Pilgrim’s Blog

Distance: 58.7 km – Elevation +820 m -690 m Weather: Sunny. Temperature: High 26 degrees Söğüt, where I stayed yesterday, was the birthplace of the Ottoman empire and its very first capital.  “Söğüt was a Seljuk Turkish tribe in western Anatolia that later gave birth to the Ottoman Empire. It was a small tribe that extended from the Kayi branch of the Oghuz Turks who settled Anatolia in the 12th and 13th centuries. The village of

Weather: Sunny. Temperature: High 25,24,27 degrees 15th September – I slept surprisingly well after the exploits of yesterday. I must say the fall had shaken me a little, and looking at the damage in the mirror, the left side of my face was beginning to turn to a nice shade of black and blue. My left arm on which I had fallen was very sore. My glasses were somewhat twisted and the left lens was severely

Distance: 15.6 km – Elevation +370 m -190 m Weather: Sunny. Temperature: High 31 degrees After my three days of rest, my plan for today was to walk around 20 kilometres following the Sufi Trail route to Supuren and then catch a bus back to Eskisehir, returning to Supuren tomorrow by bus and continuing my journey from there.  It was a lovely walk out of the city through the historic district of Odunpzarı. Odunpzarı, built on

Distance: 30.2 km – Elevation +240 m -230 m Weather: Sunny. Temperature: High 29 degrees I enjoyed my time in Eskişehir and last night as I had done previous nights I took a stroll along the river Porsuk to my favourite restaurant and sat watching as the city came to life. It is a university city so it is mostly students that frequent the cafes and restaurants at this time of day. I will miss Eskişehir.

Distance: 25.5 km – Elevation +530 m -240 m Weather: Sunny. Temperature: High 22 degrees I had slept well and left the sanctuary of the snug cabin at 8.00 am and it was a lovely morning as I stepped out into the cold morning air. The mornings now are becoming increasingly cooler, requiring two layers of clothing for the first couple of hours. Today’s walk of close to 25 kilometres would take me through the Phrygian

Distance: 23.3 km – Elevation +320 m -340 m Weather: Sunny. Temperature: High 18 degrees Midas Han lies on the edge of the open plain and with a cold wind blowing it was a very chilly night. After a delicious supper, I retired to my room and slept well beneath a very thick quilt. The hotel is run by Ben and Nihal, Ben is Dutch and Nihal Turkish. They are partners in the project that renovated

Distance: 40.2 km – Elevation +330 m -220 m Weather: Sunny. Temperature: High 15 degrees Although the hotel is shown on Google maps it is shown as closed down. But that was certainly not the case it was clear it was being run on a tight budget with just a receptionist running the hotel but it was clean and tidy and I slept well. Today was going to be sìmply about walking, with head down on

Distance: 38.9 km – Elevation +330 m -300 m Weather: Sunny. Temperature: High 25 degrees Another wonderful day, a ” Walking on the Pastures of Wonder” day. I was back in the mountains. It was a cold night and equally cold morning as I walked out of the hotel just before 7.00 am and started the climb out of Emirdag. It was not long before I found myself in open countryside, where I was able to

Distance: 34.0 km – Elevation +190 m -190 m Weather: Sunny. Temperature: High 28 degrees It was a warmer night and a warmer start to the new day, so no jacket was required this morning, just two layers, and that became one as it became really warm later in the day. After an excellent breakfast which was served in the adjacent restaurant where I had enjoyed supper last night, I started out walking on a newly

Distance: 27.6 km – Elevation +180 m -140 m Weather: Overcast. Temperature: High 21 degrees Another comfortable, clean and affordable hotel last night. The hotel restaurant was closed but I had eaten well during the day so I purchased a few snacks and drinks from the filling station shop adjacent to the hotel and returned to my room for a relaxing evening. Breakfast this morning was at 7.00 am.  It should have been raining according to