On the 27th of July after visiting Dracula’s residence at Bran’s Castle in Transylvania we faced the Transfăgărășan highway, with our 1.0L engines. Dubbed the world’s most beautiful highway, we crossed a 2000m pass through an incredible mountain range. Liz the trusty lemon cruised up with no issues.
The traffic jam at the top allowed for plenty of time to enjoy the view, give our clutch a good workout and have a roadside dance with some locals. The next night’s camp by a river on a Romanian farm introduced us to some local shepherds Riccardo and Adrian, who were very intrigued by 14 westerners with strange cars camping out in the Romanian back country.
After three awesome nights camping in Romania, the Lemon, with sweaty seats, 30-degree heat, and four tired girls entered the last European country, Bulgaria.
We gave our suspension a good test with all the potholes and headed straight for the Black Sea. The spare tyre on the roof, that we thought we had tied down safely, fell victim to these windy Bulgarian roads. Soon after arriving at our camp site on a cliff edge above the ocean, with a walking track down to the beach, we realised our load was a little lighter. After concluding that the tyre was there that morning; noting we hadn’t left the car unattended during the day; realising the tarp underneath was also missing and the boys promising they didn’t steal it; the only conclusion was that it had slipped off. After a quick check of the Bulgarian news to make sure no car accidents had been caused by objects flying off car roofs, we settled into our tents for a good night’s sleep.
The next day was the first of the more difficult border crossings, heading towards Turkey, with rumours it could take six hours. But after spending 90 minutes with the Turkish locals, we were in the country. Spirits were high as we had entered one of the countries, we were most excited for, with the plan to travel west and stay here for nine days.
Spirits were quickly crushed by the huge city of Istanbul with 18 million people and hectic peak hour traffic with very flexible road rules. After four hours of wrong turns, wrong addresses in the map and an Air B n B host that cancelled last minute, a friendly local guided us to the closest hotel after finding four tired, lost girls in a strange car in the middle of the city at 10.30pm.
Our night was quickly redeemed by the first shower for a few days, clean sheets, a real bed and free breakfast. After less than 24 hours in Turkey, we were already taken aback by how friendly every single person we encountered was. Everyone was willing to help us, show us the right way and wanted to know where we were from.
The following day could be summed up by excessive use of Google Translate and many cups of tea, as we tried to communicate with a mechanic to assure him our car was not broken and that we just needed the suspension raised and a sump guard. Seven hours and 225 euros later, not only were we lifted, and our engine was protected, but we had newly spray painted rims and a brand new tyre to replace the one we donated to the Bulgarian countryside.
To celebrate, we took Liz the Lemon with her makeover into the city centre and cruised around the Grand Bazaar, the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sofia. Then we had a night out on a roof top bar outside the blue mosque with the rest of the Mongol Rally crew.
Driving south of Istanbul, we had a quick stop to replace our windscreen in a small Turkish town after a rock got the better of us on the highway. We shared a few selfies and cups of Fanta with the Turkish mechanics and then onwards to Gallipoli. In the town of Eceabat we found the famous New Zealand and Aussie boomerang bar that has played host to hundreds of Kiwis and Aussies visiting ANZAC cove over the years, as the owner lets everyone camp out in front for free. Despite its heyday being back in the 1990s and early 2000s with huge parties and sometimes hundreds of people staying; with just a few of us there, there was still good vibes, food and plenty of raki.
The 30-degree sun roasted us the next day on the peninsula as we visited ANZAC cove and a handful of the cemeteries and memorials on the peninsula. It was very surreal and saddening to look up at the cliffs from the ocean and think about what young Kiwi men, the same age as us went through when they arrived on the same shores 100 years ago.
Since driving east from Gallipoli, we’ve had plenty of dips in the clear blue Mediterranean water, visited the ancient Roman ruins of Heirapolis, the salt terrace of Pamukkale, and camped and swum in clear mountain lakes as we drive through the beautiful region of Isparta.
Clauds has been struck down by the first of many food poisonings as we tackle another 35-degree day onwards to Cappadocia.
Days on the road: 19. Miles travelled: 3989. Car issues: lost a tyre off the roof, engine light came on but has now turned off, one cracked windscreen. Showers had: 6. Average car temperature: 40 degrees.
You can track Pulled Up In A Lemon progress using this link: trackme.kiwi/event/unlistedview/1227/496486 or download the app Track Me NZ and enter lemon@trackme.nz
Pulled Up In A Lemon is raising money for New Zealand’s Women’s Refuge. Its fundraising link is https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/pulledupinalemon
BY LUCY PRINGLE - Pulled Up In A Lemon member
Photos: Pulled Up In A Lemon
