Romaniacs Day 1 Transfargaran

 Off to flying start we were not. On this day Friday 19th July, the world experienced the biggest simultaneous blue screen of death, and crashed.  Trains, planes, businesses and everything else brought to a complete stop. Including our flight to Romania. 

Two days later Sarah and I had booked three other flights (that i spelled our names wrong on) and were in Dublin city listening to Irish music in Temple Bar and paying 10€ a pint. (Ouch) Still, it was better than what awaited at the airport. 

I was grateful of the silk sleeping bag liner i'd bought, a tip from MadorNomad, as I spent spent six hours laying on it on the airport floor later that night. As once again, more flights were delayed and the world chaos continued. I was starting to think the gods were conspiring against us, but after 30hrs of travelling we reached Cluj Napoca. 

Cluj Napoca was the wrong city to collect our bikes from the Raid Assist adventure truck, but we negotiated with a taxi driver who agreed to drive us for two hours. Unfortunately for everyone, when we finally got to the Red Bull Romaniacs team hotel, the taxi driver attempted to bully us for more money and suggested he was calling the police.  Like our war weathered grandparents, we showed our courage by hiding in the hotel toilets until angry taxi got bored and left. 

Finally reunited with Barrie, maker of dreams and the Raid Assist truck, we packed our bikes and turned south for a two day ride towards Bulgaria

Above, Sarah on the transfargaran.

This first day in Romania was epic. Ticking off the world famous (thanks Jeremy Clarkson) transfargaran pass.  The North side is the most picturesque, but the south side better to ride due to less traffic and tourist stops / traps. The transfargaran is a great place to ride, you like following Bob and Shelia in their retirement motorhome! 

From the transfargaran, we detoured off the famous well trodden route (7c) and took an unpaved road (704l) around the lake, stoping for lunch at a heavenly retreat. 

As the unpaved road joins the main 7c route you pop out of this unfinished tunnel, very cool. 

We were delighted to see that road works blocked the way for all tourist traffic resulting in a huge tail back, that we skipped, being on bikes, and had the entire road to ourselves! 

In this wonderful and unusual lull we were able to view the original Vlad the impaler castle and get our first bear sighting!

Two bears, just chilling..

After 40hrs of little sleep we cruised through rural romania and found 'The Story Garden'. A small campsite run by a young couple who make money in the skiing season in Switzerland and then spend nine months sharing stories in their garden. Love it. 

Tent up, bed out, sleep. Ace