7/30 –Edirne to Corlu 79m/127k**

Ottoman 14: Edirne to Corlu
Saturday, July 30, 2011
79m/127k**

A NEW BOB’S BIKE TOUR FIRST – EMBEDDED VIDEO!
The first video here is us riding on Bulgaria 8 SE from Sofia toward Turkey yesterday.  The one at the end of the post is of the team in a fountain at the end of day today in Corlu, Turkey.

Today was pretty much a straight shot toward Istanbul on Turkey 100.  It parallels, a few miles south, the major highway O-3 / E80.  We were given conflicting advice on which road to take, but picked the right one.  Almost the entire way was either a new road with wide, smooth shoulders and perhaps a third of it was on new road, still closed off to cars.  Here’s the happy riders leaving Edirne.

Lisa and Katharine in front.

Cherie and Nels bring up the rear.  Jürgen was a bit ahead…  And here is a mileage sign with Istanbul only 194 kilometers, less than 120 miles away.

Along the way, as we’ve experienced almost every day on this trip, there were weddings.  The first photo below is of people dancing in a circle along the side of the road celebrating one.  The next is of a procession of cars with another.  They all seem to have processions.

We kept riding the rolling hills pretty much all day today, on good roads.  According to plan we stopped in Luleburgaz for lunch.  Nels found a great place overlooking the seeming fairly new city.  Here’s the view and two pics of us having lunch.

Then it was off for the last 30 miles into Corlu.  I went ahead with Annie in the van to catch up on the writing, everyone else rode.  When we got there – a special treat.  The Divan Hotel has a fountain on the side.  We grabbed beers and wine and refreshed.  Here’s Lisa and Jürgen riding up, and the team by the fountain.

And here’s the video of the water feature / water event AKA known as the fountain at the Divan Hotel in Corlu, Turkey.

Tomorrow is our last day of riding.  Istanbul here we come.

Bob August 7   6pm   Washington DC