Adventuring Northern Cyprus to Romania Trip

[Michael Montgomery]

Guys as some of you may know I’ve been planning an overlanding expedition for quite some time having only really started to build the mods on the 80 this year back to back.

Just a novice starting out and seeing how well I do it was planned but not for certain back in January 2018. The idea was to overland whilst adventuring to see Clive with his yearly hospitality invitation to all members of this wonderful forum.

This page is to share my experiences and so others can benefit as to I from you guys whilst traveling to see many places in these next few weeks.

Having a check over and service preceded to Kyrenia new port to where I boarded after a few hours the ferry Lady Su.

This being a night ferry was great as I didn’t want to drive at night hours away from my next location stop of point.

DAY 1

Thankfully the ferry was easy and smooth arriving at 8.30am whilst unloading of the vehicles was out to sort out entry access paperwork so after a couple of hours was out driving on the D400 towards Antalya.

 

[Michael Montgomery]

DAY 2

Drive a couple of hours along the D400 road with thankfully mostly tunnels and only 1 mountain climb being mostly mountainous terrain in these parts.
After finding the Dragion camp ground ventured in to a lady who was very helpful and accommodating. Prices were 30TL a day so well worth it as they had all facilities at hand and even a restaurant.

 

[Michael Montgomery]

After a much needed rear in the roof top tent recooped my energy to move on to Alanya where a couple of hours drive there was another camp site to stop over at. Unfortunate being the weekend it was full and not really suitable to my needs so I moved on driving to the next planned stop
Manavgat.

 

[Michael Montgomery]

In Manavgat there next to a beach and in a enclosed forest like area the council have a great place. Facilities even better with washing machines, free stove with gas in the cooking building and even a diy car wash lol
All this for 15TL!!

Even had a pirate ship along the famous river here.

 

[Michael Montgomery]

DAY 3

Another days adventure with his time no plans to know where I’ll end up being or camping out. The plan was to drive to Isparta but being so mountainous continually had the ATF light coming on to many times to my liking. First time testing the vehicle to these extremes. The light came on a few times in the last couple of days and choose to take it easy being my first experience at these limits.

Tried driving it in 2 and 3 whilst not changing gears once in but unfortunately by that time the box was already hot and did very little to cool down. Whilst driving I decided to venture off road up a mountain to call it a day and rest up. Not me the vehicle lol

 

[Michael Montgomery]

After 30 mins I proceeded to what was already 1000m in altitude to 1300m to where I found after many locals helping out with directions a beautiful spot to camp out for the night.

Much cooler and in pure nature what can you ask for more lol

 

[StarCruiser]

Looking good Dervis. Not a mad scramble but making the journey part of the holiday. Some great scenery there. I’ve not been to Turkey but it sure looks pretty. 15TL, that’s a little over £2. Well at least it was at half five this evening.

 

[Michael Montgomery]

Looking good Dervis. Not a mad scramble but making the journey part of the holiday. Some great scenery there. I’ve not been to Turkey but it sure looks pretty. 15TL, that’s a little over £2. Well at least it was at half five this evening.

Yeah taking it as a stroll Richard with a couple of hours driving each day making my way to Romania. First time so all is new including camping lifestyle.

Thought I’d share as it may be of interest to others.

Thanks

 

[StarCruiser]

Really great that you’re posting this up Dervis. Thanks for sharing your journey.
Fresh goats milk for your tea in the morning eh?

I know Kyrenia, I’ve visited a couple of times and stayed in Edremit just outside and up the hill a bit.

 

[Deleted member 13129]

Looks like your having good time Dervis, great pics .

 

[clivehorridge]

Nice looking trip Dervis, but it’s a shame you’re having overheating ATF problems.

I know little about 80 autos, but is the ATF cooler part of the engine cooling radiator?

I know some folks have added a separate ATF cooler, maybe you should consider one of those.

Lovely photos mate, and I’m pleased you’re taking your time and enjoying the sights on the way...

How’s the RT tent/batwing rig working out, are you pleased with it?

