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Kavalla - Istanbul
E.Route : Kavalla - Istanbul : ETD 0530 : ETA 1530 : Dist. 297m.
A.Route : Kavalla - Istanbul : ATD 0547 : ATA 1800* : Dist 310 m.
- Depart Kavalla 0547
- 0551 - 0601 Fuel stop.
- 0754 - 0759 Crew change
- 0932 - 0940 Crew change
- 1037 - 1141 Frontier clearance
- 1145 - 1157 Fuel stop.
- 1203 - 1254 lunch stop
- 1430 - 1432 Crew change
- 1510 - 1540 Crew change and food.
- 1615 - 1620 Fuel stop
- Arr Istanbul 1700**.
Est.A.Spd: 29,70 mph : Gross A.Spd 27.70 mph : Net Ave. Spd. 38.20 mph
Stop time : 3:07 hr : Speedo TD 5156 : Speedo TA 5466
Comment : Asterisk on ATA indicate a that this was by Turkish, time - the times for the journey are given throughout In Greek time, Asterisks by Arr.Istanbul indicate arrival at assembly point on the outskirts. Arrival at the ferry was 1720 (Gk.) and arrival on other aide 2050 (Gk.). The campsite was finally reached at 2129 (Gk.), or 2229 (Turkish). Peculiarly high as average speed may seem (Net.T.Time), there is nothing in the log to suggest that it might not be correct.
Jim Lindsay's diary:
Everyone had been very excited by the idea of Kavalla (with hindsight this seems rather odd, considering
the experiences we went on to have), and we made the most of the beach and the town. There was a lot of
swimming, during which the football drifted quietly out to sea and was never seen again. Local customs
seemed a little odd. We tried to buy fruit from a trader in the market but he was shouted at by his fellows
and the deal was off. I suppose they were all having their customary lunch snooze and he was breaking the
rules. In the evening the Highland cultural treat was repeated but for some reason long since forgotten
Jim Moyes and I stayed behind and groused about the universe over drinks in the local hotel instead. Nobody
was arrested this time either.
On our way again surprisingly early through a rather dustier and less prosperous part of Greece. Cuddles'
radio entertained us with Greek music that sounded rather Turkish - although when we got to Turkey the music
mysteriously seemed to sound Greek. We stopped for lunch on a rather bleak plain just inside Turkey and almost
immediately a small flat-capped man on a donkey turned up leading a camel. He offered rides, and Pru fell off
into a thorn bush. We did not see another camel until we were on the other side of Turkey, so it is safe to
assume that he was exploiting tourists eager for their first taste of the Orient. The whole convoy met by
arrangement on the outskirts of Istanbul and then we crawled slowly through the traffic to the ferry terminal
for Üsküdar, where our camp at the Institute of Education awaited. First impressions of Istanbul were
of poorly restrained chaos. There seemed to be a huge number of taxis and every second building was a bank.
Ferry tickets and fares were very enigmatic but we grasped that the ticket for the bus covered only 10 passengers
so most of us hid under seats or blankets until we were on board.
