I’ve enjoyed running on many military installments including all the major branches, Air Force, Marines, Army and Navy. As you might imagine access to the bases came much easier prior to September 11, 2001. This morning I set out for a jog along the Dardanelles Straight in Canakkale, Turkey. We had an early departure time so I was out and about before the cock crowed. In the darkness I followed a walkway along the pier. It came to an end and merged into an outdoor seating area for a restaurant. I went around front of the dining establishment hoping to rejoin the waterside path. No such luck!
I quickly came upon a mechanical arm running across the road. I planned to run passed it and keep looking for the waterway. As I moved forward I noticed the silhouette of a man moving. No big deal. I kept running. The fellow exited the narrow passage I intended to enter. He stopped. I paid closer attention and noticed he had a rifle. That got my full attention. I then realized that the flimsy mechanical arm served to restrict access to a military base. We had been informed that even taking photos of the soldiers or bases would get you immediately arrested. Who even knew the penalty for trespassing?!
I abruptly did a U-turn and finished my run at the other end of the pier, which housed models of the celebrated city of Troy and its fabled horse. Producers of the movie Troy gave the horse from the film to the city. I felt much more at ease running around the artifacts of this once fierce military camp rather than the modern one a mile in the other direction.
Some places are simply a no running zone.
Tom
Other Blogs related to the Turkey Trip
Pre-travel
Transcontinental Turkey
Day 1
Off and Running
Day 2
Lost in Translation
Day 3
Holy Run
Day 4
No Run Zone
Day 5 Late out of the gate
Day 6 Multi Istanbul
Day 7 Last Day
Vacation Rain
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