough dense forest. Fun fact: Only another German couple walks the long part. All other tourists climb in Flips Flops and evening robe to the waterfall to take the best picture possible. Suddenly, we see footsteps of bears in the mud! Brown bears live in the park but we did not meet them. (Fine for me ;)
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  • Georgien im Kaukasus

    September 25, 2018 in Georgia ⋅ ⛅ 12 °C

    Ein Abstecher in den traumhaften Norden nach Mazeri und Mestia (Svaneti). Der Kaukasus bietet dort ein Wanderparadies. Seit 2010 wird dort stark in den Tourismus investiert. Die Region ist im Kommen. Erreichen kann man die Orte nur über eine Straße in 2,5 Std - 50km Serpentinen.
    Der Ushba mit seinen 4.736m ist der zweit höchste Berg im Kaukasus, jedoch gehört zu den schwierigst zu besteigenden Bergen.
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  • Final

    September 28, 2018 in Georgia ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Es ist soweit! Unsere Radreise endet.

    Dauer: 4,5 Monate
    Km per Rad: ~ 7.400
    Länder: 16
    Max km/h: 85,66
    Pannen: 3
    Negative Voruteile bestätigt: KEINE
    Wahnsinnig tolle Menschen getroffen: Unzählige

    Thanks to all hosts and amazing people who have made this journey unforgettable and unique!!!!
    ...
    გმადლობ!
    Teşekür ederim!
    Spacibi!
    Mersi!
    благодаря!
    хвала!
    Hvala!
    Köszenem!
    Ďakujem!
    Doanke!
    Děkuji!
    Dziękuję!
    ...
    Danke an alle Gastgeber und Personen, die diese Reise unvergesslich und einzigartig gemacht haben!!!
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    Trip end
    September 30, 2018