Azerbijan

Currently in Baku awaiting a ferry across the Caspian Sea to Turkmenistan.  It's a waiting game.  Been shopping with Maggs and she has bought this netbook on which I'm writing.  Don't tell her I've got it!!!  Camped near the mud volcanos yesterday.  Amazing turrets of active sulphar mud gurgling away.  A few people fell in and came out blue!  Went for a good run amongst the amazing views, most scenic run so far.  Baku is very trendy and expensive, great promenade, very well dressed personnel everywhere.  Apart from us scruffy overlanders.

Independance day

Great day this independence day lark.  A full on military parade, which turned into a bit of a carry on film.  The soldiers got fed up of marching and keep sprinting to catch the platoon in front whilst waving to their friends and family and having the odd smoke.  Two tanks nearly collided due to a bit of over excitement!  Great fun but I don't think the British Army would approve.  As I write this the supergroup that is Boney M are on stage bashing out their greatest hits.  So far I've heard 10 different versions of Brown girl in the ring!!  We've got fireworks , the lot.  Great city!  Oh and Darrels back so we're a team again.

Currently in Tiblisi, capital city of Georgia.  Got a couple of days to explore what looks to be a very nice city.  Georgian independence day tomorrow combined with two truck birthdays and a wanderers return, so party time!!  Georgia has been an amazing country.  We've wild camped in snow clad mountains, climbed to glaciers, stayed in some fantastic homestays and hosted a Georgian feast for the local village people.  ( Not village people as in the song! ).  The food is different, some good some not so good, salt is added in great quantity to everything which I'm not keen on.  But the food on the truck is great, so I'm coping!  The locals are very friendly and welcoming and like Turkey I have been pleasantly surprised.  Missing the kids and my two bambinos but I'm sure they're in good hands.  Also very sad to recieve the news about Mick Hall, best wishes and love to Carol.

Next stop the oil fields of Azarbyjan, or something like that!

Turkey

Currently ın Trabzon a Black sea coastel resort.  Quıte modern wıth a good feel to ıt.  Turkey has been amazıng.  The scenery rangıng from the dramatıc coastlıne, tıny vıllages on hıllsıdes, mountaın ranges wıth snow capped tops and the stunnıng lava landscape of Goreme.  The people are so frıendly and would gıve you anythıng.  I thınk I'm a bıt of a novelty when runnıng, they all want to shake my hand and ınvıte me to drınk tea.  I've been hot aır balloonıng, whıch was great, quad bıkıng whıch was hılarıous wıth Mad Mags ın control, mountaın bıkıng and runnıng.  Got to fıt ıt all ın!  Two moe days ın Turkey then onwards to Georgıa.  Happy days!

A few pics more to follow

Istanbul

What a great place Istanbul ıs.  As much as I do not lıke cıtıes thıs ıs greatç  Lots to see and very ınterestıng.  Expensıve though lıke most cıtıes.  Vısıted the Ayıa Sophıa and the blue mosque.  Both fascınatıng.  Sorry for short sentences and bad punctuatıon Im on a turkısh keyboard and cannot fıgure ıt out!  Stayıng ın a cool hostel rıght ın the centre ın a dorm wıth most of my travel mates.  Only a few snore!!  More sıghtseeıng tomorrow.  Weather ıs stıll great.  Ned the gnome has gone out.  Hope hes not back too late.

Bulgaria

After 3 nights in Bucharest arrived at a fantastic campsite in Bulgaria., Veliko Tarnova.  Beuatiful views and great weather.  Not impressed with Bucharest, glad to get out of the city and into the countryside.  Bulgaria has stunning scenery, similar to the Yorkshire dales, but on a larger scale.  Going for a run soon when once again the locals will be amazed at my athletic powers.  Got to go running because the food is great and beer very tempting.