Bulgaria - Third Time Lucky

[grez]

Well it is that time of the year and my third attempt to get to Bulgaria and see the Black Sea (for some reason I don't understand I want to see it).

First attempt 2 yeras ago cancelled due to breaking my wrist (first of three breaks in 18 months - same wrist).

Second attempt last year somewhat wayward route ending with a collapsed rear wheel bearing at the bottom of Albania (Saranda) resulting in a bit of a mad dash back to the UK in 3 days.

So this friday it is off the Harwich for the overnight ferry to the Hook of Holland then a short hop to Leipzig, around 440 miles.

Hopefully technology, the bike, by body, all manage to work and survive 2 weeks of semi - planned travel.

Report to follow - watch this space.

 

[David Nimrod]

Will be waiting... I reckon my next 'ride' will be to the Black Sea, or 'round it (unlikely, I know!).

 

[JayC]

Op - hope you have good suspension on your bike, for Bulgaria!

 

[(RIP) andrewgsadv]

Grez, after all that bad luck you deserve some good. Hope the trip goes off ok and will look forward to your trip report with great interest.

 

[Dogknob1]

Good luck mate
went there quite a few years back helping a mate with wiring his house up, lovely people,shit roads! he lived right in the middle Veliko Tarnovo, did think it was perfect place for hacking a Gs around

 

[timeandtide]

Well it is that time of the year and my third attempt to get to Bulgaria and see the Black Sea (for some reason I don't understand I want to see it).

First attempt 2 yeras ago cancelled due to breaking my wrist (first of three breaks in 18 months - same wrist).

Report to follow - watch this space.

You haven't lost your penchant for falling off bikes then?
Hope this one goes well
Richard

 

[agent2494]

Free Beer

Richard

If your going through Sofia pop into my pub ( JJ Murphys just off vitosh boulevard) and ask for Stefan my son and he will give you a free beer or two.

If you need a place to stay have a house in Veliko Tarnovo with a swimming pool and fridge full of cider and secure parking.

just let me know if you need it so the guards will not shoot you if you turn up

Just a word of warning all resorts are closed on the black sea and very very few shops open too!!!!!

ps send over your route that your taking too as some of the roads have been closed due to the flooding in Bulgaria
Good luck with the trip

 

[bumble beemer]

Agent2494, I am due to ride up to Nesebar from Turkey on Friday . How serious is the flooding in that region ? Searched on the internet but can't find any up to date info.

 

[agent2494]

look at novinite.com and that site has up to date information and will ring a friend who lives in Obsor which is 60km away Nesebar

 

[bumble beemer]

Many thanks

 

[grez]

Cheers, looks like the plan is to get to Sofia.

The route is, hopefully,detailed below.

01 - Hoek Van Holland to Colditz 425 mi
02 - Colditz to Brno 308 mi
03 - Brno to Budapest 205 mi
04 - Budapest to Sibiu 337 mi
05 - Sibiu to Curtea de Arges 99.3 mi
06 - Curtea de Arges to Varna 258 mi
07 - Varna to Sozopol 104 mi
08 - Sozopol to Sofia 259 mi
09 - Sofia to Beograd 246 mi
10 - Beograd to Sarajevo 188 mi
11 - Sarajevo to Zagreb 256 mi
12 - Zagreb to Bamberg 453 mi
13 - Bamberg to Hoek Van Holland 425 mi

Although if history has taught us anything it's that nothing I ever do goes to plan.

 

[grez]

Agent2494,

I am aiming to be at the coast around 18th September just for a look around, what are my chances of getting a cheap hotel in the area or by closed do you mean closed like a ghost town or just main attractions closed? I am going for the ride and the scenery and to dip a toe in the water.

 

[gncpr67]

Way to go Grez! I'll be watching with interest and I hope things go to plan for you.

Cheers
Geoff

 

[SkyGod]

A tenner says you get bummed somewhere….

 

[timeandtide]

A tenner says you get bummed somewhere….

You're not going are you?

 

[grez]

A tenner says you get bummed somewhere….

Bugger, you have put your price up then.

 

[agent2494]

You will be ok in Varna very nice city but most of the coastal towns are only open for the 100 day season which starts July ends September will be closed and yes ghost towns as they Shut down and close doors for next year season all staff are/will be gearing up for the ski season!!!!! If you PM me I can give you more information
Have a look on the live web cams of Bulgaria sea side towns and you will see how quite it is!!!!!!


Sent from my
iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[grez]

So not a good start. More or less solid rain. Am in Brno at a new hotel with no restaurant pissing it down. Typing on my phone as my computer refuses to find a wifi signal. No photos as pissing it down, next stop Budapest with luck. So far 1,100 + miles of rain

 

[David Nimrod]

So far 1,100 + miles of rain

On the way back from Istanbul I remember riding from Budapest to Frankfurt in one day of heavy rain, feckin' miserable, fueled by ice tea and snickers bars.

It can only get better...

 

[bumble beemer]

Keep going mate. Warm and sunny in Nesebar yesterday.