Day 171 Sept 27 Thu - Sofia to Autumn Leaves Camp near Gintsi

Clear stream water with fallen autumn leaves
Same menu everyday but nothing left at end of day
Bulgaria currency Leva , I havn't seen notes more than 20

Ventured further in from the camp
Jungle trail walked along the stream

The water is just too cold for a dip

Last hurdle to a wonderful campsite
All the hard works paid off
Very cold water

Autumn leaves Camp

Highland village houses

Many of these roadside stalls selling honey & potatoes
Hard climb always comes together with good scenery
Yes! Meng Boleh!!!!!

Sacrified

Today's Distance: 62 km
Today's Temp: 16 - 21c
Average Speed: 11.7 max: 61
Time on Bike: 5 hr 15 min
Average climb: 3% max: 11%
Trip Altitude: 1100 m max: 1284 m
Today's spending: 1.5 lev
Total Distance to date: 11053 km
Total spending to date:99.5 lev

Sorry for the short ride today.I was actually targeting for Montana today which is about 103km from Sofia.Started at 9 am ,checking direction from a very friendly policeman who can't speak English.He was trying his best to help,even to the extend of stopping the pedestrians to explain in English to me.Thank you very much Mr Policeman. Go straight 3rd traffic lights turn left ! ok got it. Soon I saw the road side showing direction to Lom & Montana on Rd 81 . Shortly the climb started gradually from 630m to 1284m.Weather was cold and thunder can be heard occasionally from the dark sky but no rain luckily. Road is good and scenery was the best so far in Bulgaria,less traffic,friendly village folks selling honey & potatoes by the road side. By 4 pm ,speedometer showing only 62 km but when came across this beautiful campsite ,just

too good to miss,autumn leaves with clear mountain stream at an elevation of 1274m. Hope someone with me to share this wonderful scene, this is the kind of scenery and campsite I'm looking for ....

Day 170 Sept 26 - A Full Rest Day In Sofia

Sofia square
My set dinner - chicken,tomato,cucumber,potatos chip cost 4.6 lev

Italy ambassy
Fruits stall - 6 pcs of bananas cost 2.6 lev or Rm 5.20

Around Sofia


Mosque - very much like in Istanbul

Today's Temp: 15 - 26c
Today's spending:
Total Distance to date:
Total spending to date:

A walked around the city center continued looking for internet ,a lot of asking turn left and right and finally after 3 hours , I found this internet at the 2nd floor of the KFC with a miserable signboard " internet centre" I felt pity for the people of Sofia , I am sure there have little access to the net ,judging from the fact that a tourist needed 5 hrs to find one internet cafe.

Tomorrow will be leaving to Montana ,a region of high mountain.

Day 169 Sept 25 Tue - Highway Shell Petrol Station Camp to Sofia

Bulgaria tunnel has better lighting and wide shoulder than Turkey
Sofia Information Board approaching city
Road approaching Sofia
Hostel with 4 shared beds costs 18 lev or 9 euro
Praktiker - a big hypermarket 7km to the city

scenery better now than the 1st & 2nd days
Approaching the hills of 900m over
Houses scattered on the hill slope

700m long tunnel with wide shoulder and better lighting than Turkey

Today's Distance: 107km
Today's Temp: 12 - 31c
Average Speed: 17.3 max: 58
Time on Bike: 6 hr 12 min
Average climb: 2% max: 5%
Trip Altitude: 905 m max: 925 m
Today's spending: 29.3 lev
Total Distance to date: 10991km
Total spending to date:38.8 lev

Started to see some highland ,climbing gradually from 300 m to 900 m over ,more greenery and houses on the slope. Weather for the past 3 days had been good but temp dropped to 11-12c at night . I had to wear double on socks ,cycling pants and shirts with a face mask covered until the nose and a sun glass for the eyes. After the climbed , a long downhill and then flat all the way to Sofia at elevation of 620m. Reached Sofia at 4.00pm but not until 6.00pm settled in a hostel with 4 shared beds for 18 lev or 9 euro. Had dinner in town and wasted 2 hours failed to find any Internet cafe . Will try tomorrow morning.

