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20. Juli 2008 | en

With the excitement of the bridge behind us, it was time to continue onwards! We had camped fairly close to the Bulgarian border, and we wanted to cross over there. The plan was to make our way towards Nesbar and meet up with Joscha´s parents before heading on down to Turkey. (Plans are for breaking even more than rules are when your on trip, but whatever, now I am getting ahead of myself).

We did however make it into Bulgaria with little incident, and again managed to find a fantastic campsite. it involved a little off roading. But I figured if the boys could do the bridge, I could do some hilly grass. Plus they had already beaten a path ahead of me. I merely had to follow this path and there should be no surprises. I just had to avoid looking at Ed, who seemed to be standing in the middle of the beaten path at the top. (Whatever I look at I drive towards, this is common and normal, but I then CANT stop looking and therefore KEEP going towards it).

Turns out Ed was standing on a big rock, which was the surprise they found as they went through. Fair enough, except now that I have no path ahead of me and I am bouncing through deep grass and I have no idea where I am going I find a rock of my own to park on – and fall off of.

Schlagwörter: petrohan pass Bulgaria
Karte: N 43° 13.456 E 23° 15.222

Erstellt am: 29. Juli 2008

Zum Logbuch | Autor: Gypsyprincess

Thunderdome

21. Juli 2008 | en

Of all the random events in my life, I will put near death by lightening that diverts us to the drinking hole of some Scots, Americans and a Bulgarian (who all are building a golf course in the area) who tell us that the hotels are over priced, but if we want 5 kms up the road there is a monastery that will take us in for the night, and that we then wake that monk up, who then lets us into the little place in back that Ed has declared `uninhabitable´ to sleep for the night, as number one on my list.

But they had a hot shower. And he charged us 2.50 to stay there. Even if they had the scariest bug I have seen outside of Japan.

And we heard, even though we did not see, rats.

Either that or that bug had a large family.

But given the other choice was to go back out into that storm, where I was literally screaming every time the lightening came closer and closer, it was preferable. (this is revenge for the time I made fun of John when he thought we would die in Japan.

Run Faster Sherrie We are going to die

Schlagwörter: Monastary Bulgaria
Karte: N 42° 89.030 E 23° 93.680

Erstellt am: 29. Juli 2008

Zum Logbuch | Autor: Gypsyprincess

PMS & Motorcycles

22. Juli 2008 | en

And the plan changes yet again. We woke up to continued rain. Boo. The plan was to go East to the Black Sea to meet up with Joscha´s parents. However a day of driving in the rain did little to appeal to any of us. We could stay with the rats, or we could drive to Sofia, as we had no food with us, Sofia was an hour away and we could see the city and get some INTERNET done.

Sounds so good and so easy.

Toss in some PMS and no food until 3 pm, and you have what Alix would term a berserker Sherrie.

One temper tantrum and some tears later, (along with some wine, and more of Ed´s decadent cooking, oh how that cooking is going to be missed), we decide to swallow the price of the apartment (which really was not that far out of budget) and go back to our Argentinian rule of always having emergency food on hand, just so that I dont kill Patrick on a whim. After all, Betty is too heavy to pick up by myself. :P

Schlagwörter: Sofia Bulgaria
Karte: N 42° 71.054 E 23° 32.382

Erstellt am: 29. Juli 2008

Zum Logbuch | Autor: Gypsyprincess

Where We Get Our Asses Kicked Out

23. Juli 2008 | en

Today is the day Joscha left us. It was also suppose to be our internet day and Sofia city day. Alas few things work out. After being promised a garage in the price for the apartment, we are told that is only outside working hours. We now have to move our bikes until 7 pm that night. We expressed our displeasure at the seeing off of Joscha, who was to continue on to meet his parents. Joscha´s parting words to us were `go tell him that you are unhappy`.

5 minutes later Ed comes back to say we have been kicked out as we are more trouble than we are worth. (dude really wanted a parking space for his Fox).

And so there goes internet. And in a way, as always, it worked out for the better. Sofia is not the best Bulgaria has to offer. In fact city center was really disappointing. And after finding the dirtiest hovel for 10 Euros each a night (the bug at the monastery would think twice about hanging out there) we headed south.

The best decision of our lives. Southern Bulgaria has turned out to be the most amazing scenery and biking on the trip so far.

And Ed to the rescue! He got us a hotel with wi fi and parking for less than crazy angry `get out of my apartment you stinky bikers` dude offered!

Schlagwörter: Dupnitza Bulgaria
Karte: N 42° 26.257 E 23° 11.360

Erstellt am: 29. Juli 2008

Zum Logbuch | Autor: Gypsyprincess

Respect

24. Juli 2008 | en

The monastary was well worth a visit, and the camping again was fantastic. But the real story lies in Ed´s abilities to open a wine bottle, without an opener, AND not by pushing the cork in, but plying it up and out.

