Today we said goodbye to the campsite and headed towards Ankara, in a south-easterly direction. But no motorways. Today was all about back roads; the kind with twists and turns, climbs, drops, and scenery that makes you look out the window more than at the map.

After an hour and a half, we arrived in Taraklı. We parked up and went to explore on foot. The village is small, but it has plenty of charm. Ottoman wooden houses with those slightly wonky façades that look as if they’re leaning on each other, quiet streets, and a relaxed atmosphere. Everything felt very authentic, with no tourists.

We climbed a hill to get a view from above, and it was well worth it. The whole village lay below us, with its rooftops, mosques, and surrounding mountains. It’s one of those places that doesn't need much else to be likeable.

We went back to the car and continued for about thirty kilometres to Göynük. We’d seen a car park on Park4night right in the centre, but when we arrived... too much going on. People, cars, noise. A good place to visit, but not to sleep.

The village looked nice, but we had already done Taraklı, and doing two villages in one day is like two long walks in a row: it’s doable, but there’s no real need. So, we decided to leave Göynük for tomorrow, when we’d have more time.

It was time to look for a place to sleep. We turned onto some small roads leading off the main one. Some spots were pretty, but far too steep. And sleeping on an incline isn’t a good idea. More uncomfortable than trying to sleep in a rocking basket. Other places... well, let’s not talk about them. Rubbish everywhere.

So, we turned back and retraced our route about five kilometres along the main road, heading back towards Taraklı. And there we found an old, half-forgotten track by the side of the road.

The spot looked good. Fairly clean, quiet enough. And with two clear options: stay near the road, with some noise but flat, or go further in, quieter but on a slope.

Quick decision: flat. Because sleeping level is sacred. You can put up with the noise, but a crooked campervan... there’s no fixing that. So, we’re staying here. It’s not perfect, but it’s a good spot.

Tomorrow we’ll see Göynük at our leisure. We’ve done enough for today.