Istanbul - finally the new journey starts

Sorry no pictures, today as all a hard slog on the road
Myself and Robert left before everyone this morning as he was booked into BMW Motorrad in Istanbul
So no country roads for us and all motorway for 100's of miles
Turkish Border is crazy, firstly get a tourist visa?
£10 please, from a old guy in a room full of smoke haze
Um! I only have euros,
"€15 please"
I think he has just shafted me the git, but what can you say
Robert then went to get his and he handed over his polish passport, to which the guy said €15,
"I wish to pay £10", said Robert
"You have Euro passport, you pay Euro"
Double shafting then
Next station is hand over your Green card, Passport and V5, they fill the details on the computer and then fill some rubbish in on your passport.
You then hand this to another official who puts another stamp on the page and signs it
"You may Go"
Really, whooppee
Next stop is fuel and "bloody hell", it is expensive compare to the previous countries and more expensive than the UK. For that privilege you have someone fill the tank up for you. Big deal
Finally got to BMW who basically said the ser vice manager would be with us shortly.
"I have not available technician and it is a national holiday tomorrow and we are closed on Saturday and Sunday, Sorry"
Robert asked if someone could look at it, to see if it is a minor fault.
"no, it is a common fault and we will have to have the tank off and drain fuel, Impossible"
What a waste of "F*^?@NG" time when it had been relayed that they would be ready for us to change the fuel sender unite
Oh well have a coffee and a piece of cake as we have had nothing to eat all day
How much, the equivalent to £30
Lets go
Now i drive through London all the time and Istanbul traffic is crazy, the bus drivers will pull up and block you in to let passengers off. Sudden changes of direction from everyone with people stopping in the middle of the road to let people out
Finally hot and smelly we arrive at the hotel.
Very nice 5* with indoor pool, sauna and Turkish bath funny enough
So off to get cleaned up and meet for a group meal in readiness for the next bit which is going to be tricky
Two nights here to regenerate the batterries for us and the bikes in readiness for dirt roads, less miles nut still long hours not sitting but standing up

2254 miles - Hotel Legacy Ottoman, Istanbul, Turkey