Lycian Way Day 16, 24 March 2013

Ucagiz to Andriake
Back in the saddle?

So after being lost for 2 hours in the scrub brush we decided we were done with the Lycian Way.  We were going to call it quits.  Here we were in beautiful Ucagiz with supposedly easy access to the dolmus. We could just hang out and relax a few days and then move on to tourist through Turkey.  Leave this red-and-white marker struggle behind.  Enjoy our vacation in a different way.

But, after a wonderful night of good food, beer, and a comfortable night's sleep....

We woke to the beautiful views of Ucagiz.  And good Turkish breakfast.  And warm sunshine.
And what the hell?  We can just walk for a while today and it'll probably be fine.  Camp tonight at Andriake and see how we feel? What could possibly go wrong?  Let's go!

Turtle, Lycian Way

Ucagiz Harbor

Ucagiz Pansiyon (Kekova) breakfast

On our tired dragging entry in to Ucagiz the night before, a nice man offered to 'guide' us into town and find us a good pansiyon.  Well, it was a fantastic pansiyon.  And he kept coming back to ask if we wanted a boat harbor tour in the morning.  And he came back in the morning to ask again.  So, resolved to keep hiking, we decided sure! We'll take a boat ride and save some miles hiking and get to see some Mediterranean stuff - why not?

Bus-driver's holiday- fishing boat ride to Kekova

So we got a nice boat ride and got to see the famous sunken city too.

Simena with snow covered Mountains

Simena Fortress

Boat trip, Ucagiz to Simena

Thanks Cap'n!

After the short boat tour, we were dropped at the ruins of Simena.  We needed some bread for our walk so we asked someone on the path and she informed us there was no store there.  But instantly she offered us some bread and beckoned us to follow.  We wandered over to what was apparently her house and she gave us a wonderful loaf of fresh bread and refused our money!  Awesome!  The hospitality of these people is outstanding.

Robin hiking up to Simena Castle

Lycian Tombs, flowers, Simena

Lycian Tomb, Simena

Robin the shepherd

So off we went a hiking.  Robin even got to pretend to be a shepherd for a bit.

Lycian Way, Simena to Andriake

Classic Med sailing Picture

Turtle Mating Season?

We kept hearing strange noises along our hike.  When we stopped to investigate, we found these turtles bonking.

Cakil Plaji, white pebbly beach, Ucagiz to Andriake

By the time we reached Cakil Plaji, the white pebbly beach, we were tired, thirsty and frustrated again. (my trail notes say,"deteriorating path, really crappy trail, overgrown, scrubby, rocky") And we still had quite a way to hike before Andriake.  The first half of the section was nice and interesting.  But after that the trail became once again frustrating and a struggle.
We found that the entire walk along the Lycian Way had this quality.  Two or three hours of great walking - usually due to scenery and not necessarily trail-and then hours of trudgery, frustration and agony.  It was a lot like playing golf - lots of cursing frustration piqued by moments of wonderful beauty happiness and joy.

Crossing the bridge near Andriake

Grant crossing Cayagiz beach to Andriake

Robin and the shipyard, Andriake

Nearing Sunset, Kale/Andriake

Sunset

Our Andriake camping dinner reservation

We were very happy to find Andriake Camping.  We weren't sure they were even open.  But they had cold beer for us and lots of great camp spots to choose from along with the amenities of water and toilets.  They even had hot supper.
The folks were doing some grounds maintenance including some tree cutting and brush burning.  For our wonderful evening meal, they wheeled over a wheelbarrow full of burning wood for our very own table-side campfire!  Great stuff.

Amazing what a good meal and a nice hotel can do....
http://www.mapmyhike.com/routes/view/195318684