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Discovering Ordu's Hidden Treasures

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Skiing in Ordu?

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I think most people would not associate Turkey and snow skiing. However, Turkey has many ski resorts through the country many of them quite nice by even western standards. On the other hand, snow skiing near the Black Sea is not as well known and there aren’t many options. That was the case until now. The province of Ordu finally opened their ski resort have several years of planning and construction. I’m a big fan of skiing so I thought I would take a winter adventure and ride up to the resort.

Normally riding a motorcycle up into the mountains in winter would be foolish if not a death wish. However, this has been a particularly dry and mild winter so I knew the roads would be clear…so I hoped. As it turned out the road was open and the local government had also do a great job updating the road. I suppose this was necessary if they actually wanted people to go skiing. I absolutely love the road up to Çambaşı. The road is very sinuous which is awesome on a motorbike but torture on a bus or the back seat of a car. The air was clear with maximum visibility. I found myself constantly distracted by the speculation vistas and mountains and I had to stop a dozen times to take a picture or just take in the landscape.

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View of the sea and Ordu on the road.

My journey took about one hour but it felt like 20 minutes as I was thoroughly enjoying the ride. Çambaşı Ski Resort was finally open for business, or was it? I pulled into an empty parking lot and wondered if the hype and gossip was true. It wasn’t sure until I looked over at the chair lift. It was working!! That must mean it’s open. I hopped off the bike and started to explore and figure out what’s up.

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Çambaşı Ski Resort. It’s small but quaint.

I learned that the Park was open, only because of the unseasonable warm and dry weather only one slope was open. I enquired about the chair lift and learned that could take a round trip even if I wasn’t skiing. The was astonished to find out the lift price was only 7₺ or $1.75. Wow!! At those prices I could come more often. I happily paid the fee and took a ride to see what I could see.

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Riding on the chair lift, $1.75 round trip!!

I was impressed. I’ll definitely be back with my family. All they need is a little more snow.  Here are a few pics from my adventure.

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View of the slope from the chair lift. Definitely needs more snow.
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View from the top
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Another view.
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Always time for a Turkish tea on the way home.

Ohtamış Waterfall

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Beautiful Ohtamış Falls
Beautiful Ohtamış Falls

Ohtamış_3Ordu’s natural beauty is one of the many reasons that lead me to move here.  There are many undiscovered destinations, but there are also several well-known places that you just can’t miss when you come to visit.  One of these destinations is Ohtamış Waterfall in the county of Ulubey.  It’s about an hours drive from the City of Ordu along some of the most beautiful roads in Turkey.

Path down to falls.
Path down to falls.

Ohtamış Waterfall isn’t just any waterfall.  It’s considered the tallest waterfall in the entire Black Sea Region of Turkey.  Even with credentials like that it still remains relatively untouched by tourism.  The waterfall is secluded and only can be reached on foot and with permission from locals who live at the entrance of the path to the falls.  They extremely friendly and will be more than happy to show the way if you so desire.  The path is steep but easily passable.  There is even a section were you have to skip across a shallow creek.  The roar of the falls will lead the way and assure you that you are headed in the right direction.

The falls will certainly not disappoint.

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Look for the signs.

Directions:  There are a couple of ways to get to the falls.  If you want a little off-road adventure…Travel on Highway D855 from Ordu towards Gürgentepe.  After 20 km past Ulubey (7 km before Gürgentepe) there will be a dirt road on the left with a sign to the falls.  This road will lead towards the village of Ohtamış.  Keep going straight until you find another sign to the falls.  Remember, the waterfall is at the bottom of the valley.   The less adventurous route…Travel Highway D855 until Ulubey.  In Ulubey you will turn left at the town square and follow the signs toward the village of Akoluk.  After passing Akoluk keeping going until you see a sign for the falls.   No dirt roads!

Life is a Highway…

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Should I attempt to drive through it? And there's another tunnel on the other side.
Should I attempt to drive through it?

If life was truly a highway, this is definitely the road that exemplifies life.   It is definitely worthy of being called an adventure.  There are paved sections straight and wide-open, and there are narrow and perilous passes with no room for mistake.  There are hills and valleys each with their joys and challenges.   There dark tunnels with no light at the end which challenge your faith and resolve to reach the other side…if there is even one.  At times there are incredible views that cause you to pause and marvel at the beauty of the world, and at other times there is only the road ahead and the hope of getting to the eventual destination.  This highway is the new “Karadeniz Akdeniz Otoyolu”, Black Sea Mediterranean Sea Highway that at the moment is still under-construction.

