Lone Pine and Siliviri, Turkey. 2015 🇹🇷

Travelled: 288 Klm around Anzac, then on to Silivri, Turkey.
Visited: The Second Ridge at Anzac
Stayed: Semizkum Mocamp, Silivri. A fairly basic campsite but very friendly managers. All services including power TL30. N41.07517, E28.16143

We haven’t had access to power for several days so before departing Hotel Kum we spend a little time giving the Hymer a thorough vacuum and wipeout, then do all the usual services. Our plan being to return to Anzac and visit the sites on the second ridge. Whilst the focus on Anzac Day is generally the landing and the Cove itself, but by mid-morning on the 25th April the Anzac’s were fighting on what became known as the second ridge. The lines established there that day would change little in the next seven months.

17900 Kocadere Köyü/Eceabat/Çanakkale Province, Turkey

The New Zealand Memorial at Chunuk Blair. The NZ's actually overran and held it for a short period at a terrible cost. We met a really nice NZ couple here and had a good old chat. — The New Zealand Memorial at Chunuk Blair. The NZ’s actually overran and held it for a short period at a terrible cost. We met a really nice NZ couple here and had a good old chat.

Kamal, his thoughts and his statues are everywhere. To the winner goes the spoils. Mind you his words on the memorial are very kind and conciliatory toward the invaders. — Mustafa Kemal, his thoughts and his statues are everywhere. To the winner goes the spoils. Mind you, his words on the memorial are very kind and conciliatory toward the invaders.

The view of Suvla is panoramic from Chunuk Bair.

As we re-enter the National Park and turn toward Anzac we see traffic control has blocked the Second Ridge Road. Sometimes you get that bad feeling. We stop and have a chat with the controller. After some sign language and map pointing he sends us to the other end of the normally one-way road the opposite way we presume. So we drive around to find the road locked again at Chunuk Bair, the top of the third ridge. So it’s all downhill from here if we walk. The traffic man at the top tries to discourage us with a shake of the head telling us it’s 3 klm to Lone Pine but it looks a lot more like four on the map.

Catching my breath, it's been a long walk. Matt McLachlan's book with its stories and anecdotes is a wonderful reference. — Catching my breath, it’s been a long walk. Matt McLachlan’s book with its stories and anecdotes is a wonderful reference.

Part of the memorial wall indicated the names of the Lighthorseman lost with no known grave. What struck us is there are cemeteries all over Anzac, yet the walls here commemorate 4228 Australians and 708 New Zealanders with no known grave at Anzac — Part of the memorial wall indicating the names of the Lighthorseman lost at Anzac, with no known grave. What struck us is there are cemeteries all over Anzac, yet the walls here commemorate the 4228 Australians and 708 New Zealanders with no known grave at Anzac

We didn’t come this far to pike so we head of down the hill with a couple of bottles of water and our sun hats. We can see Lone Pine in the distance.

Courtney's and Steele's Post Cemetery. At the top of Monash Valley, the area occupied on the 25th April and held till the evacuation. — Courtney’s and Steele’s Post Cemetery. At the top of Monash Valley, the area occupied on the 25th April and held till the evacuation.

A preserved Turkish Tunnel near Quinn's — A preserved Turkish tunnel and trench near Quinn’s

As we walked up the hill from Lone Pine to the Neck the old trenches can be seen on either side of the road. Not preserved just as they have remained weathered by 100 years. — As we walked up the hill from Lone Pine to The Neck, the old trenches can be seen on either side of the road. Not preserved just as they have remained weathered by 100 years.

Luckily enough as we walk back up from the Neck we managed to con a passing roadworker into giving us a lift up the last kilometre or so. The steepest part as it happens. Very tired and hot we drive back down from Chunuk our mission complete. We lunched under a tree for an hour before setting off for Istanbul.

Relaxing at Semizkum Mocamp, near Siliviri.

We decide on a stay outside of Istanbul rather than driving in late in the afternoon after a 3-4 hours on the road. We look into the various databases and find Semizkum Mocamp. It’s not at all fancy, a basic family campsite about an hour from Istanbul on the Sea of Marmara. They appear to be very nice people and give us a spot right on the beach. We decide on a rest day after 16 days on the road. We catch a bus to Siliviri to find a post office, we need to apply for a toll vignette for travelling on the Turkish motorway system. Job done, beach and sleep the go for the rest of the day.

Hymer's spot on the beach, some shade to boot. — Hymer’s spot on the beach, some shade to boot.

The waterfront at Siliviri, we were surprised by how friendly and comfortable it all was.

Michael and Pam

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