On Friday (27th) after ANZAC we decided to head down to the south of the Gallipoli Peninsula to find the Twelve Tree Copse Cemetry, where a cousin of Karen’s Grandfather was buried. We also hoped to see the Cape Helles area which was the second battle front of the Gallipoli Campaign (a day to be filled with a few frustrations).
We took the ferry to Kilitbahir where the local bus tout tried to tell us it was 200km and 60Tl($45) one-way which dropped to 40TL by the time we jumped on a bus to Eceabat. There, the owner of the Crowded House Hotel confirmed it should only be 5Tl.
So off we went back toKilitbahir where we found the right bus and headed off south to Alcitepe. So at about 2:00pm we finally set off on foot to find the Cemetry about 3km down a metal road. All the War Cemeterys are very well maintained and are looking good with the green lawns and flowers at this time of year. We found Henry Bells inscription on the Memorial at Twelve Pines which is the main New Zealand one for the area. It was mainly the English and French that fought in the area.
HGT Bell (war records)
We had a late picnic lunch on the roadside before continuing to walk south towards the cape. By the time we got to the bottom it was approaching 5:30pm so we decided to skip a closer inspection of the British memorial and head to the nearby village to catch a bus home.
Getting to the village we found out that the last bus had already left and that Alcitepe was 12km away (bugger), time to hitch hike. 5km further down the road (obviously without much luck) Georgia remembered reading something about hitching in Turkey. Out with the LP guide and we find out that you do it by waving down a car like bouncing a ball. A couple of full cars passed us by and next we are on a truck heading to the next village. After a cup of cay (chai) we are back on the road and manage a ride back to Canakkale with a local Vet. By this time it was just on dusk and 8.30p.m.