11.08.2020:- MOTORCYCLE Tour in the Northern Turkey & BLACK SEA / MOTOSİKLETLE Kuzey Türkiye & KARADENİZ Gezisi

 Day 5 :- Erzincan >>>>Pülümür>>>>Tunceli>>>>Ovacık>>>>Tunceli (280 km)

After the breakfast at the Hotel Eriza I departed. The weather was nice and calm. There was some wind blowing from the north. I headed in the East direction. As mentioned before Erzincan is a city constructed on a flat plateau in between two (north-south) mountain chains. The width is something around 12-15 km.

At the eastern exit of Erzincan I filled up my tank at the OPET station. Then I continued on the road up to the junction to Pülümür. This section is climbing up. The main road was at an elevation 1200 meter but Pülümür is located on 1500 meters. After a winding road I crossed the pass of Pülümür.

Pülümür Pass : 1950 meter

Then I came down to the little town called Pülümür. I stopped there for a Turkish coffee. I sat in the town at the coffee house and chat with some people around me. I also saw the statue of Cemal Sureya, one of the famous poets of Turkey in the mid of 20th century. I am at the birth place of the poet now. 

In Pülümür

In Pülümür in front of the Cemal Sureya statue.

After the coffee break around 10:00 I continued on the valley road in the direction to Tunceli and Ovacik. The road and the nature around it is fantastic. Rivers are flowing along the road and lots of winding panorama in the valley. I reached to Tunceli. I rode through the down town which is located on the side of a hill. There was a lot of people in the city center and I continued the route to Ovacik.

Both sides of the route is rich with nature. It is fantastic around the route. I arrived at the town Ovacik around 12:30. It started to rain. I stopped in front of the food shop called Cadde Hamburger and ate my lunch. Lunch was comprising of beans and rice and yoghurt. After the lunch break the rain stopped and I decided to ride to the "Gozeler" which is the region where the water comes out from the mountain and is the source of the Munzur river.

I walked there. It is a place where the drink water with the brand Munzur is bottled. There is also a mystique dervish lodge "Munzur Baba" at the water source. After some time spent in that area I rode back in the direction of Ovacik and then I continued to Tunceli. The distance to Ovacik is around 14-16 km. The road is fantastic with the surrounding forest and mountains. The Munzur river is flowing all along the road up to Tunceli.

After the winding road I arrived at Tunceli but I did not ride into the downtown. I stopped at the Cemevi for a while then I continued further to Ayrikvadi Hotel (on the main street 10-12 km on the east of Tunceli). It is very nice hotel at the side of the Tunceli-Pülümür road. It has a view over the street and the mountains. There is also a big yard around the hotel. To be suggested for any traveler. The rooms are big and clean. 

I took a bottle of beer from the hotel and walked down to the bank of the river which is only 200 mt away from the Hotel. I swam in the river and enjoyed my cold beer there. There is a place where someone puts himself into the river and then the flow in water starts. After 80-90 meter there is a safe place where you get out from the stream. I stayed at the bank of the river approx. 1,5 hour and then walked back to the Hotel. Around 19:30 I was in the open door dining area of the hotel. The food is also good here. After a good dinner I got back to my room and sat in the balcony before I went to sleep.

10.08.2020:- MOTORCYCLE Tour in the Northern Turkey & BLACK SEA / MOTOSİKLETLE Kuzey Türkiye & KARADENİZ Gezisi

Day 4 :- Amasya >>>>Erzincan (420 km)

After the breakfast at the Uluhan Hotel I packed all my stuff and put them on my motorcycle.

As agreed with Hatice and Stefan who are living at their farm in Ovasaray I took the route to the village. Around 10:30 I arrived there and changed my motorcycle suit. They took me with their  Jeep 

to the fields where they had their agricultural products (already harvested or still on the field).

We drove through some fields, beneath didges and through nice trees. I also took some pictures of the surrounding views. 

One of the corn fields

Temporary camping area in Ovasaray for the agricultural workers from Eastern cities.

There are some special trees around 

Around 12:00 we came back home and I changed my clothing and made me ready to ride. I am on the route to Erzincan. I took the route via Resadiye, Susehri, Refahiye. The roads' quality is really good.

I stopped at Refahiye for lunch. It is a fuel station right at the road side and the food is as usual 'kofte on grill'. At 16:00 o'clock I arrived at the Hotel Eriza in Erzincan. It is a city hotel right in the downtown.

There is also a nice corner at the entrance where I parked my motorcycle. Because of the pandemic all around the hotel has no customers at all. Most probably I was the second or third guest. 

Başlık ekleAt the entrance of the Hotel Eriza in Erzincan

The young guy who is the hotel manager is very fine and friendly. We talked a little bit and he informed me about the city and places in the city. After having a shower and a short rest in my room I went out to see the city.  Right in the front of the Hotel there is the famous copper market. It is a under ground market and there are lots of copper shops. I bought two pieces of cups made of copper. After putting them into the side case of motorcycle I continued to walk in the city. 

Tasty Doner Kebap in Erzincan

The city was built on a wide and flat plateau between two mountain chains restricting the city on the north and south. Because the city is located right in the center of the earthquake zone there are rectangular or square shaped blocks. The building are 3 or max. 4 story constructions. I walked on the main streets and found one of the famous "doner restaurants". I sat there and ate a portion of doner kebap. It is very tasty though.  There is nothing special in the city to see. In my opinion, it  is a city to stop for lunch. 

I bought a beer and went to my hotel around 22.00.