Alba Iulia-Blajel-Carta-Balea Lake-Curtea de Arges-Târgoviste-Bucharest (Days Thirty Four to Forty)

Apologies for the delay in publishing this post. There is always a trade off and some tension between doing and writing about the doing. Of course if one did nothing then one would have lots of time to write about it – it being nothing (similar logic to the Yes Minister episode about the hospital with no patients – more efficient to run).😀

Apart from my natural tendency to doing things slowly, uploading photographs does require perseverance and patience due to slow to very slow internet speeds in many of the smaller locations – and often it is not possible at all, so this adds to the delay in publishing posts.

Alba Iulia to Blajel (Day 34: Friday 14 August 2015)

T’was a good day for riding – nice length (79km), comfortable temperature for the most part, and interesting terrain. We were in camp by 1:00pm.

Rode with Bill, Matt and Trond in the main. After another 5km convoy out of town, then another 5km on a busy road as well as 2km stretch of gravel road designed to shake any residual morning sleepyness out of one it turned into a good ride. Excellent road for next 40km with gentle undulating hills and bends in the road. Took a few photo stops – but the pace was such that I could catch up with the others if they did not choose to do the same.

 

Many of us missed the turn into campsite- one critical piece of marking tape had been removed – fortunately before we had gone too far we met other rides doubling back. Next day I was surprised to realise (based on their descriptions) just how far past the campsite some had ridden before turning back.

Smallish campsite however the owners (Dutch) were very helpful e.g. washed our clothes for us in their machine – no charge – said it more efficient to do so (e.g. save water).

  

Blajel to Carta (Day 35: Saturday 15  August 2015)

Another good riding day.

After a later than our usual late start, Trond and myself eventually caught up with Gill, Debbie and Tune and then Bill and Matt – all 7 of us rode together.

Comfortable pace – just enjoyed the riding – generally interesting terrain and good views – took the opportunities on offer to take photographs.
  
  

After dinner, Matt, Bill and myself visited the ruins of the Cistercian Monastery of Carta which date back to 1202.

Carta to Balea Lake (Day 36: Sunday 16 August 2015)

We rode up a hill today

We rode up a big hill today

We rode up a mountain today

We rode up a big mountain today

We rode up a very big mountain today – all day (well, for half of the day)

This was the renowned Transfagarasan. Part of the Carpathian Mountains  and rated by some as the best road in the world.

Perfect conditions: Cool / Sunny / no wind. The steady gradient of 5-7% and the fact that we had plenty of time to complete the ~30km long 1,600 metres ascent and meant that I was able to maintain a very comfortable pace. We (Trond and myself) made sure that we took in (drank up) the unfolding and seemingly endless and truly spectacular views, stopping often for photographs.

It was a Sunday and there was a picnic/holiday atmosphere. People in cars stopped at almost every vantage point on the way up – either picnicking and/or photographing or just chilling. thebikes, walking all the way up. The cars would come past us in waves – banked up by the slower of them. They were pretty good in being patient to wait for the space to pass safety. There were surprisingly few other cyclists (or perhaps not) but there were also people walking up – back packs,laden with camping gear

Balea Lake to Curtea de Arges (Day 37: Monday 17 August 2015)

The day of the great descent must have been Good Weather Appreciation Day – it was first riding day of pretty much solid rain all during the day.

It had been windy overnight and the overcast morning soon turned to showers and then more substantial rain. We were grateful that we are no longer camping and appreciated yesterday’s magnificent weather even more.

After a later than usual start (as no breakfast available at hotel until 8:00am) we grouped together for our most interesting convoy to date. With one van in front and the other behind we proceeded together through a tunnel 884 meters long.

  

Then came the really fun stuff. As we began the relatively steep descent the rain started to cycle through from light to tropical like torrential with brief patches of no rain. At times There was water (often laden with soil) streaming across/down the road and the sound of the gullies raging drowned out the noise of approaching vehicles. Adding to the all encompassing sensory experience were epsisodes of thunder and lightning. Given we were in Transylvania it was reminiscent (with the exception of it being daytime) of the early scene in the Rocky Horror Picture Show where Brad and Janet’s car breaks down outside the castle. One of our group actually heard/saw a tree get struck by lightning.

What in dry weather would have been a good extended downhill run was challenging given the above circumstances. The road surface wasn’t too bad but due to the rain/ water on the road you couldn’t see the potholes and just had to ride through them – as to turn sharply at the last second in an attempt to avoid them would be to not just court but marry disaster. I was feathering the brakes all the way and could sense via the gradual easing of the tension on the brake cables that the brake pads were wearing thinner as I descended. We took moments respite in a short covered section to rest our hands – tired from lightly holding onto the brakes more or less continuously. And the detracting factors weren’t done with yet – it was cool due to the altitude and  every now and then there were patches of small (and not so small) rock falls – mainly on the other side of the road. However one of the group did get hit on the side by a falling/bouncing rock. Needless to say (but I’ll say it anyway) there wasn’t much chance to look around and/or take photographs.

