We slept with our earplugs in to try to counteract the noise from sirens, plumbing, people and dogs. There was a truck emptying a large rubbish container at 2am. Hotel breakfast was from 6.30am so we were ready to leave by 7. We rode today with Jos, Manon and Graeme. Leaving town we travelled on Highway 67. After 8ks we turned onto Highway 655A. The first hour was on new chip seal over steep hills. Passed through a number of villages and had many dogs to contend with along the way. There were hens, ducks, and geese along the road, lots of locals on the sides of the road waving, cows and horses grazing on the roadsides. Carts of hay being moved. Again some brand new beautiful homes set amongst decrepit houses.
Lunch was at Baia de Fier, at 53ks. This was after we had ridden for 3 hours 45 mins, average 15kph. It was a hard ride on a very rough road surface. Total climb for the day was 1400 meters, most of which was climbed in the morning. It was through the rolling of the Carpathians. We rejoined the main highway (67) about half an hour after lunch. The road was excellent. Very smooth and wide. So the speed was easily improved! There were some amazing examples of bad overtaking that we witnessed. Romanian drivers are appalling at overtaking in a dangerous manner.
We stopped at 75ks for an icecream and cold drink. The temperature had risen to mid 30s. At 90ks we has a snack stop with fresh fruit on offer. The last ten ks were onto a head wind. Our camp is at Râmnicu Vâlcea. We arrived around three, set up the tent, showered and then relaxed in the shade. Camp is at a Pensione with a bar and restaurant attached, about 2ks from town. It is set in grasslands, with a local man-made lake and swimming pool about 1k up the road. When we arrived and cycled past the pool there were hundreds of cars and thousands of people there enjoying a day at the beach.
The shower was retrofitted to a large bedroom, just a small circular shower stuck in the corner with one edge of tiles to ring the carpet, certainly not a good waterproof addition to a second story. It was hot and clean though. Dinner was fried chicken and sausages, and corn on the cob. We are also camping beside a zoo. One thing we have noticed since entering Romania is the amount of rubbish along t he sides of the road. Plastic bottles mostly, and occasionally places where it looks like a non-official site for everyone to drop their household refuse. Unlike NZ there is hardly any broken glass though - only about two patches in the last week. We zipped up our tent at 9pm. It was a lovely evening. There was noise until ten when the other campers and patrons left the restaurant and bar area at the camp ground, locals by taxi. Then it started ... There were dogs barking for miles around. An unorchestrated "symphony" of barking which carried in all night, with the occasional roar of lions thrown in. It was unbelievable. Again we resorted to earplugs which helped to muffle the sound a little.
Today was a slow trip. First 53ks took 3hours 44 mins. Total day trip was 126ks in 6hours 28 mins. Ave. was 19.5.
Lunch was at Baia de Fier, at 53ks. This was after we had ridden for 3 hours 45 mins, average 15kph. It was a hard ride on a very rough road surface. Total climb for the day was 1400 meters, most of which was climbed in the morning. It was through the rolling of the Carpathians. We rejoined the main highway (67) about half an hour after lunch. The road was excellent. Very smooth and wide. So the speed was easily improved! There were some amazing examples of bad overtaking that we witnessed. Romanian drivers are appalling at overtaking in a dangerous manner.
We stopped at 75ks for an icecream and cold drink. The temperature had risen to mid 30s. At 90ks we has a snack stop with fresh fruit on offer. The last ten ks were onto a head wind. Our camp is at Râmnicu Vâlcea. We arrived around three, set up the tent, showered and then relaxed in the shade. Camp is at a Pensione with a bar and restaurant attached, about 2ks from town. It is set in grasslands, with a local man-made lake and swimming pool about 1k up the road. When we arrived and cycled past the pool there were hundreds of cars and thousands of people there enjoying a day at the beach.
The shower was retrofitted to a large bedroom, just a small circular shower stuck in the corner with one edge of tiles to ring the carpet, certainly not a good waterproof addition to a second story. It was hot and clean though. Dinner was fried chicken and sausages, and corn on the cob. We are also camping beside a zoo. One thing we have noticed since entering Romania is the amount of rubbish along t he sides of the road. Plastic bottles mostly, and occasionally places where it looks like a non-official site for everyone to drop their household refuse. Unlike NZ there is hardly any broken glass though - only about two patches in the last week. We zipped up our tent at 9pm. It was a lovely evening. There was noise until ten when the other campers and patrons left the restaurant and bar area at the camp ground, locals by taxi. Then it started ... There were dogs barking for miles around. An unorchestrated "symphony" of barking which carried in all night, with the occasional roar of lions thrown in. It was unbelievable. Again we resorted to earplugs which helped to muffle the sound a little.
Today was a slow trip. First 53ks took 3hours 44 mins. Total day trip was 126ks in 6hours 28 mins. Ave. was 19.5.
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