DAY 41 - Before GEVAS

41) SUNDAY, 7 AUGUST 1977 : 428KMS. - Before GEVAS

From ELAZIG we moved along  the lake passing  through BINGOL, MUS. Both sides of the road were high cliffs. It looked like a land apart, probably resulting by the earthquake, which made the earth splited and collapsed in the middle. That was the curved road we were driving along.
We reached TATVAN and then passed along the biggest lake VAN of Turkey ( 3,755 sq. km.).

Akhtamar island on lake Van - Photo : wikipedia.org / Bing images search

We saw a Turkish soldier, hitchhiking on the roadside and he asked for a lift to his camp which was on our way to go. So we picked him up. We arrived at the soldier camp before dusk.   

Lake Van - Google sattelite

TRAVEL ROUTE FROM ELAZIG (A) VIA LAKE VAN (3,755 SQUARE KMS.) TO GEVAS (B) IN TURKEY !

We asked to camp overnight in the camp area. The chief of the military camp, ranking of a lieutenant extended his warm welcome, probably because we were generously giving a  lift to his soldiers.  He let us park overnight in the camp and welcomed us with the tea party. We had friendly conversation  but he was not so keen at speaking English.

Near Tatvan - Photo : cerambyx.uochb.cz / Bing images search

Along the eastern of our Turkey's journey route we drove through today, it is well known that the children in this area, like throwing rocks at vehicles and to windshields.  It is, therefore, a must  for some vehicles  of tourists travelling through this area like us to build or install a wire mesh sieve to protect the windshields and glass headlights  from throwing and flying stones.  But we are not equipped with any windshield protection !!

Turkish - Iranian border - Photo : maajabuyakweli.blogspot / Bing images search

It would be very difficult to replace the headlights or windshields in this area and there should be more other problems  followed.  Since we were not well protected, we had to keep looking at both sides of the road, while using our both hands (and  both feet lifted up) to touch and support the windshield and side windows almost all the way across hundreds of kilometers . This was to prevent  impact of stones  flying against the windshield. Because the condition of the road was rough and the rocks thrown by the wheels of cars that ran in front of us, we had to leave the space to another car far enough, yet even when there was another car coming from opposite site or overtaking . It may cause also this problem .......