Good cycling roads are different to good driving roads. A good cycling road has few cars, and no fast cars. It therefore needs to be windy, have some bumps and potholes, and pass through many small villages. Today the road to Gönen was never signposted as such. A good sign! I confirmed that it actually did go to Gönen and had a lovely, peaceful ride through the Turkish countryside.
On the way to Gönen
This feels like the real Turkey I want to cycle through. No big freeway-like roads, but small roads where everyone waves. Small villages with chickens waddling around. And regular stops to eat Börek and other pastry delights. Oh, and quite a few vicious dogs – the three rocks are always ready in the back pockets of my cycling tricot.
A small Turkish village
On the way to Gönen
Little did I know, but Gönen is quite a tourist centre – in the summer. It is famous for its hot springs, and there is a squillion hotels and pensions clustered around the spring and public hammam. I didn’t know this, and didn’t find them initially. A kind man who spoke German helped me find them, and also explained how the hammam worked. The hammam was wonderful, and I feel squeaky clean again! 🙂
My friend helped me find a cheap pension
arctic-cycler.com 
Nice post!
Thanks! 🙂