A friend of ours crossed Indian S to N in an ancient TukTuk. The Adventurists also organise a London to Mongolia race. Simple rules, buy a crap car, set off together and arrive by a certain date. This car is driven by 4 Aussie, much tattooed, miners and cost £1200. Heading to Istanbul to have work done to wheel alignment, suspension and to reinforce the sump. Shows how much smaller the world is. They have to put their car on a train and cross Azerbaijan separately and the race now terminates in one of the Stans as they can’t cross Russia.I had especially wanted to see the campaign film at the museum. But closed to mere mortals as as Jandama (civic police) and army visiting. At least we knew Jez was safe!The later Australian Governor witnessed the Turks call a cease fire and one carried a wounded Officer over to the Allues line. Fighting then resumed. Trenches were so close to the Turkish, as little as 20m. Both Turkish and Anzac cemeteries and monuments. Very much defined by the nationalities that stopped at each!View over Anzac Bay, main landing beach. Mustafa Kemal was photographed and now immortalised in bronze. Too many people attending the annual Anzac memorial, a new bigger site was built. Anzac Bay with remnants of a concrete structure and landing pier. The beach now for picnicking and swimming Turkish families…
Stand out moments were: How close the trenches were to each other. How little ground was gained then lost. The huge loss of life and injuries. How narrow the beach at Anzac Cove the main landing area. And an older New Zealander over heard, saying to his wife, Grandad was here.
We joined the families under the shade of pines, until it was cool enough to return to bonkers Boomerang Bar.
Clune Gap Years 