09/09/2025

We continued driving east along the Black Sea coast road. The Black Sea has a staggering average depth of 1,253 metres, so not unsurprisingly most of the coast is mountains or cliffs. It is 1175 metres / 730 miles long. Major rivers including the Danube feed it and the main outsource is the Dardanelles. Weird, but the water here flows both ways – the denser more saline flows into the Black Sea below the fresher less dense water from the Black Sea.

We stopped at Inebolu for coffee and cake. An ordinary town, so we liked it.

Abana was recommended for fish restaurants, but we had lunch in Jez. Couldn’t see a fish shop or I’d have bought supper. The small water park and fun fare were closed up now. Children returned to school this week.

J wanted to nap and I needed water to deploy the twin tub, so we’ve stopped about 2.00 at a coastal picnic spot. Another sign the season is over is how few families came to use the bbqs. Super peaceful night with the sound of waves.

Sinop

10/09

We reckon at least half the population are employed in construction and mostly road building. We crossed over several very wide rivers, most of which were also having work done. As well as whole new roads.

We planned to go to waterfalls, but after the first gravelly small hairpin and 23 km of similar ahead, I aborted. Still scarred by the road to Cide!

Our first destination therefore, was Turkey’s only fjord. Hamsilos Koyu. Or so they claim, cos it ain’t really a fjord. The fjord itself and the walk along it, where you couldn’t see anything or trees, were not up to much.

But through the Hamsilos National park, on the way, was lovely. Pretty beaches and a small harbour. We lunched here and then J had a nanny nap.

Sinop is interesting. It’s main attraction is the Alcatraz of Anatolia. A prison built in 1887 inside a castle, on the site of what was one of the Ottoman’s main 3 ship building sites. I was there an hour and I scooted round and missed bits as J and Corrie were outside. Think Midnight Express. It only ceased operating in 1997.

The main gates of Sinop town would close at night. Very few escaped, one though the sewers. But the next chap who tried the same route had a shite ending and drowned as they’d put up bars.

In November 1953, the Battle of Sinop, saw the Russians destroyed a squadron of Ottoman ships. This prompted retaliation by Western Forces … the Crimean War.

Fish supper overlooking the huge fishing boat harbour. Watched a boat come in with a load of melon.

We liked Sinop. Corrie didn’t. She was attacked twice by city dogs. We carried the water pistol. Actually J, for a pacifist, got trigger happy. No cats or dogs were truly harmed.