A-ha! This might be a first timer for me since I started the Project! This time I have a name and I am feeling a strange and baseless pride because of this. My pride is baseless because I forgot to ask my stranger her name as usual and it is strange at the same time as I know her name. Wonder how? Keep reading.
The first time I met Gail, I was right at the beginning of my Mardin trip. I was in a public bus that was moving a little faster than hoped in a one way and narrow street and she was on her bike, cycling on the reverse direction. She had a puzzled and a little scared face, as she was wondering how to pass between the bus and the parked vehicles. At that time I didn’t have a place to stay yet and although I thought she might be a good candidate for the project, it wouldn’t be a wise decision to leave the air conditioned bus to ask for a photo, in a 45 degree environment, and I abandoned the idea.
The next day, I saw her and her partner Charl (he will be my 14th stranger) at a restaurant. I was feeling lonely and seeing this couple that seemed to have spent all their lives together, I wanted to have a chat. They were dining and I have just started enjoying my dinner. As I devoured my food enthusiastically, they were done with theirs. Then the waiter offered them some tea, but Charl refused in a manner that made me think he wouldn’t be happy with my companionship and I decided not to bother them.
The nexter day was my last and I went to the New Mardin (the newly developed region of the city) to get a bus to the airport. I spotted a Burger King and thought it wouldn’t hurt to taste the Mardin Whopper and strolled to the restaurant. I got my burger and went outside for a smoke and they we met once again.
Gail immediately recognized me and smile. I returned her smile and we started talking. After a couple sentences Charl joined us.
Gail and Charl are from South Africa and travelling with their bikes. Gail is 57 and Charl is 64. As far as I know, Charl is an instructor at a college. I do not recall any job info regarding Gail but she is working as well.
Please note how Gail describes herself and her partner: While Charl is merely fat, I am morbidly obese. In fact, I weigh so much more than a mere 100 pounds over ideal weight (the official definition of morbid obesity), that I probably fall into some untitled category!
They are doing something amazing. They are traveling Turkey with their bikes. They started on May and still on the road and as far as I can remember, they plan to be around for the next couple of months. I talked about their planned route and they are nuts (no offense Gail)! Cycling through some countries might be fairly easy but Turkey has a lot of mountainous regions and believe me it is not easy even for someone much younger than they are.
My encounter with Gail and Charl made me think about my own laziness even when I consider going to the supermarket with my bike. I don’t know what to say as I am totally impressed.
They have travelled several countries with their bikes and they have a web site they regulary updated. you can reach their site at:
This picture is #13 in my 100 strangers project. Find out more about the project and see pictures taken by other photographers at the 100 Strangers Flickr Group page