 Trond “Though it is early on in the day I think it is safe to say that this won’t be in the top three riding days. 😀

Nonetheless we did enjoy the day – it was so bad it was good.

It is not often that one prefers a downhill stretch to end or at least ease off somewhat but it was nice to be able to start peddling after the first  30km or so and get the leg muscles working so as to warm up a bit. Actually my core was okay reasonably dry/warm which was a big help. Another thing that help was the hot coffee we had at a small roadside cafe – whose owners must have wondered where these strange luminescent dripping beings had come from.

On the plus side the cars were not too bad with more more going the other way -up hill and for the most part the wind did not impact too much in the early part of the descent. Also I didn’t have to reach for the water bottle- just wait for a heavy shower and open my mouth/stick out the tongue😀.

Understandbly we did not linger at lunch (58km) though this unfortunately meant passing up on opportunity to climb up to Poenari Castle which has links to Vlad III of Dracula fame. NB At some point soon after we rode out of the principality of Transilvania.

It was quite windy  post lunch and at times the rain felt like hail Apparently just after we departed the lunch spot a localized wild storm blew over lunch shelter and the table with the food etc.

The positive attitude to the day was made easier knowing that we weren’t camping. It was a good feeling sitting in the hotel showered, dry and warm with a nice cup of tea. As people arrived  and shared the stories of the day it seemed that most had decided to enjoy it despite plenty to draw on otherwise, and take the satisfaction from the day that it offered.

Curtea de Arges to Tâgoviste (Day 38: Tuesday 18 August 2015)

Normally, heavy rain or steep hills excepting, the first hour or two of each day’s ride when the fuel supplies are fully topped up, the legs fresh, the mind clear and the temperature cool is the when the enjoyment of riding is more often than not at its sweetest.

Today’s ride was flat and the road surface just okay to good with one long bad patch early on. Rode with Debbie, Gill, Tone and Trond.

Though overcast in the morning it stayed dry and the temperature was cool but not cold. The main challenges of the day were the traffic on the busier roads and dogs who wanted to say hello in an aggressive manner.

An apparent lack of cafes meant that we stopped at a Macdonalds for our morning break (46.1km)

After lunch someone commented that “we only had 55 kilometers to go”

In the afternoon it was on-off-on-off with our rain jackets due to intermittent periods of light rain but no real wind to write about – so I won’t. 😀

In most of the villages that we passed through in Romania (as well as earlier in Hungary) there were people sitting or standing singly or in pairs/small groups chatting and/quietly observing life on the street. So we provided something different to the normal fare on offer.  In a couple of the Roma villages that we passed in the afternoon there was a notable increase in the number and size of such groups including lots of school aged children and youth.

Tâgoviste to Bucharest (Day 39: Wednesday 19 August 2015)

The day started off grey and overcast with the threat of rain but fortunately the latter did not eventuate. The surface of the roads was generally okay interspersed with some rocky/uneven patches of gravel and beautiful but bizarrely placed smooth stretches of recently laid tarmac. The winds were mixed – strength and the degree of un/helpfulness. On the plus side it was cool and trending downhill.

Trond and myself again teamed up with  Gill, Debbie, Tone for the day. With a relatively easy day (as per above) and a scheduled convoy into Bucharest to link up with there was no reason to push the pace and the various groups of riders were not too spread out i.e. Not a lot of difference between first and last.

The day’s entertainment was provided by Gill and Debbie (at our morning tea stop) Though big kids at heart, the kids mini Ferris wheel proved a tight contorting fit for them.

  
  
  

  

We had to focus on the convoy into Bucharest – for the last 12-14km due to the traffic. Challenging and scary for some.

This was the last leg for a number of riders (John and Marion, Judith, Matt, Rinda, and Josine). Thirteen of us went out to a recommended local pub chosen by Rinda –  Horezu pub – for dinner. Good atmosphere and attentive service (perhaps somewhat overwhelmed at times by size of our group – resulting in the odd delay), great food and fun vibe amongst the group.

Have now completed 2,929km in 32 riding days (39 days overall).

Bucharest – Rest Day

Rain eased late morning but remained overcast which accentuated the dreariness of city – lots of grey concrete. Perhaps my impression of Bucharest was also unfairly influenced by the fact that I was suffering from a mild gum infection (which had started the day before and was gone after 36-48 hours).

At a small local post office the only other customer facilitated Matt purchasing some stamps for his post-cards. She not only translated but also provided change, and glued the stamps onto the cards.

We meandered through the old part of city – cobblestones, cafes, night clubs – not to mention tourists.

Smoking in restaurants is quite common on most of the trip but perhaps more prevelent in Romania.

We went by the  Palace of the Parliament – the worlds largest civilian building with an administrative function. However we couldn’t go inside as I didn’t have my passport with me (which they kept as a security measure whilst you were doing the tour) – other forms of ID would not suffice.

 

Above: Bill with his second most favourite vending machine – now if there was one that dispensed a good red ….