Day 159
4+4: 8 hrs, 6 .0+4.5: 10.5 kms
Day total: 16 hrs: 17.7 kms

After Kursunlu, I walk up to the nearest highway hoping to wave down a bus headed west. It's not long and a bus pulls over and the attendant says they can drop me off by the highway near to Bolu, a large city where I' confident I'll be able to find decent lodging.


Bolu is an large city, with a long, lively pedestrian street being built--and a couple of hotels... but all are either closed, full or very expensive. I end up walking all the way to the other side of town and back not really able to enjoy the experience as I'm not very happy with the prospect of having to cough up extra money for a pricey hotel. Just when I was telling myself how easy Turkey is to travel around... I've got this. And it's frustrating to know that there are cheap hotels here somewhere and I'm just not able to find them--or find anyone who can direct me to them.

Finally I make a last ditch attempt, I go back to one of the hotels that is full, and try to explain that I need directions to the cheap hotel area. Finally I get the message across and... sure enough... down a back alley I find just the kind of hotel I'm looking for.

After the runaround I got, I don't really feel like fully exploring the city a second time in the morning--but I do meander through the market area/main mosque/plaza, then down to the ever present Ataturk plaza/memorial... then walk on back towards the bus station... and on my way to see what else I can squeeze into my last day of adventure.