Cluj Napoca to The Tunnel: 6 days

[KevinW]

We're currently in Brasov intending to ride to Sighisoara via a bit of a detour to Ploiesti over a locally recommended road today then on to Cluj via the salt mine at Turda tomorrow.

Other than going through Slovakia, Poland and the Czech Republic because we haven't ridden in those countries before and having 6 days to get to the tunnel we haven't worked out how to get back home yet.

We don't much like cities but we do like good roads and historical towns, castles, etc. Does anyone have any recommendations for places to visit or routes to ride?

Thanks.

Kevin

 

[Ropey]

HU & SK

Jeez, Cluj to tunnel in 6days is alot of mileage!!

I'd look at Eger in the wine region of North west Hungary for a nightstop, quite quiet spot but nice roads in and out and luuverly vino to boot.\

I loved Slovakia, and would recommend Trencin in Western Slovakia as well... a nice spot

 

[MrIFan]

Head for a night on Lake Bled, Slovakia. 2 longish days from Cluj but easily doable.

From Bled head to the Versic pass, South over the pass then North again to the Predel Pass into Italy. Then the Sella Nevia via Tolmezzo to the Plockenpass into Austria. That leads you to the Grossglockner then home.

Did this route a couple of years ago on Kim's first trip on the back of the bike. Took 5 days to get to Crit in Romania, about 40km from Sighisoara just off the Brasov road

Did this bit in a day with two stops on the Grossglockner (one at the Glacier) and lunch just over the border into Italy (we were going the opposite way to you remember) Set off about 9 after breakfast and booked into Vila Bled by 6pm. (a nice hotel with superb food but bloody expensive!)
It took us two days from Rotterdam to the start of the Grossglockner, the day in the attached file, 1 day from Bled to Novi Sad, Serbia, via Vukovar in Croatia, then another day to Crit.

 

[Ropey]

Head for a night on Lake Bled, Slovenia. 2 longish days from Cluj but easily doable.

From Bled head to the Versic pass, South over the pass then North again to the Predel Pass into Italy. Then the Sella Nevia via Tolmezzo to the Plockenpass into Austria. That leads you to the Grossglockner then home.

Did this route a couple of years ago on Kim's first trip on the back of the bike. Took 5 days to get to Crit in Romania, about 40km from Sighisoara just off the Brasov road

Did this bit in a day with two stops on the Grossglockner (one at the Glacier) and lunch just over the border into Italy (we were going the opposite way to you remember) Set off about 9 after breakfast and booked into Vila Bled by 6pm. (a nice hotel with superb food but bloody expensive!)
It took us two days from Rotterdam to the start of the Grossglockner, the day in the attached file, 1 day from Bled to Novi Sad, Serbia, via Vukovar in Croatia, then another day to Crit.

Fixed...

 

[KevinW]

Thanks both but it looks like I'll have to save those suggestions for next time.

We had a low-speed fall on a wet rail line just outside Brasov on Sunday. My ankle looks like I have elephantitis as I twisted it under the bike when it pirrouetted through 180 degrees. I had a nice soft landing though as I landed on SWMBO .

She has some bruising on arm and ribs including one that is a perfectly shaped 5 so I assume there was a raised 5 on the road/line somewhere.

We continued with our trip as it's been manageable but Lyn's been getting worse to the extent that breathing is now painful. We've just come back from the hospital in Sighisoara where an x-ray has revealed a broken rib .

We're now trying to get her home as she obviously can't continue by bike. Once we have her sorted I'll just head straight home solo.

Kevin

 

[Lolo]

Poland is very interesting.

Although If you stay on the main road they are very rutted with parts missing and loads of roadworks. Also the only things you will see are trucks, prostitutes, forest, prostitutes and trucks!!!

If you go off the main red roads they are mostly shale and mud.

I have Just come back from Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Denmark and Holland, so let me know if you want any upto date info.

 

[MrIFan]

Bad news Kevin, but glad to hear you are both reasonably ok.

Taxi/train to Bucarest and a flight home is prob easiest but wont be cheap at short notice. There are cheap flights from Timisoara but destinations are limited and it's harder to get to from Sighisoara than Buc.

Good luck

PS Motorway via Budapest, Viena and on through Germany to tunnel can be done in 2 days easily if you set your mind to boring days.

 

[gavinbell]

Hi,
Not far from you - +40 727 876476 call me if I can help
The tourist info at Sighi Station - Emil - a good reliable driver and affordable for transfers. text me and i will give you number.
Other option is train to Budapest - cheaper flights - but long journey, Blue air from Sibiu another option.

if going to Buc by train - 5.30pm intercity best - business standard, 25Euro - comfy, food brought to seat and not packed. Gets in late - perfect for morning flights next day. If you take taht option can recommend Buc hotels and taxis.

I am travelling down to Buc via Brasov tomorrow - by train from Sighi

Good luck Gavin

 

[Stonker]

Bad luck Kevin. Hope you're able to ride again soon.

I was in Poland a couple of weeks ado. To be honest, I didn't find the roads to be as bad as people had said. I only saw 2 prostitutes too

 

[KevinW]

I think we're now sorted Gavin but thanks very much for your kind offer.

It's been a frustrating day but, as long as we can get the Romanian doctor to give Lyn a certificate to say she can fly, Snowcard should get her out of here tomorow then I can ride home. Snowcard won't do anything without the certificate and the hospital wouldn't talk to us as the doctor we saw yesterday wasn't in today. Fortunately he's in tomorrow; I'm not sure what we'd have done if he hadn't been back until next week.

When we rode down we did Calais to Linz on the first day and Linz to Sibiu on the second so I plan to just reverse that.

Kevin

 

[KevinW]

When we rode down we did Calais to Linz on the first day and Linz to Sibiu on the second so I plan to just reverse that. Kevin

The car picked Lyn up at 03:00 on Saturday morning so I thought I might as well leave at the same time. The thick fog, aggressive stray dogs, suicidal cats and pitch black Romanian mountain roads with no white lines made the first 200 miles 'interesting' at times!

I must get some more lights on the GS. I have HID on both beams and the delay for full beam to get up to temperature sometimes makes the ride more exciting than I'd like.

When I got to Linz I felt fine so just carried on and caught the 23:40 train at The Tunnel.

We have several bikes and it surprises me to say that even though I'd like a bit more power and better range the GS is starting to become my favourite. I think it's its ability to cope with any type of road with ease and the fact that when it does go down it just shrugs it off without the need to replace acres of expensive plastic are contributing factors.

Kevin

 

[KevinW]

I'm not sure whether anyone here is interested in reading this but Lyn did a write-up of our, somewhat abbreviated, trip to Eastern Europe.

Kevin