76-year-old man cycles 1,054 kilometers to see grandson

ORDU – Doğan News Agency

DHA Photos

A 76-year-old man has cycled more than 1,000 kilometers from the Aegean province of İzmir to see his grandson who is serving in the military in the Black Sea province of Ordu.

Nureddin Gönülal, 76, cycled 1,054 kilometers from İzmir’s Ödemiş district to Ordu’s Ünye district, where his grandson Saadettin Sevin, 21, is doing his military service.

Gönlüal was delighted when the two met on Aug. 3 by the Ünye Prison in the Yüceler neighborhood, where Sevin is on duty, after a month of cycling, which the 76-year-old started on July 3.

Gönlüal said he cycled for four days to the northwestern province of Çanakkale when his grandson did his time in the boot camp, a one-month-long military training camp for new Turkish soldiers before serving in the military. 

An experienced cyclist, Gönlüal said he had no problems getting used to the long days on the road on his bike.

“People around me told me that I would not be able to get to Ordu, since it is farther than Çanakkale. Thank God, I got here and was reunited with my grandson. I am very happy,” he said.

Gönlüal said his next target would be cycling to Mecca, one of the holiest cities in Islam.

Sevin said his mother told him that his grandfather was cycling to see him and that he was very happy to see him in Ünye.

“I was surprised when I heard my grandfather was cycling to come and see me. I was very happy, but worried a little bit since he is old. I am proud of my grandfather,” said Sevin, adding that no grandfather, except his own, would have gone so far to see his grandson.