As if I hadn't already used enough modes of transport to get myself around I today added quad biking to the list. As I was passing by the bike shop I dropped by to ask the onwer what the best way to explore the surrounding valleys and cave churches was. He came back with the idea of hiring a quad bike, which apart from being ridiculously fun allowd me quick access to otherwise tricky terrain. A bit of haggling later and I was off exploring the various valleys and seeing yet more caves and churches. I still can't get over how stunning the scenery is in Goreme and how unique.

I returned about lunchtime to be invited for lunch with Faruk, the shop owner, and sat with the other employees scoffing down some sort of Turkish chickpea soup with copious amounts of bread. Faruk reminded me of Danny from the film "Withnail and I" as he swaggered around his shop in the most chilled fashion and always concerned about his hair. He mixed business with chatting up passing Australian girls. I still can't understand how the businesses in Turkey make any money though. Every shop or store seems to have at least 4 people who mostly sit around and drink tea, smoke furiously, mumble something occassionally and generally just watching the world go by. It must cost a fortune to keep these people in such difficult jobs.

I had one last supper on the roof terrace of the Hotel, but the weather was changing and before long the clouds covered the sky and a full on thunderstorm with amazing lightning forks, had begun. I headed to the bus station to catch the 13hr bus to Erzurum. Interestingly, the journey involved a change at Kayseri which was an old Caravan crossroad in the days of the Silk Road. Even to this day it remains a massive junction for busses going to and coming from all over turkey.

The bus journey to Erzurum was most amusing. Firstly I sat down next  to a guy called Masa who spoke no English but insisted on communicating for a long time while all I wanted to do was sleep, especially as it took two hours to establish our names, marital status, destination and whether or not I like various places in Turkey. This was punctuated by the sounds of occassional but excessively lound screaming of children and the odd military police checks. At one such check the fact that I was the only foreigner on board caused quite some commotion and I was ordered off the bus and marched to the little outpost for what I presumed to be questioning. The only problem was that it was all in Turkish and I could only sit there and play dumb not having a clue what I was being interrogated for. I sat and looked blank as the Army officials surrounded me trying to string english sentences together which made no sense whatsoever. One guy kept repeating "You, my uncle chaerdren" and even wrote it down for me, but to no avail. I have no idea what he was getting at but it was 3 in the morning and I just ended up nodding in agreement, hoping that was the right response. Finally a rather more serious guy who I guessed was of some rank came and stuttered "What is your name?", so I replied and without further ado I was allowed to depart and go back to sleep still not quite sure what all the fuss was about. I slept for the rest of the journey thoroughly exhausted from my exertions!