I found my way onto the required turn offs without difficulty and made it through to lunch on course and with nearly sixty miles under my belt. I kept a cap on my excited disbelief that I had less than forty miles left and sat on a step outside a petrol station eating a junk lunch.
I can barely remember the last few hours. There was a substantial climb through Buyukcekmece which signalled the outer limit of the conurbation. From the downhill that followed I lost control of my leg speed and belted out mile after mile as fast as the thickening traffic would allow. I lost my planned route as I rounded the airport but I did not care as I found myself on the coastal road from which I could see dozens of grand minarets. I knew that six of these enclosed Sultanahment Camii, my final destination.
I confirmed my approach with passers by and soon I found myself at the junction allowing me up the cobbled hill leading round two or three corners to the base of the south wall of the mosque. I passed through a dark archway to a small marketplace to the east and from here I could see the building in all its majesty. I dismounted and decided I had arrived. I announced this to a passing Frenchman in order that I could justify asking him to take my photograph.
I soon realised this was not the front of the mosque as my host Mehmet was waiting to the north side, between the mosque and the Hagia Sofia. This being so, I took my bike on my shoulder and carried both my panniers in my left hand to climb the steps leading round to the front. I met Mehmet and he took the photo above, bike held aloft in front of the mosque.
I felt quietly satisfied. I sat smiling with Mehmet and his other guest, Steve. I finished Mehmet’s ice cream.
Distance covered 89 miles
