Description
Last winter, we planned to pedal along Turkey’s Aegean Coastline to wait out the colder months in Cyprus. It was a long, fast, flat journey, almost exclusively following a great serpentine beast of tarmac.
Reaching Cyprus was the logical option; the Turkish Mountains were unforgiving in winter and best saved for spring. But, looking to the inland horizon, the snow-capped peaks of the Taurus Mountains presented themselves proudly. We’d been lured in like this the previous winter, and ultimately, the cold had got the best of us. But there was something indescribable pulling us there once more.
And so, in a rash decision, with a dodgy knee and just days after dropping off our remaining winter layers at a clothes recycling point, we gave in to temptation.
Slowly, we wound up and into the mountains. The heat subsided, the air was fresher, and we replaced a dual carriageway with a dusty single lane. Sarah pedalled ahead, with peaks hanging over her to one side, and to the other, land falling sheerly away with a nauseating drop.
Gradually, we pushed higher and higher into dark, snowy clouds with limited clothing. Eager, naive and unperturbed… It was 125 km and 2,600m of ascent to Taşkent, the next village. And whilst the views were filling us with courage, it was being hampered by the increasing dread of the pass that separated us from Taşkent.
As we rode higher, this pass stood constantly in my mind, growing into a great frozen monster I knew we’d eventually have to duel. Each meter climbed, the temperatures dropped, the conditions becoming more volatile. “Why did we ditch those last layers?” I thought to myself, as time seemed to slow and we inched further into the abyss of the Taurus.
Cautiously, we approached ever closer, the tension built, with my heart racing, nervously watching for any change in conditions. All the way up and over the summit. And then, at the high point, it all miraculously faded.
Together, we laughed as the scale of the challenge immediately shrank. An uplifted happiness sank in, guiding us gleefully down from our snowy high point to find Taşkent, marvellously perched amongst the rocks.
Some destinations become particularly special. Not just for their charm or characteristics, but knowing exactly what it took to get you there.
- Limited edition print
- Printed on premium C-Type Fuji Matt photographic paper
- Available in multiple sizes, framed and unframed
- Comes with Certificate of Authenticity (COA)
- Made to order
- Carefully packaged for delivery
Buying these prints directly supports our journey and helps us continue to tell stories from the road. We are incredibly grateful!
– Josh & Sarah
