Tolga Kanık

November 26-30, 2009

41N 32E

On a sunny day at 13:00 we met with Derya in Ankara and set off on the road for our traditional bank holiday DCP hunt. This time we are going discover western Turkey visiting confluences along the latitudes 39, 40, 41 and 42.

Leaving the motorway E-80 behind at Yenicaga exit, we drove up to Yedigoller national park. Enroute, we pulled up and reached the DCP amidst lovely green nature. After quite a few shots we moved on to DCP 41N 30E.

41N 30E

Having exited the motorway one more time, we headed towards Kandira. We took the turn into left opposite Dalca and approached the DCP via Haciseyh village. It got dark, so we had a good night sleep in our car.

The next morning, it was quite misty and fresh offering superb views over the busy terrain. After a mere 10 min walk we made it up to the intersection and got the DCP formalities done quickly. Carry on all the way to Kirklareli.

42N 27E

We both had so much wanted to visit the famous Longoz (eg. deep spot, the term used for any woodlands growing around swumplands or river-fed ponds next-the-sea) woods of Igneada. Even the drive there was one of the most fantastic journeys of our lives which spun from Pinarhisar over the Yildiz Mountains.

Igneada Longoz national park is a massive intact woodland located in the nort-western tip of Turkey. It is actually the largest longoz forest of Europe. The wild life here is amazing! 544 species of flora overwhelmed by dense beech, horn beem and oak trees, 219 bird kinds, 28000 fish breed, 46 different kinds of animals including 17 riptiles. There are dozens of various sized lakes within the vast woodlands. Igneada is a blissful town on the Black sea cost with one of the longest beaches of Turkey (20 km) surrounded by Longoz forests.

We didn’t realize spending so much time in there. It got dark already. Then, we decided to visit the town center of Kirklareli. After roaming around a bit, we kept droving towards our DCP via Kofcaz.

In the morning, we drove past Devletliagac village and went onto Malkoclar. Having managed to locate a dirt road reaching as near as 350 meters, we left the car behind and walked to the DCP. After a quick return, we hastyly headed down south to our next target, 41N 27E.

41N 27E

We took Hacisungur turn driving via Kirklareli-Babaeski-Hayrabolu route along beautifully scenic places. Our DCP looking out on the Karaidemir Dam was found in the middle of muddy farmlands.

 We were in a real hurry as we wanted the make the third confluence (40N 27E) of the very short day before it fell dark.

40N 27E

We were not only rushing fast but also striving to determine the most time saver approach to the point. Just before reaching Can we came up to a crossroads with Hurma on the right and Durali turn on the left. Having a short hesitation, we made up our minds to move on a little further down the road to find a suitable farm track enabling us near the intersection as good as 700 meters. Then we ran as fast as we could through the prickly oak bushes and made it there! Happyly turned around having done a good job today, all three DCPs in a row on one short winter day including a car-ferry journey spanning the Dardanelle.

What a shame though, we did not come by those so called wild Turkish men supposed to be around here. Yet, we found our car in one intact piece on our return!!! In a strange way…

39N 27E

Edremit route covered an area over the skirts of the Kaz mountains, reknown with the richest oxygen concentraiton in the air. We dropped by Ayvalik, a heavily historic sea-side town with lovely architecture in good state of preservation. Reaching near 39N 27E, we parked under a tree and fell into a well deserved sleep.

The next morning, Dikili plain means vast cotton fields all the way over the horizon. That explains why the region is a frontier in the world’s textile industry. Did the DCP after a rather long walk and took the same route back to the highway onto 39N 28E.

39N 28E

We took Soma-Gordes route. A convenient left turn determined on our GPS got us near the point. It required quite an ascent this time up to the DCP struggling through the thick and rocky oakland. In the end, we both were overlooking the lush landscape at the confluence.

We got to hurry since aiming at making 39N 29E as well before the sunset.

39N 29E

To be perfectly honest, it was hell of a rush to reach the point. Whereas, winding and hilly mountain roads, signpost-free country road junctions and the congested Simav traffic with a plodding garbage truck  considerably slowed us down. By the time we neared the DCP 1.3 km it had already fallen dark unfortunately. Nevermind, we spotted a scenic turnout and had a cheerful barbeque party over the night.

We woke up to a foggy day. The landscape looked very misterious, which we rather enjoyed. Literally along with the Jay and Blackbird alarm calls passing around, we made it right at the DCP. What a lovely landscape here is!

39N 30E

We couldn’t take our eyes off the wonderful Mt. Murat (2312m) under snow and its environs. We ended up turning into Karaagac village road on Simav-Altintas route. The sunny weather suddenly changed into a foggy environment back on. Knowing that the point was on our right we kept looking for a suitable approach as nearing Eydemir village.

The road was very roogh and eventaully we reached the village, left it behind and proceded on a farm road. The closest and the most logical approach was here with a 2.9 km distance onwards on foot. It was supposed to be a final scenic walk hoever, we ended up crawling under the pricly tree branches for an hour our so trying to find a way out. In the end, we succeded in escaping out of the thick scrubs and got directed right onto the goal. The way back was rather easy. We always wonder why we can’t get it at the very first place!

All in all, it has been another memorible adventure. We literally loved the beautiful country of western Turkey. As we always say, till we meet again in the next odessey, because there is so much more to discover in our beautiful country.