The weather forecast was snow for today. Alkim and me decided to go to Ihlara together, since she had not seen this valley either. So we took a car (blasphemy, I know, but who gives a damn) and drove there.
Sunshine greeted use in Ihlara and for a moment we though we'd escaped the bad weather. It took use three attempts untill we found the small path leading into the valley. The first time we took the wrong side of the river and the second time we took a path leading on the cliffs of the valley to find a beautiful view into the valley. And while observing with amazement our surroundings, the snow clouds caught up with us. This didn't stop us to finally find the way in the valley along the river. We climbed in a couple of cave-houses and explored. We did not find the maze of tunnels though and after not too long a distance into the valley the snowfall became very dense and the feet got cold. On our way back the new snow covered our footprints and the silence was only interrupted by the crunching noise under our feet and the flowing water of the river. Funny enough there was occasional thunder. I was wondering if it really was thunder since I rarely heard its accompanying snow fall.
To leave Ihlara we needed to put snow chains on the cars tires after a couple of failed attempts to take the slope with more and more speed.
Everything was white again within and hour. Its was actually the first snowfall I witnessed this year and lucky me was glad not doing its while sitting on a bike.
In the eavening we dropped by Göreme in the Kose pansion where I met Will&Julie, Guilhem&Eglantine as well as an entire delegation of Swiss cyclists. Its was a bit overwhelming all these bikes beside the entry and the common room full with netbooks and other cyclist-stuff. What the hell are all these cyclists doing in the middle of winter on a plateau between mountains (continental climate) some 1200m above sea level? Is this the new video clip to Seals crazy-song? Are we so desperate for a little adventure? I have to admit that this strangeness got me a bit worked up.
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