Gallipoli

Ataturk

Suvla Bay

Lone Pine

Simpson's grave

Anzac Cove

Anzac Cove

Typical Bike Shop

Yesterday (18th May) we arrived at Eceabat, gateway to the Gallipoli Peninsula but not without incident. After a couple of punctures and patching jobs we thought we'd better get a couple more spare tubes. There were no tubes in Biga so we decided to catch a bus the 90km to Canakkale to be on the safe side. No worries! Turkey has a very efficient bus network. However that city of 100 thousand inhabitants also didn't have the 700 x 25 tubes we were looking for. Apparently all bikes are mountain bikes in this neck of the woods. However, we did get around quite a few bike shops (usually guided by a local and offered cups of tea) and luckily ended up getting a couple of tubes that will do the job. Then we crossed the Dardenelles by ferry to Eceabat, the nearest town to where the Gallipoli campaign took place.

Today we had a marvellous tour of the battlefields. It's amazing to be in the places you've heard about all your life and to reflect on the tragic circumstances and events that occured there. Places such as Anzac Cove, Suvla Bay, Shrapnel Valley and Lone Pine are imbedded in the minds of all Australians. Ironically, today (19th May) is a public holiday in Turkey because on this day at Gallipoli in1915 many young Turks lost their lives defending their home land. It is now called Childrens Day.

Pictured in this blog you will find a helpful bike shop, Anac Cove, Lone Pine war cemetery, Suvla Bay, Ataturk (the military leader and hero of modern day Turkey) and other aspects of Gallipoli.

Tomorrow we head off towards Greece. Hopefully the howling gale currently blowing abates by then.