Maybe we were in trouble because we repeatedly ignored No Parking signs:
Though a rather dramatic welcome, the cops were apparently more interested in checking out the women on the trip than anything else and sternly warned the group that nobody was to go climbing until the next day. It was very dangerous to climb on wet rock, they stressed, and it would not be safe to climb until the following afternoon, after 1 p.m. to be precise. Uh, thanks for the warning?
There was no way anybody was waiting until the following afternoon to go climbing; it was just too fantastic of an area. Second only after Kalymnos in terms of sport climbing quality, there were loads of superb routes to keep one busy for months.
Jenny picks up a new friend on the way to a crag while Duncan works the limestone in the background:
Jenny in the sun upper right. You can just make out BiRT lower left:
Sam displays his now patented gritting teeth grimace as he goes for the next hold:
Diana makes a desperate clip:
And takes a rest while being heckled:
Me going for the big jug:
And onto the ledge:
Me displaying one of my endless climbing dork poses
The only problem is that it was just way too hot.
Yes, that is a two-inch thick layer of sweat reflecting the sun on my shoulders:
To avoid severe sunstroke it was necessary to climb early in the morning, pant away the next five or six hours in whatever shade was available, then go climbing again in the early evening.
Adam weighs the risks of climbing up out of the shade into the sun:
The best time to climb (that's a full moon you can just barely make out upper left):
Or forget the crag and climb on BiRT at night (unsuccessfully) like Nathan:
There was also the small detail of allegedly domesticated goats that tried to eat your lunch, backpack, nalgene bottle, guidebooks, or anything else that was not immediately strapped to your body.
Billy Goat Gruff goes for the guidebook:
It was unfortunate for anyone I happened to be climbing with because given the choice between properly belaying and saving my lunch, I'll save my lunch every time.
My favorite place to spend mid-day was along the little river near our campground. Towering trees covered the river as it burbled through, over, and around big boulders, creating little waterfalls that splashed into inviting pools, 
Distorted shadows of water skimmers:
while spectacular blue and green dragonflies flitted about, wings sparkling in the dappled light.
The real reason we were in Geyikbayiri was not for climbing, but for the Hot Rock party. Folks from Hot Rock expeditions of yore showed up for climbing and general merriment, doing everything possible to alienate other travellers who had the misfortune of sharing the same campsite. Juliet organized a Hot Rock Olympics which included a group dance/striptease,
apple bobbing race (no real name for that event), the five-point distance game (no real name for that event, either),
First someone takes two steps from behind the line (me) and the next person (Dolphin) steps on the first person's feet then takes two steps further out:
Like this. Then the third person steps across the feet of the other two people:
Like this before taking one further step (the fifth point): 
and then stretches out to set a bottle in the ground:
and an obstacle course.
Eat your heart out, Beijing.
After receiving an angry text from the camp owner at 3 a.m. (whatever happened to the days of face-to-face tirades?) there was nothing left for us to do but head back toward Olympos with a large group of newbies onboard.
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