Star Trails on a Salt Lake: A Cyclist's Journey Interrupted by a Surprise Thunderstorm
This past year, while cycling across Turkey en route to Asia, I found myself spending a night on the vast expanse of the Salt Lake (Tuz Golu). The September heat was still intense, even after sunset, so my travel companion and I opted to sleep under the open sky on our mats.
While my camera diligently captured shot after shot, creating a mesmerizing star trail sequence, we slept soundly. Unbeknownst to us, a distant thunderstorm rumbled through the night, passing by our campsite. Fortunately, the storm skirted us, and remarkably, none of us stirred during its passage.
The next morning, the surprise revealed itself on my camera's memory card: the ethereal glow of lightning captured amidst the swirling star trails. I knew instantly that this would make for a compelling visual story. The full star trails video, which I plan to share soon, is even more impressive, showing the storm's development and its gradual passage as the night sky orbits above, bathing my tallbike in intermittent light.
This particular image was captured using an older GoPro Hero 7 Black. While I often wish I'd had a more advanced camera for such moments, especially since I had to edit from JPGs only, I'm still quite pleased with the outcome. It serves as a powerful reminder of the unexpected beauty that can unfold when you're out exploring the world.
The tallbike you see in the foreground is my trusty steed, which I've been riding around the globe for the past three years, accompanied by my adventurous dog! It’s these kinds of serendipitous moments, combining celestial wonders with the raw beauty of nature and the journey itself, that make the long miles worthwhile.
Stay tuned for the video – I think you'll really enjoy seeing the storm unfold alongside the celestial dance!
