Repairing the Motorcycle in Ankara and Visiting the City - Turkey Roadtrip

So, today’s the day—I’m finally pulling out of Istanbul. I actually managed to find a great little garage for the bike while I was here; they only charged me about 2 euros a day, which was a win. I was sad to leave Istanbul as I really started to appreciate it’s busy streest, its food and its beauty, but honestly, as much as I enjoyed the break, it’s far too easy to get soft when you’re staying in hostels. The days just start to blur into each other. You get settled into a comfortable couch with a decent Wi-Fi connection, and before you know it, you’ve forgotten why you’re even out here. You lose that drive to explore, to discover, and to actually push yourself out of your comfort zone. Don't get me wrong, you can't bivouac every single night forever—you’d burn out. But for me, staying in a hostel for too long is even worse, especially on a trip that lasts for weeks or months. It’s a bit of a trap. It’s way too easy to just hang out with other Europeans or travelers, which can make you feel nostalgic but also completely cuts you off from the locals. If you stay inside that bubble, you miss out on the real connections and those wild, unpredictable experiences that actually make the trip. Here is the rewrite for the next part of your trip. I’ve focused on making it sound like a personal reflection, emphasizing the contrast between your previous trips and the reality of late autumn in Turkey. My next real stop was Ankara, but with the absolute nightmare of Istanbul traffic, I knew I wasn't going to make it in one go. I was going to have to find a spot to camp regardless. Honestly, moments like that remind me just how lucky I am to be on a bike—filtering through miles of gridlock while everyone else is just stuck there. One of the big downsides of traveling this late in the autumn, though, is how short the days are. Back when I was riding in Norway, I remember sitting in my tent, sipping tea after dinner while watching the sunset. Here, it’s a different story. I’m almost always still on the saddle when the sun goes down, chasing the last bit of light and warmth just before I stop to find a place to sleep. The temperature drops as soon as it gets dark. Luckily, I’m not in the high desert yet, so there’s still enough brush and wood around to build a proper fire. The wood in this region is bone-dry, so it caught almost instantly—no struggling with damp logs or stinging smoke in my eyes, so I didn’t need to get out my Left-handed smoke shifter On the menu tonight: mushroom pasta sautéed in butter with chunks of beef, topped off with some cream. It’s exactly what I needed to fuel up for the night. It’s funny—people think you’re just sitting still on a motorcycle, but you actually burn a massive amount of calories when you travel. You have to stay on top of your intake—fiber, carbs, protein—if you want to keep going day after day. The night is freezing, but the spot and the food is perfect. 📍 Follow my trip: 📸 Instagram –   / manman_bzh   #motorcycle #camping #travel #roadtrip #backpacking