Day 168 Sept 24 Mon - Wild Camp In Stoykovo to Highway Shell Petrol Station Camp

A rest stop at the petrol station cafe section
A1 & E-80 highway from Edirne to Sofia
Shell station and Mac Donald on opposite sides of the highway
A surprised campsite - Shell petrol Station open 24 hours

Today's Distance: 133 km
Today's Temp: 12 - 29c
Average Speed: 20.7 max: 48
Time on Bike: 6 hr 22 min
Average climb: 1% max: 6%
Trip Altitude: 482 m max: 296 m
Today's spending: 4.7 lev
Total Distance to date: 10884 km
Total spending to date: 9.05 lev

Bulgaria my 2nd day still looked unimpressive,except for that poorly maintained highway of A1 & E-80 ,there was practically nothing much worthy to lift my camera.I was told the scenic area is at the coast line along the Black Sea region where most of the European tourists frequent. That was my original planned route,but somehow or rather ended up to Sofia ! Maybe this is a quicker way to Paris,I guessed. I was in good form today hitting 133km on this flat highway and was more surprised being allowed to camped at a small piece of grass land by the Shell Station ,while topping up my MSR fuel. I was told there is no hotel until Sofia which is another 100km away,too far to reach before dark at 6.30 pm. There is hot water in the "select" shop and a cafe restaurant , many cars & trucks stop for rest and the station operates on 24 hours ,I felt extra safe to camp here. Tomorrow should be no problem on this highway to Sofia,the capital of Bulgaria.Hopefully Sofia has much to offer.....

Day 167 Sept 23 Sun - Edirne to Wild Camp In Stoykovo ,Bulgaria

Sunset at the wild camp
Wild camp really wild like back home in Malaysia Jungle
Two dogs came visit my tent looking for foods ,luckily all that inside my tent

Sofia 290 km , a city not on my earlier plan

Road financed by EU
Very rare to see roadside water taps unlike in Turkey
My plan to camp here was spoiled by the thousands of mosquitoes

10km of trucks Q-up to cross border to Bulgaria
Kapikule -last border town of Turkey before Bulgaria
Duty free shops mostly selling cigarettes and wines
Japanese solo cyclist Suzuki on his way to Istanbul
Exchange rate to Bulgarian currency leva

Today's Distance: 97 km
Today's Temp: 17 - 28c
Average Speed: 16.7 max: 54
Time on Bike: 5 hr 50 min
Average climb: 2% max: 8%
Trip Altitude: 506m max: 235m
Today's spending: 18 ytl

Total spending in Turkey: 716.64 ytl

Today spending in Bulgaria : 4.35 lev ( 1 Lev = Rm 2 )

Total Distance to date: 10751 km
Total spending to date In Lev: 4.35 Lev

Today crossed border to Bulgaria at 12.15pm at Kapikule,18km from Edirne.Saw a long Q of big trucks stretching to 10km long ,waiting to cross border to Bulgaria.No problem for bike clearing the Turkey exit and also entry to Bulgaria.The police and the custom officers were friendly and I was given 90 days of stays in Bulgaria,which I needs only 2-3 weeks.My passport was stamped without any questions and my begs were not checked either, just waved and go.Exchanged 40 euro at the Bulgaria side and 20 ytl for Leva. 1 euro = 1.94 lev and 1 usd = 1.36 lev and 1 lev = Rm 2. Also bought a Bulgaria map ,no English version but at least something to refer to , I am totally have zero knowledge on this country. Most of the words looks very Russian , a big headache for me. First day impression of Bulgaria that this country is still very much lacking behind in economic, from the road maintenance to the houses and cars ,as compared to Turkey or maybe Russia. Nothing much about scenery,mostly unpopulated barren land with some grapes and tobacco growing on the hill slope. Met one solo Japanese cyclist Suzuki who was on his way to Istanbul. Not much information from him,not even want to exchange his better Bulgaria map with my Turkey map .