Was watching the news about floods in Istanbul while sipping hot tea in Koyulhisar. My plan to get to Reşadiye went down the drain. It was 8 pm. It was dark and cold, with thunderstorms and no accommodation around.
It was 10:00 pm. The shop owner suggested that I go just a km to a 24x7 gas station. I got soaking wet riding just that 1 km to the gas station. When I rolled in, I saw a couple of old fellas looking at me through the glass window. I walked in and asked the gas station owner if it was ok to sit in the cafe all night. He took pity on me and said no problem. Seeing me by myself, the old fellas asked me to join them.
I told them about my whereabouts and Freedom Seat and that I couldn’t get to Reşadiye due to the rain. All this conversation was happening by passing around the phone and using Google Translate. One of them typed and returned the phone and the message read “You be my guest tonight, please. I would love that”
I followed his car about 2 km along a dirt road. A small cozy house with a room and a kitchen with a bunch of cows in the basement. He soon set the table and brought in plenty of food. His friends joined us as well. It was a torrential downpour outside, and I was considering myself so lucky to be sitting in this stranger’s house, safe and comfortable.
He turned a couch in his bedroom into a very comfortable bed for me. The only thing he didn’t do was tuck me in and kiss me goodnight!
I woke up at 8 am. The rain had stopped, but not his hospitality. The table was already set with fresh eggs, bread, cheese, milk and honey. He asked me to eat well as I had a long way to go. He said that he loves the freedom of living on the farm with his close friends around and his animals, with no cell phone and social media. He said he would visit his three kids in Ankara a couple of times a year.
After breakfast, he followed me to the highway, hugged me and wished me good luck for the journey ahead.
I thanked him for his very kind hospitality. I rode about 50 m and looked back to see the face of kindness one last time, and there he was with a big smile on his face and both hands up in the air waving at me.