The seven days passed by quickly and before we knew it, there was just one last day of ups…View image… and downs before ending in Ayder. The rains, rivers and streams had done a job on the trails and we carefully crossed many small wooden and slippery bridges, Cemil always keeping a lookout to make sure no one fell in…View image. He also kept a wary eye to see that the mules made it across safely with their heavy loads. I personally think he was rightfully more concerned about them than us. The area was becoming more inhabited and we came across locals who used the time-honored method of winching themselves and goods across one of the rivers. ex-Marine turned a most attractive shade of green when he first saw that and panicked that we were going to have to cross the river in that fashion. (The guy only looks tough…) Today, was not fun. Mud is slippery, hard on the ankles because feet slide in different directions and time-consuming. I was more than ready for the trek to be over…

Cemil waiting for klutzy Sheila to cross a Turkish river 

the heavily laden mules crossed a river safely in the Kackar mountains 

the locals winch their way across rushing rivers in Turkey
The mountain trail led down to an even more disastrous and mud-filled road that could have passed for a streamlet with all the water and rocks from avalanches. As messy as it was, we knew that the end was near. Just another mile to Ayder, and the first little humpback bridge came into view. These bridges…View image… are named “humpback” because the arch in the center is higher than the ramps on either side and makes a little “hump.” There are both Roman humpback bridges and a Ottoman humpback bridges and they look the same to my uneducated eye. I do know that whether it be Roman or Ottoman, they are old and photogenic…View image.

was this a road or a stream on the way to Ayder, Turkey 

Ottoman or Roman humped back bridge on the outskirts of Ayder, Turkey
The little town of Ayder was dead ahead…

a welcoming committee of one in Ayder, Turkey
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