Macs with Packs: I would walk 500 miles

Helloooo!

Oh my goodness - we have started trekking the Lycian Way and it is outstanding! Our plan is to try to walk the whole way - a bit over 500kms. If we don't make it that's fine - we're not out to break any records - we just want to do one of the top 10 long distance walks in the world in a country that we've been keen to visit for a very long time.

So far, the walk has far exceeded all our expectations. I don't have enough superlatives for the scenery - every time we mount the crest of a hill another stunning turquoise bay is spread out beneath us. The wild, craggy, rocky mountains are awe-inspiring and they tumble down to the sea in wild leaps and bounds.

Each day we climb a loooong way up and a loooong way down. There has been a real variety of track surfaces. Sometimes we have to walk on the made roads which is fine as we're out in the country and the roads aren't busy. Most of the time we are on tracks though and these are usually quite rocky as this is very rocky country. Many of the tracks are ancient walkways used by the Lycians well over 2,000 years ago, or the Romans or a number of other civilisations that have lived here at different times. We've learned to appreciate pine forests because pines only seem to grow in the less rocky country and the pine needles cushion our steps.

Most of the time we walk through scrubby stuff - basically anything that can survive in this harsh, dry climate. The plants also have to survive being constantly pruned by goats! We often walk through olive groves or past terraces of wheat. There are heaps of wildflowers but I can see that many, many more are getting ready to flower. I've seen a lot of cyclamen leaves popping up along the track - I can't wait til they flower!

According to Fatma, these enormous olive trees are over 300 years old.

We've me some great people from all over the world that are doing parts, or all, of this trek. Most are only here for a short holiday and are doing parts of the walk organised through a tour company. They get their bags taken to the next town. Some are doing it all. Some are staying in pansiyons and some are camping. We had a lot of fun with these two Dutch ladies. Oohhh John, you are so handsome!

We didn't know what to expect with our accommodation and we sure have got a variety! The first place (at Faralya) was a great trekker's lodge. The next one (at Kabak) was frequented by English tourists - it had fabulous food and - wait for it - an infinity pool! It was bloody cold though! The view from our place at Alinca was unbelievable! Then we stayed in a basic place - Fatma's House. Almost everything that we ate there was grown or farmed by Fatma - the vegies, the eggs, the honey, the jams, the bread... I could go on!

Our bungalow at Kabak.....

......and that incredible infinity pool!

The view from our accommodation at Alinca. Sorry about the dark faces - we only have John's computer with us and it doesn't have photoshop!

Fatma brought us some honeycomb from her hives and showed us how to eat it. Awesome!

There are lots of dogs around. The ones at our accommodation places are usually great. We took a liking to Olive, a male kelpie-like dog at Kabak. He watched us pack up to leave then happily trotted off ahead of us. We got to a turn and went to turn right but Olive turned left. Sure enough, Olive was right. At the next junction Olive again clearly showed us the way. When we stopped to check or map you could just about see him rolling his eyes with impatience. He stayed with us for over an hour until we came to a junction where straight ahead went up to where we were going but right went back in a loop to his place. He looked at us sadly - he was clearly going to leave us here. We said our good byes and off he went.