Today we made it deep into the Romanian Carpathians after riding 540 kilometers – the long journey east is now basically complete. Most of the roads today were in decent shape, and we made good progress overall.
It was hot, though – 33°C, and we were seriously sweating under our gear. Tomorrow we’ll need to stay more conscious of hydration; today we definitely didn’t drink enough.
One thing that stood out: drivers here always slow down to walking speed at railway crossings. At first, we found that strange – until we hit a few ourselves. Some of them are so rough, they’d rip the suspension right off if you crossed at 30 km/h.
Another striking detail: many houses are still powered by overhead electric lines, just like it used to be in our parts decades ago. A glimpse into the past.
We’re spending the night at Casa cu Tei, a hotel on the edge of the Carpathians. A twin room with a balcony costs just €44 – for both of us. Can’t complain.
Tomorrow, we begin our Carpathian loop tour. We’re excited to see what lies ahead.
