The running year 2023 started in South Africa with spending about 2 weeks in Cape Town with my daughters Vera and Sara and their families and friends. When Ingrid joined me middle of January we went to Knysna for a week of Golf. Some other highlits were Golf weeks with the motorhome around Caorle at the Mediterrainian and around the lake of Gardasee as well as a cycling tour with the racing bike and a tent to Triest and back via Cortina d’Ampezzo and Traun in Upper Austria. The “Major” in 2023 is now finalised. With the motorhome to East Turkey and back via Greece and Italy, the Meditarrainian again.
Mid December 2022 to Mid March 2023 South Africa
Jan 2023



Adventerous hike to a very remote valley and pit stop at farm stall.





Meeting friends and roaming the Cape



***
February 2023



Cycling to Barberton and Kaapsehoop




***
March 2023


Cycling Cape Town Cycling Race (Argus)
April 2023 Austria



Golfpark Metzenhof
May 2023 Golf Trip Around Friaul Italy with Motorhome



Friaul
May 2023 Follow Girdo d’Italiy in Motorhome in Northern Italy



Aslo Friaul
June 2023 Golf Trip Around Lake of Gardasee with Motorhome



Golfparadise around Lake of Gardasee
July 2023 St. Wolfgang Wedding anniversary



Romantic Salzkammergut
August 2023 visit from Simon from SA



Great cycling father and sons
August 2023 Short Golf Trip to Steiermark with Family



Golf with Karl and Matthias
August 2023 Cycling Trip with RB and tent to Triest Italy




Distance 1.259 km, ascent 8.838 m
Mid September to end October 2023 Turkey, Greece, Italy with Motorhome
Since I read about Göbekli Tepe a couple of years ago I was longing to visit this archeological site of a temple which is about 12.000 years old. The site is located in Anatolia in Turkey and I found out that there are many more of this kind in the closer and more distanct surroundings. Also only about 500 km away is Mount Ararat near the border to Armenia and Iran. So I opted to try to conquer Ararat with its peak in 5.126 m above sea level and then collect the pre historical sites one by one on the way back to the Mediterranian and further back on the way to Greece. To avoid the same way back which would be boring I choose to cross Greece to Igumenitsa and to take the ferry to Brindisi in Italy. I came across from Brindisi last year anyway. Caserta near Naples, Bolsena, Siena, Florence, Vinci and Lazise were the stops in Italy.
The numerous breathteking impressions and adventures were unbelievable and surpassed my wildest imagination. Remember my slogan: “We travel to compare our imagination with reality.” So the journey was a full success.



15.09.23 Departure Haag Lower Austria to Novi Sad Serbia


16.09.23 Novi Sad to Baschkovo Monestry in Bulgaria


17.09.23 Baschkovo to Izmit Turkey


18.09.23 Izmit to Osmancik


19.09.23 Osmancik to Erzincan


20.09.23 Erzincan t0 Dogubyazit ARK Hostel and Camping


21.09.23 ARK Hostel and Camping – Preparation Day


22.09.23 Mount Ararat “Logistics”-Camp to Base Camp in 2.800 m


23.09.23 Acclimatisation from Base Camp 2.800 m to 3.600 m and back


24.09.23 From Base Camp 2.800 m to High Camp 3.800 m



25.09.23 Attacking Summit in 5.165 m. Due to snow fall during the night and exhaustion I aborted the mission at 4.600 m and returned to High Camp at 3.800 m



26.09.23 Return to “Logistics” – Camp and to ARK Hostel and Camping



27.09.23 From Dogubayazit to Tat Van and Nemrut Crater



28.09.23 From Nemrut Crater to Töbekli Tepe



29.09.23 From Töbekli Tepe to Nemrut Dagi



30.09.23 From Nemrut Dagi to Avanos in Kappadokia






01.10.23 Lover’s Valley Kappadokia and Kayamakli



02.10.23 Ihlara Valley



03.10.23 From Ihlara Valley to Catalhöyük



04.10.23 From Catalhöyük to Manavgat at the Mediterrainian Sea












05.10.23 to 11.10.23 Golf Hotel Sirene in Belek



11.10.2023 Hotel Sirene to Archeological Museum Antalya



11.10.2023 Archeological Museum Antalya to Olympos



11.10.2023 Olympos to Myra Ruins
Kas






Patara



Saklient Gorge
12.12.2023 Myra Ruins to Kas and to Patara and to Saklient Gorge




13.12.2023 Öludeniz to Pamukkale




14.12.2023 Pamukkale to Ephesos



15.10.2023 Ephesos to Izmir and Aliaga Hassimaga



Aliaga Hassimaga to stay overnight



16.10.2023 Aliaga Hassimaga to Pergamo and Troj



A snack and a stroll in Pergamo



Homer’s Troj



17.10.2023 From Troj to Kavala and Thessaloniki



18.10.2023 From Thessaloniki to Igumenitsa



19.10.2023 From Igumenitsa to Caserta near Naples



20.10.2023 From Caserta to Bolsena
Montalcino






Siena
21.10.2023 From Bolsena to Montalcino and Siena




22.10.2023 From Siena to Florence



23.10.2023 From Florence to Vinci



24.10 From Vinci to Lazise at Lake of Gardasee


25.10.2023 From Lazise back home to Haag (after 41 days)
Finalised highlights of the Turkey exploration on 16.11.2023