The new highway is critical for the economic development of the Black Sea Region, especially Ordu.  One of Ordu’s primary economic challenges is transporting goods to and from the region to central Turkey and eventually the seaports in the south of the country.   Construction of a highway linking the two seas has been dream for more than 140 years, however crossing the Eastern Black Sea Mountains has not been feasible until now.   There are a few highways that cross the mountains, but these roads are dangerous, and in the winter months not easily passable.   The project began several years ago, and considerable progress has been made.    The majority of the tunnels are nearly complete, and road foundations have been laid.   The road is “open”, but only for those brave enough to try.    I would not try in my car, but this the perfect for an adventure motorcycle or 4×4.  In a couple years this highway will no longer be adventurous, but it will retain its beautiful scenery.

The best way to describe the adventure is with pictures.

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The highway is being cut through the heart of the Eastern Black Sea Mountains and still has sections like this.
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There are dozens of tunnels, this tunnel is part of an older highway section. There are no lights and no light at the end of the tunnel.
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Views like this are extremely distracting when you are trying to pay attention to the road.
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Along the highway are waterfalls like this one. There is a nice pool at the bottom of this one that would be perfect for a swim on a hot day.
If you are wondering how someone gets to the other side of the valley...here is one of the many cables to zipline across. During hazelnut season, I am sure you can catch a ride.
If you are wondering how someone gets to the other side of the valley…here is one of the many cables to zipline across. During hazelnut season, I am sure you can catch a ride.

 

The tunnels are meant to replace "switch-backs" like this one. These would be very difficult to navigate with a large truck.
The tunnels are meant to replace “switch-backs” like this one. These would be very difficult to navigate with a large truck.
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More scenery!!
Finally at our destination...Topçam.
Finally at our destination…Topçam.
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Now it’s time to do it again in reverse.

Black Sea Fishing Village…

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Fishing Harbor
Fishing Harbor
Entering Medereseönü
Entering Medereseönü

The little town of Medreseönü is quietly nestled along Black Sea coast 25 km, 15 miles, east of Fatsa, Turkey.  The town gets its name from an old medrese, or Islamic Theological School, that once existed in the location of the existing elementary school.  The name literally translates as “front of the school”.  Today the town, and surround villages, has a population of about 2,500, and they primarily make their living from fishing and hazelnut farming.  Like many of the small towns in Ordu, it has its standard markets, government buildings, elementary school, and bus station.  Medreseönü also has a small harbour where fishing boats can dock and unload their catch.

Uzun Saçlı'nın Yeri Restaurant
Uzun Saçlı’nın Yeri Restaurant

Medreseönü is located along the scenic highway between Fatsa and Ordu, and one of the main attractions of the town is the restaurant Uzun Saçlı’nın Yeri or in English, “the long haired man’s place”.  The restaurant specializes in seafood, but visitors can also just sit back and relax while sipping on a glass of Turkish tea watching the fisherman work on their nets.

Downtown Medreseönü.
Downtown Medreseönü.

 

 

Truthfully the town lacks some of the Black Sea Village charm found in some other towns along the coast.  However, tourists looking for an authentic working Turkish fishing village then it’s worth at least stopping by for a short break during your scenic drive.

Light at the end of the tunnel…

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Kırlı, Perşembe
Kırlı, Perşembe

Town of Kırlı

Overlooking entrance to Turkey's longest road tunnel.
Overlooking entrance to Turkey’s longest road tunnel.

The town is of Kırlı is nestled in the mountains of the county of Perşembe.  The town is hidden directly beneath the Nefise Akçelik Tunnel (the longest road tunnel in Turkey) on the Ordu side.  Residents of the town are generally hazelnut farmers and a few of people work for the KGM, Turkey’s highway management department, which has a maintenance facility at the entrance to the tunnel. The town consists of a few markets, stores, elementary school, and a mosque.  Local farmers and residents from the surrounding villages come to the town to get supplies or to catch service buses into the City of Ordu.

Park on the edge of town.
Park on the edge of town.

The town of Kırlı doesn’t offer much for tourists, however the town sits on the banks of Akçaova Creek bringing cool mountain runoff from the surrounding Çanık Mountains.  There is a small park located on the entrance of the town.  Visitors can relax while listening to the soothing sounds of the creek rushing over the rocks below.  Upstream of the town Akçaova Creek has specular white-water and waterfalls.  One of the waterfalls, Karaoluk Şelalesi, is a great place for picnicking and swimming on hot summer days.  Locals say that the deep pools along the creek also provide great trout fishing.

The town of Kırlı is the last opportunity to pick up last minute picnic supplies before heading up into the mountains for the day.

Kırlı's town square.
Kırlı’s town square.

 

Numerous waterfalls are waiting to be explored.
Numerous waterfalls are waiting to be explored.

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Adventure Ordu is committed to highlighting the natural beauty and cultural heritage of the Black Sea Region of Turkey.  There are numerous places to explore and countless people to meet, and what better way to experience Ordu than by motorbike.  … Read More