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Monday, November 4th - Iznik to Geyve - 13,552 km
The weather has improved but Coen has not. It seems the 94 km of cycling through the hills yesterday has caused him a slight set back. He is coughing a lot this morning and getting up and going has taken him longer. Vincent, too, is late at getting ready as he has a problem with his front derailleur. I take Coen for a coffee while Vincent is repairing it.
It is sunny and bright, unlike yesterday, some broken clouds on the horizon. I have a look at the Green Mosque and visit one of the other three gates to the city, There is nothing much else to explore within the walls. It has become a small, simple town with anachronistic walls. 
By 11 am we are ready to set off to the east, following the valley inland to the towns of Kaynarca and Cerkesli. Vincent is in the lead and I am following Coen to keep an eye on him. Coen is coughing a lot, but he keeps rolling at a steady pace without ever complaining. He is spitting up some phlegm but that not nearly as unpleasant as the spray when Vincent blows his nose. 
The valley is climbing gently. It is broad and colourful. In many places the crops have been harvested, leaving the bare red earth in their place. The deciduous trees have lost many of their leaves and the ones left are mostly gold and brown.
We stop for a brief, late lunch in Cerkesli, and then climb a bit more past Cerkesli Lake to the top of a pass. It has been a 300 m from Iznik and from here we drop into another gentle valley continuing east, but now it's downhill and much easier. At first, from the top of the pass, the road twists and bends wildly but as we arrive on the valley floor it straightens out. We pass through the town of Pamukova and continue on another 15 km to the town of Geyve.
Geyve is slightly off the valley floor, at the sloping foot of a mountain to the east. From here the valley bends north and becomes more of a canyon, but our route tomorrow will be south from Geyve, over a ridge of mountains.
Geyve is probably tourist-free, excluding us. There are a couple small inns so we have no problem finding accommodation. We take two rooms on the same floor and wash up and change for dinner. There aren't many restaurants in town but they are easy to find in the small business centre of town. I like it here. It is very quiet at in the evening and the mountain is very fresh. Coen is sounding much better this evening than he did this morning. He seems ready for tomorrow's climb.
PHOTO 1: Lefke Gate, Iznik
PHOTO 2: the Green Mosque in Iznik
PHOTO 3: the valley is climbing inland
PHOTO 4: Vincent and Coen
PHOTO 5: Cerkesli Lake
PHOTO 6: Coen
PHOTO 7: Geyve
PHOTO 8: woman artisan in Geyve
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