Not just another adventure but a very scary experience.
Things got started when I met Mehmet , a Turkish cyclist who told me about Derebasi. He described this as a very old and historical mountain pass which is one of the most dangerous roads in the world. I guess that you, after following me for any time, could predict what my decision would be when I heard that.
Four days of rugged cycling along steep uphills to reach Derebasi Virage (bend), a century old road that was built between 1916 and 1918 by locals utilizing basic construction and no machines.
Once I stood in front of that huge mountain, I knew that there would be no looking back – and I would persist until I reached the apex. Twenty two kms (14 miles) of one long steep uphill climb from the village where I slept till I reached the summit. The first bend was quite hard and steep yet that was not the problem. As I started ascending, the snow and ice got far worse, and the road was one sheet of ice. I changed my sneakers with my crocs, giving me better traction on the slippery surface.
I started pushing the bike on that icy parts and my feet just skidded along the roadway. It was a real struggle but the worst part was knowing the 500 meter shear drop off the roadway should I lose my footing. I became paralyzed with fear – many questions were spinning through my brain – what if today is my last day? what will happen if I slip off the cliff? Who will tell my family and friends? As I’m thinking about this, I looked at my watch and I saw that it will become dark within 2 hours. More adrenaline was pumping through my veins. It’s not a good idea to camp in the middle of this mountain, it’s freezing cold and windy and I’m simply not properly prepared for this type of weather. In addition , I saw footprints of bears and wolves, pitching my tent was simply out of the question .
I was reminded of becoming lost in the desert between Ethiopia and Kenya when I thought to turn around and go back. I survived by not giving up and pushing till I reach the goal. That was my motivation and that’s how I kept going. I accepted that if anything goes wrong I’m happy and I’m not going to regret because I made the right decision.
One more hour of pushing allowed me to reach the back of the mountain where the sun was still shining – it was there and then that I knew I had only a few kilometers to go. The road started getting muddy and with that little bit of snow, the conditions became much better for traction than a slippery ice.
The moment I reached the plateau, Its hard to express how great I felt- proud and happy To reach the goal.