for a rather sticky feel . We loaded up , secured Icebear in his spot , attached the towrope and set off . In daylight it all seemed much easier , and we soon arrived in an industrial estate where the shipping company was .
Guided by Ali ’ s instructions we followed a dusty tarmac road past small , dilapidated industrial buildings and parked up on a sandy central divide in the road between piles of huge old truck tyres just outside the freight company ’ s open front storage unit . Ali went inside to negotiate the details of the transport while we waited by the bikes .
It didn ’ t take long for a couple of factory workers to show up offering us glasses of water . They were covered in black stuff head to toe , eyes gleaming with curiosity . In Ali ’ s absence we were left with nothing but gestures and pointing , but they seemed impressed with the big bikes , nonetheless . When Ali returned , he relayed an abbreviated version of our story and it transpired there was a car mechanic nearby that could surely sort out our bike ’ s batteries . We all piled into the factory worker ’ s rattling light blue pick-up and dropped the batteries off in a greasy garage for a recharge .
With all our bike troubles in the process of being solved , there was nothing for us to do but wait . Our chauffeurs ushered us back into the truck and brought us to the worker ' s café for lunch with a promise to come fetch us again when it was time to load the DRZ onto the truck . It was past lunchtime , so the little whitewashed café was empty . We made ourselves comfortable at the table outside the big front window and Ali ordered a feast of traditional Turkish dishes ; soup , fragrant rice , meat stew , salad , tomatoes , bread and bottomless cola and water .
I hadn ’ t realised how hungry I was until the food started arriving . Tucking in , Ali told the owner of
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