Adventure awaits you

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Patrick R. Hyde
  • 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey --  I recently visited the 39th Services Outdoor Recreation office to check out the kinds of events and equipment they offered. I was impressed with the number of trips open to base personnel, and how much equipment was available. On average every month ODR schedules as many as eight different trips in and around Turkey.

Some examples of trips they offered include fishing on the Mediterranean Sea, biking in Cappadocia, or hiking in "Heaven and Hell" for a day trip.

While spending the day on the "Heaven and Hell" hike, you're not only sharing time with others, you're also learning the history of your host nation. It's important to take an interest in where you are assigned so you can pass on positive experiences to incoming personnel.

If you like castles there is an awesome day hike full of them. It's pretty exhausting, so make sure to bring plenty of water and a snack or two to keep your energy level up. You might also want to bring a camera to record all your wonderful memories of all the different places you visit.

ODR trips are a great for experiencing the local culture and provide you a change of scenery. Most of these trips take you to archeological and biblical sites recorded through the history of the world. Think of ODR as your passport to Ancient History 101. Some places of biblical interest in nearby Tarsus, Turkey, include Cleopatra's Gate, Saint Paul's Well, and the old Roman Road. The ODR staff members can provide a more detailed list of upcoming adventures for the rest of Turkey.

Base members can also rent bikes at ODR. Stop in and rent a bike for a week and give your feet a rest. If your personal bike is in need of repairs, bring it in and have Sabahattin Daglioglu, 39th SVS ODR certified bike repairman, give it a tune up.

If you'd like to personalize your outdoor adventure, all you need to do is get a group of eight or more people signed up and pay the per person fee and you will be on your way to where adventure awaits on you.

The Outdoor Recreation office is adjacent to the Shoppette and their hours of operation are Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 676-6044 to schedule your next Turkish excursion.