The man has my respect. And I do so like Bulgarian wine.

Schlagwörter: Rila Monastery Bulgaria
Karte: N 42° 13.005 E 23° 16.501

Erstellt am: 29. Juli 2008

Zum Logbuch | Autor: Gypsyprincess

Bulgaria Continues To Astound

25. Juli 2008 | en

Bulgaria is becoming less and less of a transit country as we just keep staying for longer and longer. The roads are amazing, and I think this may be the best view from a gas station ever:

It was also to be Ed´s last night with us before venturing off to the land that no one talks of. Please Ed, write something, ANYTHING, from Macedonia. Even if it is to say that they do make you sign a confidentiality contract upon entry! (We have been searching and searching for info on the HUB and other biker places, and no one, NO ONE, seems to have anything to say about the country – for good or bad!).

Schlagwörter: Mountain Road near Gotse Delchev Bulgaria
Karte: N 41° 52.695 E 23° 59.073

Erstellt am: 29. Juli 2008

Zum Logbuch | Autor: Gypsyprincess

Goodbye Ed

26. Juli 2008 | en

This morning we sad goodbye to Ed, and I am sorry that he left. Ed, you should have stayed. We were wrong about staying one more night in Bulgaria. We just seem unable to leave! The curves dont stop. The people here are amazing. And the food (other than the coffee, sniff sniff) is to die for!

Schlagwörter: Mountain near Devon Bulgaria
Karte: N 41° 71.329 E 24° 46.809

Erstellt am: 29. Juli 2008

Zum Logbuch | Autor: Gypsyprincess

Sherrie Hears A Boar

27. Juli 2008 | en

So there are no bears (so far), however we did read a sign that says there are wild boars. Which are in fact nastier in my opinion. I mean bears MAY leave you alone, but don’t boars gouge you to death for fun?

We find the perfect camping site, and I do mean perfect (again). Patrick goes off to find wood. I am the happy go lucky girl sitting there typing away so that when we find internet I can just pop in my stories with no time required.

Until I hear snorting and rustling.

Patrick returns to find the battery dead and me perched on top of my motorcycle – ready to burn away, run over, or fall to my gorged death. Whatever fate awaited.

The wild piggy never did return.

Schlagwörter: Field near Ardino Bulgaria
Karte: N 41° 58.797 E 25° 19.439

Erstellt am: 29. Juli 2008

Zum Logbuch | Autor: Gypsyprincess

At The Border

29. Juli 2008 | en

So it may finally be time to leave Bulgaria, our 2 or 3 days has turned into 9. Now I am off to eat, I will edit this entry with the story of the fortress, Wilma misbehaving, and 6 days without a shower when I have more time. Til then Turkey awaits, and we finally cross the border tomrrow!

Schlagwörter: Svilengrad Bulgaria
Karte: N 41° 76.747 E 26° 20.754

Erstellt am: 29. Juli 2008

Zum Logbuch | Autor: Gypsyprincess

Leaving Bulgaria

30. Juli 2008 | en

As mentioned, leaving Bulgaria proved harder than anticipated, strictly because we loved it so much. The food appealed to me (if only I could have a constant supply of Bulgarian cheese, wine and cucumber soup I would be a happy girl), the mountains of the South provided some of the best riding (the drivers are a little crazy, but not so crazy as other countries, as Turkey was to prove), and the price appealed to the Schwab Patrick is and the one I am becoming. (except for my coffee, I am willing to pay for coffee, ooooo how I miss decent coffee).

Our last 2 days in Bulgaria were spent in the border town Svilengrad. A major tourist destination it is not. But we were treated to the best that Bulgaria has to offer. We pulled into town late, and we knew we wanted to sleep that night for sure in a hotel. We were stinky and we were dirty, and we had been promising ourselves a shower for 2 days now (and 5 days past when most people who do not shower every day would still consider one due) ;). We saw a motorcycle repair shop and Patrick pulled in. Motorcycle people tend to be good people, and he figured he could help.

Not only did he direct us, but he drove us to the place, shook our hands and told us to enjoy Bulgaria. Now for those that read my gypsy princess you may know that Patrick had been dragging around a new tube for days. He wanted to create a who knows what, to attach to his bike to carry his tools. In my head I just could not fathom what he was talking about, and whenever he tried my mind went blank and `’gum drops and lollipops `` would go sing songing its way through my head.

He thought this guy may be the one to help us, and we decided to take a day off from our travels, veg out (this is how my journiyer was updated to this point in more or less one day). I spent the day at the cafe in front of the hotel we stayed at, the one that provided the very best meal I have had in a VERY long time. When Patrick returned he had the contraption mounted, and it looked way better than I ever thought it could or would. It functions perfectly, AND, there was no charge. Motorcycle guy just said Bulgarians have a big heart, and to consider it a gift from Bulgaria.

Leaving this place was hard!