Looking forward to seeing you on Friday (or thereabouts)

 

[Michael Montgomery]

Nice looking trip Dervis, but it’s a shame you’re having overheating ATF problems.

I know little about 80 autos, but is the ATF cooler part of the engine cooling radiator?

I know some folks have added a separate ATF cooler, maybe you should consider one of those.

Lovely photos mate, and I’m pleased you’re taking your time and enjoying the sights on the way...

How’s the RT tent/batwing rig working out, are you pleased with it?

Looking forward to seeing you on Friday (or thereabouts)

ATF thinking mostly from reading up it being my driving style yet also not adequately knowing how to drive over steep mountain terrain one after another.
With more practice and patience I’m sure I’d do better tommorrow.

The roof tent is amazing as to the Batwing so I am really thankful to have them both for his vacation.

Thanks Clive

 

[fbnss]

My atf temp light came on going up some hairpins this year, we pulled over for 5 minutes, then i let the other two go off and I left it in second and then d with o/d off. and it was fine after that. Just try to stop it changing and keep your speed steady I supose, even if that is annoyingly slow!

Ps, don't forget to use the box on the way down the mountains the brakes get cooked too!

 

[StarCruiser]

Hopefully its not a sign of a radiator problem, just that it’s hot outside.

 

[garygiles1963]

Nice pics, thanks for sharing

 

[Michael Montgomery]

Hopefully its not a sign of a radiator problem, just that it’s hot outside.

Radiator is new Richard as of last year. Yes it’s hot but also the altitude is high at least 1000m rising to 1700m today. Never crossed so many mountains one after another to what is really a testing ground.

Today I did better with the overdrive button on and sharp defends had it in 2nd gear. Starting to work out finally how to drive a 4x4 lol.

After researching and reading up on it last night I discovered that although the transmission has a oil cooler as per picture a second one was added to some models being a towing package hence having one in front of the radiator.

This for this kind of trip having known this before would have fitted on to ease my driving worry. Either way I’m having to learn the hard way lol

 

[Michael Montgomery]

My atf temp light came on going up some hairpins this year, we pulled over for 5 minutes, then i let the other two go off and I left it in second and then d with o/d off. and it was fine after that. Just try to stop it changing and keep your speed steady I supose, even if that is annoyingly slow!

Ps, don't forget to use the box on the way down the mountains the brakes get cooked too!

Yes your right there Nick I did much better today having not so many to climb tbh but a large 7% incline sign said 8000m ahead so I ventured in overdrive casually around 40-50kmh and it wasn’t till I had 3000m left to then the ATF light came on. Luckily a laybye was there and so I turned in. After 15 seconds it turned off and I parked up for a bit checking the car over. Somehow it seems unavoidable tbh yet I see normal cars whizzing up and down like it’s nothing lol

 

[Michael Montgomery]

Day 4

Setting of around 1pm after the locals wouldn’t let me leave in the morning I preceded into town to get a SIM card as my local sim was not gonna cut it for this trip.

 

[Michael Montgomery]

Very busy hard to find parking and so I really didn’t want to hang around so I decided to venture off towards the large lake.

Try to find a spot to camp up was differcult and so I kept driving and sight seeing having stopped for food supplies in Eğirdir. By this time it was around 4pm and so kept going and then the mountains appeared and once again steady was the plan and focus.

 

[Michael Montgomery]

Looking for a suitable place to camp became the focus and driving continually I ventured off road on a whim but 30 mins of driving off road and up hills farm land is all I could find not a setting worth camping up. So ventured back on the main road and continued for another hour on route to Yalova.

As it daylight becoming less a local boy assisted me in helping to direct to a place of camp after another failed attempt looking at google maps.

A place opersite with Turkish flags light up the old yet driveable road so up I went in 2nd gear no issues.

It appeared when arrivaling minutes later now at 1700m in altitude the locals were waiting for me.

It seems there was a festival a couple of days ago where 10,000 locals where here and the place full of campers.