This morning we left Ankara about 7:45 on their excellent expressway. Eight lanes, uncrowded, free. The Turks are building for the future. We stopped about lunchtime at an 13th century "han" or inn, on the Silk Road. Camel caravans would make an overnight stop at these hans on their way to or from the Far East. It was a big place with very thick walls. I don't know why so thick--were they defending against cannons? bombs? nuclear attack??
We went along the way until our hydraulic clutch blew a line so we had no clutch. Within half an hour, two of our modern-day caravan came along and used their phones to get us help. This was about 1:30. Waited a long time; finally abandoned our RV dead on the road and got a ride with our guide to the CG. They have arranged to have our RV trailered in to a garage to get it fixed. Tonight we are at a nice hotel near the CG. Tomorrow we taxi back to the CG to join in the sightseeing, then pick up the RV. They (whoever?) assure us that all will be fixed tomorrow. Inshal'lah. We are here in Cappadocia for tonight and two more nights, so it should be done by then. Also, there is a large town 40 km away with a Ford dealer (the maker of the chassis of our RV). Until then we'll use the wifi at the hotel and enjoy real showers! To tell the truth, our RV has been really comfortable to live in. We've had the heat on the last 2 mornings in Ankara. The elevation there is about 3200 feet, and here we are either on a high plateau or near small mountains (highest 4000 meters?)
I suppose Stanley told you about how he joined the Hittites in the museum fighting against Ramses II of Egypt. Our clutch gave out within sight of a volcanic mountain they were fighting over because of the obsidian it contains. There were few places to get obsidian, one of the first stones used to make tools because it breaks in sharp edges like glass.
I don't suppose that the camels blew any clutch lines on their long journeys across the land. They probably got sore paws though.
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