Thursday, 15 December 2022

Climbing the mountain, & walking the lowlands

Climbing the mountain, & walking the lowlands 


Thursday 15th December...
Linda - Before we went off on our road trip to Izmir we were invited along on another ramble. This time we were warned that it wasn't as long as the previous ramble, but this time it was more difficult because basically it was up up up, and then down down down. 

Finike's coastline is mountainous, and directly behind the marina there's only one way to walk and that's UP.  Once up the big flight of steps we were onto the rocky track that leads up the mountain. 




After only about 15 minutes and doing some scrambling rather than rambling, we turned around to look down across the marina and town.


Looking down at the marina and town

We scrambled up this rocky path

This stray dog followed us for ages too

I don't really know how long the walk was. For me (the person lagging behind), it was tiresome and once the sun shone through I got very hot and flushed as we made our way upwards. To be honest, most of it was gentle inclines but it seemed to go on for ever. It was well worth it though for the views of the mountains and valleys which surrounded us. Nearing the highest point we actually climbed over rocks and up a dry waterfall. I was so busy looking at my feet that I walked straight into a tree branch and bumped my head. 

Flat stretch before the next incline

Our friend Dominique found some cute puppies

A lot of new pipes being laid

On one of the flattish roads!

This urn nearly as big as the trees

Carefully passing the dug out trenches for the pipeworks


Digger at work

On the Lycian Way

Dean at the dry riverbed

Scrambling through the rocks


At the top we sat and ate our lunch, then it was down the road the whole way back to the marina. The road was quite steep so that even hurt my legs going down. I'm obviously out of practise. Anyway it was a lovely walk taking in parts of the Lycian Way.


Kevin our walk leader at the lunch stop

Down hill from here

Not a very busy road though

Very steep sides off the road

Unusual tree with a red trunk and branches

Views on the way down, you can see the marina

Pleasant countryside

Still descending as we arrive on the town outskirts

A very pretty tree


Well, I think I'm finally getting nearer to catching up with our latest blogging adventures, and so it's back to a bit of boat work before I write about our third ramble of this winter season. 

Dean spent two days servicing the outboard engine. It's never had such a detailed services as this one. I'll let him tell you about it....

Dean - The outboard engine and the dinghy is like our car during the summer months so we always try to look after it and make sure it's well serviced each year. I noticed a faint rattle from one of the tappets so made a mental note to check them. Unfortunately one of the bolts for the tappet cover broke off during disassembly...bugger! (and other expletives) I managed to drill it out and re-tap so all fixed now. I also wanted to check the impeller in the water pump as I thought the water flow looked a little low.

I borrowed the marina trolley, ready to start



Getting stuck in

Top end nearly done

It's a 6 horse power 4 stroke engine, so about 125cc single cylinder. It's overhead valve, so push rod and rocker arm for the tappets.


Bottom leg in the workshop

How exciting!


Linda - Thanks for the explanation Dean.

Our legs were still aching from Keep Fit on Wednesday last week, when we joined the ramble on Friday morning. This time the walk was described to us as a longer walk but all on the level.... no climbing thankfully. We set off walking from the marina at 9am.....destination 'Limyra Ancient City' ruins. We walked along the coast for a while, then inland along some surprisingly beautiful country lanes lined with orange groves as far as the eyes could see and the weather was perfect.

Leaving the beach promenade to head inland

My idea of a ramble in the countryside

Orange groves for miles

We appeared to be following the signs to Turkuaz Koy, and indeed we were. I had never heard of this place before, but Aylin (one of our walk leaders) told us we would be stopping there for coffee. On arrival I soon realised that this place was a fabulous hidden gem. Right on the banks of Karadin Creek, a small 'hotel' with wooden chalets and a lovely rustic restaurant, also making and selling their own 'Orange Blossom' honey and chocolate covered orangy sweets. The river water was absolutely crystal clear.

https://www.turkuazkoy.com


This way

Aylin admires the orange trees

Entering the restaurant gardens

Ataturk Street..... of course

Roses adorn the gardens

Wooden chalets with balconies over the creek

After we had taken in our lovely coffee stop and purchased some of the locally made goodies, the hotel (obviously with Aylin's influence) allowed us to walk along their orange orchards aside the creek. They warned us that there were bee hives along the creek and that we should pass quietly and the bees wouldn't bother us. They also allowed us to help ourselves to oranges from the trees. 

Squeezing through the orange trees

Reminds me of home (except for the oranges of course)

Creek side 

Beautiful clear water and swishing weeds

The bee hive boxes. Wasn't expecting that many!

Shortly after leaving the orchards at Turkuaz Koy, we arrived at Limyra Ancient City ruins. Here the river actually flows over the ancient city streets. It's the perfect place to stop for a picnic.

First glimpses of Limyra

The obligatory ampitheatre

Inside the city proper

Not much left of it here

The main stage

River running over the ancient street

Info

Having a look around

Bridge pose

Just like home

Shorts and Tshirt ramble today

After lunch, Dean cleanses his hands in the stream

You can see the street cobbles underwater

Quite an ornate piece here

Autumn colours along the fast running stream

Some column parts remaining, seen better days


The group decided on taking the main road route via Yuvalilar and back into Finike. I don't think they get many foreign ramblers around here as we felt a little like a tourist attraction with children following us and cars tooting their horns. It was a LOOOOOONG way! We were Christmas Crackered by the time we hobbled back into the marina. The walk ended up being 18km (that's over 11 miles in real money). Along the route we encountered some Turkeys and some orange pickers who insisted on giving us more oranges!


Big fat Turkeys

Orange pickers

Motorcycle graveyard

Extremely white ducks on the canal

I think that's all the rambling done for 2022. Good job, my legs need a rest. A lot of our friends have gone home for Christmas and New Year. Next week, back to boat jobs and NEW SAILS fingers crossed XX


























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