Day 1 - Ovacik to Faralya

We caught a dolmus (local bus) from the hotel to the start of the Lycian Way, for a 10am start.  Blue sky and no wind; a glorious day.  We walked for a couple of km along sealed, then unsealed, roads; through a pine forest; with plenty of stops along the way for photos and to drink water.  Found the beginning of the Lycian Way proper, an ancient looking stone path heading up into the hills.  Great views with Mediterranean beaches below us, and para-gliders riding the thermals of the cliffs above. Encountered goats and goat herders, going about their timeless business; and a few day walkers.

The path went up. It was hot. And up.  It was very hot.  And up.  We started well, but by the time we had got to the top, 670m above where we began, it was 100 steps forward then collapse in the shade of a tree for water and a 5 minute break.  Training "en-route" was starting to seem like not such a good plan.  We had drunk the 2.5 litres of water that we began the morning carrying, and it was 30 degrees.  Fortunately, at that stage the track leveled out, and around the corner a tea shop appeared.   Part of the rationale for establishing the Lycian Way in 1999 seems to have been to create an additional income generating option for local villagers.  

Re-teaed, we continued on our way, now only stopping every 200m for a break.  We soon came across a village, and a cafe that served any food that you wanted, as long as what you wanted was chive pancakes.

"I'd like to see the menu please."

"Pancake."

"Is it possible to get a BLT?"

"Pancake."

"And does the cafe have complimentary WIFI?"

"Pancake."

Maybe the local economy could still benefit from a little more diversification, but the pancakes were very good.

We restocked on water, upping what we were carrying to four litres, and continued on our way down dirt roads and forest tracks; losing all of the altitude that had been so hard won in the morning.  After 7.5 hours walking (including collapsing, drinking and pancaking time), we arrived in at the small town of Faralya, perched on a cliff 400m above the sea.   One day down, 29 plus to go.  Knees and backs are a bit sorer than at the start of the day, but by far our biggest problem was the heat.  To minimise exposure to the midday sun, a much earlier start is planned for tomorrow; and carrying more water.

Fellow road users.

Belligerent tortoise.