Why would you travel by bike?
There are a million different reasons why one would travel by bike. Maybe you want to be slow, take more time to appreciate your surroundings. Or you like to be exposed to the outside, weather and road conditions, welcoming people or shut doors. For some it is a physical achievement, how high and how fast can I push?
Me, I like all of them, but only one at the time. And sometimes I am not really sure what it was until I have gone through and think back of it.
My expectations of Bulgaria, where very different, from what I encountered on my way through. First of all, we didn’t really have the best start into the country, with creepy encounters on Sunday nights and very bad sleep. Adding to that, that we constantly changed the route we wanted to take, to cross the country. Our first plan to follow the Iron-curtain-trail which follows the Bulgarian border through the mountains, got baffled by wildfires in regions we were meant to cross.
After an endless to and fro, we concluded, to cross Sofia and even stay there a few nights. To then search for the least busy roads to cross Bulgaria in the flatter middle part, all the way to Turkey.
First full day of cycling in Bulgaria, only 58km but made us enter the capital City in an almost criminal way. With yellow jackets on a mayor road, two lanes, we raced into the big city. Pedalling like maniacs on our heavy loaded bikes, while we got overtook by gazillions of fast cars and heavy trucks. Even though we survived that first step, there were still suburbs to cross and busy roads to pass until hours later we reached the centre.
During our whole three days stay I had nightmares about how we would manage to get out of this buzzing town again.
Okay, it wasn’t just dramatic, because there was some lovely food and nice little walks around the town.
Any breakfast is a treat...
...paying for all the hard times on the road.
Our second day of cycling in Bulgaria, out of Sofia. We leave very late, nevertheless we manage to get out of this concrete jungle alive.
61km until we found shelter next to a little church in the country side. We arrive in the dark and sleep under the tables. A bit of rain is falling.
On the third day we didn’t stop. Crossing the country as if we were on a race. Three little breaks and 131km later, our record, so far, we treat ourselves with a campsite which means shower. Luxury!
The owner gives us some advice to take “the old road” to keep on cycling. We fall asleep happy, thinking a calm road is going to await us for the next day.
Fourth day, we get out of the village and learn again, never to take advice from anyone who is not an expert in the field itself! “The old road” is a main road with no space, trucks and very heavy traffic.
After detours through bumpy roads, slums and gangs of dogs chasing after us, we finally reach Plovdiv, the nearby town. We are already exhausted after those first 30km but guess what there are 110 more in front of us.
When we reach our camp in the evening, I am not sure anymore what to feel or think. I am exhausted, I am amazed I made it, every part of my body hurts and I am just happy to be alive and sitting down on something that isn’t a saddle. 140km another record.
One day of rest.
On the fifth day of cycling, we start by pedalling into the sunrise, on the still quite main roads we make it to the border to Greece.
Cycling through Bulgaria wasn’t too much about visiting, it was rather a little race, against ourselves, figuring out how to aline your body and mind to be able to cycle 140km a day, even though we were already exhausted after 30.
I wonder what cycling through the next country will all be about?
Why would you travel by bike?
Thank you all for passing by and make me share this journey with you! Have a lovely day!
All photos and words are my own.
What an incredible feat your journey is - especially this part! I am amazed that you are entering Greece!! What a joy it will be to cycle around that country and culture... You inspire me to possibly get on a bike and visit my dear friend in Cyprus, by taking the ferry from Bari to Greece, then cycle around Greece, to a ferry port to get me to Cyprus... Oh, the adventures we can have, if we just can imagine them! Thank you so much both of you for inspiring so, dearest @kesityu.fashion !!
😍
I got very inspired to visit Greece, but right now it was only to avoid the big border with Turkey and enter from a smaller one (Greece is for a bit later though:))
Oooh yess!! Thats sounds like an exciting trip, and I guess now you have the weather on your side when the heat gets bearable! Indeed I am amazed every day at the moment how much is possible, if you only dare to imagine:)
And thank you for this lovely response😊😘
Yum!! That breakfast looks delicious and well deserved. Best of luck on your way to Turkey!
It was indeed:) Thank you!!
Cool shot the one you are riding towards the sunrise. And almost 100 kilometer a day is massive. Especially with all the luggage.
I'm curious what Greece will bring.
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Thank you!!
...I guess we made some progress on that:D
Aah Greece was only a quick pass-through (for the moment), but maybe later I will explore! :)
So Greece from here on? Enjoy it! Hopefully it's luckier for you than Bulgaria was 🤗
It was luckier, but short, Turkey is next and seems even better🙃