Bulgaria, again

Leaving Romania we once again faced the mighty Danube River, this time to the south, as it forms a section of the border between Romania and Bulgaria. We chose to take a ferry  across the river, along with 6 or 7 semi trucks. We found the way they loaded the ferry quite interesting. With the ferry moored sideways along the wharf a truck would drive on so that it was facing side to side, the ferry would then let go the mooring lines, float downstream far enough that the next truck would have room to drive on and thus continuing until the ferry was full. It was a very hot day and we were lucky enough to be invited by the captain of the ferry to join him in the air conditioned cabin of the vessel, he showed us all the old and new instruments which were used for navigating through the many sandbars on the river. Unfortunately, the first semi off the ferry was not able to make the assent up the wharf on the Bulgarian side and we had to wait for 45 minutes or so until they rounded up a tractor to pull it up the steep, metal bank.

This was our third time in Bulgaria, and needless to say we enjoy the country and its people with the exception of its drivers who turn into madmen behind the wheel. Our first stop was Motokamp Bulgaria in Idilevo, a small village in the centre of Bulgaria. It was through Evo and Polly at Motokamp that we purchased our green card moto insurance for the EU. Our room there was nice, the riding around the area was fantastic and the fellow travellers along with Evo and Polly, and the locals (a lot of Brits have purchased property there) were welcoming. It came as no surprise when the days flew by and our intended three day stay turned into seven, lots of time to do several rides into the surrounding mountains.

After pulling ourselves away from Motokamp we took a couple of days and headed to Melnik where their claim to fame was (and still is) the picturesque white cliffs surrounding the town and the many family wine cellars built into the earth.  We were not disappointed, the town was quaint, the landscape beautiful and well worth the time taken to do a hike or two, not to mention the locals and their wines were enjoyable.  

As much as we enjoy Bulgaria after 11 days it was time to move on...next stop Sebia, another new country for us.

We are the little guys on the ferry from Romania to Svishtov, Bulgaria.

Ken tries to make his way off the ferry before the semis have a chance to get going but he doesn't make...unfortunately.

Our room at Motokamp Bulgaria was originally built over 200 years ago in the Turkish Ottoman Empire.

Ken is working on putting on his new tire that Ivo got for him. Motokamp has work space, tools, storage for your bike if you want to leave it and return at a later date, and they are than willing to give you a hand with anything mechanical.

The Shipka Monument on the.... no other than... The Shipka Pass.

Buzludja, the house and monument of the Bulgarian communist party. Built between 1974 and 1981.

Looks a bit like a spaceship on the top of a mountain.

Graffiti on Buzludja, today fallen into disrepair, notice the spoof on Coke.

Gerry (also from Motocamp), Ken and I took a circle tour over the Shipka Pass and the Troyan Pass. Loads of twisties.

Eva took me into the nearby city of Sevlievo, by Ural sidecar, to do a little shopping.

A sample of some of the old architecture in Idilevo, wood is soakEd then woven into walls. A dying art form.

Floating fish farms on Smoljan Lake (we think that is the name of the reservoir), foliage is actually growing on it.

Smoljan Reservoir, more view from above.

A naturally carbonated spring found near the village of Mihalkoco now is home to bottling plant, but as in the rest of Bulgaria they also have a tap free fro the using.

Just in case you are interested...it kind of tasted like drinking water with baking soda in it.

Where the heck are we? It is an every day challenge.

Another example of the wooden siding in the old homes.

Not really, the bridges are better than this, but this one was once used in the Roman times.

Used to cut the grass in the fields, then the hay is raked and piled by hand.

What a treat to find a hotel in Melnik that had this great pool and didn't mind us camping in their back yard. A welcome dip after a 36 degree ride.

Looking over some of the roof tops of Melnik to the white cliffs on the other side.

A wine cave in Melnik, Thomas and his family made good wine and we enjoyed talking to him about Bulgaria today and days gone by.

Overlooking the rooftop of the Rozhen monastery near Melnik.

More cliffs close to Rozhen a few km from Melnik.

Here they also sold colourful gourds.

Stands line the roadside selling jams, honey, liqueurs and wines of the region. Notice the guy in the background that I caught taking a sip from his first (maybe) beer of the day...9:30 am.

The last thing to be done before leaving Bulgaria, changing our scooter oil.