We set off early this morning, climbing up to over 1,300 meters with just 12°C to start the day. It was chilly, but the mountain air felt great. Toward the end of the first leg, we stumbled upon an eerie, abandoned ski resort – apparently shut down in the ’90s when government support stopped. The place was silent, forgotten, and almost spooky.
Today we were especially glad to have off-road tires. The route was packed with what felt like hundreds of curves in a row. Beautiful, but demanding – every bend might hide a patch of missing asphalt or a pile of loose gravel. It took full focus, but it was an absolute blast.
By the end, we agreed: we’ve never ridden a road with so many twists and turns. Tough, but totally worth it.
A special little moment: At a parking spot, we met a walnut seller with a single bucket of nuts. We felt like we should buy some, but only had a 5-euro note. When we gave it to him, he handed us the whole bucket. No joke. He was so genuinely warm-hearted – it was one of those unexpected encounters that stays with you. We all laughed together, and it made our day.
After a relatively short 300 km and plenty more heat, we arrived in Crasna and checked into AquaCool – run by Florin and Madalina. They offer great little cabins, an indoor pool for guests, and amazing hospitality. We had a great chat with them and even got permission to cook our dinner outside behind the bar. Tonight: Spaghetti!
Tomorrow we’re heading toward the famous Transalpina. Can’t wait.
