The 4,000km Orient Express Bicycle Tour 2006, which started two months ago in Paris has come to a successful end.
Another year has come to a wonderful finish in the wonderful city of Istanbul and a certain level of satisfaction is setting in.
Our group was almost twice as big as it was last year and the contrasts don't end there. I really believe every part of the trip improved from the previous year and we are excited to see it continue to improve in year 3, year 4, and year 20.
There's nothing else like the Orient Express Bicycle Tour, and there's something unique and special about every year and every group of riders that take part...
Yesterday's arrival into Turkey was a huge contrast from last year, when our tour - in its first year - was an unknown to the people of Kirklareli, our first stop in Turkey. This year, with the wonderful help of our local contact Cem Manglay, we have been treated like heroes. We were met at the border by representatives from the municipality, police, jandarma (regional police), and even an ambulance - all of which escorted us to Derekoy where many of the riders took up the offer from the municipality to be driven to some facinating nearby caves.
Then upon entering Kirklareli, police were found all over this small town pointing us in the right direction and controlling traffic. The police also set us up in a camp downtown that was guarded all day and all night and had police security barriers surrounding our tents.
And if that wasn't enough, the Governor of Kirklareli is hosting a dinner for us tonight at new restaurant in town. WOW! It has all been a little overwhelming at times, but definitely appreciated by these tired cyclists who can finally start to treat this as a vacation as we only have three more short cycling days left before Istanbul. Hopefully we can talk the governor to join us for a few kilometers tomorrow...
105kms took us into Varna, a huge tourist destination. Located right on the coast of the Black Sea, this Bulgarian town is home to some incredible cathedrals, museums and parks. The seaside is also something not to be missed. I made sure that I had a swim in the Black Sea. It was incredible. Piotr and I were tossed around only 5 feet off the shore by gigantic waves and an intense current. But we splashed around for over half an hour in the salt water. I do believe that we were only a few of us that dared to swim in September. However, it was worth it and surprisingly warm. Others went to the Archeological museum, the many shops on all of the wonderful pedestrian streets and dinned on local food.
The staff also gave the adventure riders a nice surprise and put them up in a small hotel that was located right on the pedestrian streets. The original camping space was 10kms out of town and didn’t seem convenient for a rest day in such a great town.
Tomorrow we head to Pomorie another town on the Black Sea coast. A swim might be in order there also as long as the weather stays nice.
The riders got more than they bargained for this day. It was meant to be a long day, but it turned out to be longer. We sent the riders on the back roads to the town of Sumen. The highway would have been too busy. So, instead of riding 130kms with large trucks and heaps of traffic, the group of very tough men and women rode a total of 155kms on the quieter back roads. By 7:00pm, Piotr and Shanny had to go out and pick up some of the riders, as it was becoming too dark to ride safely to camp. I was riding as sweep again that day and therefore had to get picked up also (by my own truck).
Dinner was late that night and we all ate in the dark at this really nice park that we happened to be camping in.
This route was new for the tour this year, as we were told that Veliko Tarnovo was very worth seeing. After walking around the town, I have to agree with its beauty. Very old buildings, on cobblestone roads, with a castle up on one of the hills made for a very lovely evening walk.
I do believe that this is a segment in the trip worth keeping. Not to mention the challenging ride you get to have.
Some of the riders also purchased local artists work in the form of paintings and vases and hand woven scarves. Now if only they would purchase things that would fit in their luggage, I would be happy!
We have entered Bulgaria with 9 new riders with us. This was not before leaving Romania in style with our fancy police escorts. One more time, thanks goes out to the men and women in blue of Bucharest.
Our first day in Ruse was met with much of the same glamour as that of Romania. A meeting with the mayor of Ruse was the initial welcome wagon for our cyclists and staff. We were also interviewed by numerous local media. To top it all off, the president of the local cycling association took many of the participants to the bicycle hot spots. One of which was an old Olympic distance velodrome.
Today we have come to the beautiful city of Veliko Tarnovo, a popular tourist town that is built on three large hills with a river zigzagging throughout it.
Tomorrow is the longest day left on the trip, full of rolling hills and the potential of some very steep climbs. The riders will be making good use of our refreshment stop after lunch I imagine.
With Kendy as the Leader of the pack, we entered Bucarest in style. Met by local police escorts we travelled through the capital city with much ease during Monday after noon rushhour traffic. It was the most amazing convoy I have ever been a part of. We were lead and followed by police cars keeping our cyclists and support trucks out of harms way. And radio calls ahead had additional police blocking aproaching intersections for is to travel through. A huge thank you to the police this far. They will also be taking is out of town tomorrow as we head to Bulgaria.
Word travelled fast through the police world that we were here last night and we were greated by the rural police at the campsite. They wanted to make sure that all was ok and they stayed around the camp in case we needed anything. What an outstanding welcome. We are happy to be here and our sightseeing day is upon us.
Yesterday was a day many of the participants will remember as a day unlike any other on this Tour. The total elevation as well as the vicious nature of the roads made a challenging day for everyone including the staff that rode. Not only was it the toughest day but the longest also. Despite all of this many smiles were produced at dinner and people all pitched in to lend a hand to the riders who arrived last into camp.
Today was a much smoother go. I was finally on my bike as well. A much enjoyed break from my lunch truck driving duties. But two weeks of not riding sure was noticed by my body.
Tomorrow we arrive in the capital city of Bucharest - a much needed day off.
Tonight we seemed to have taken a wrong turn and ended up somewhere along the route of the Tour d'Afrique.
Why? Because as we slept last night, beside hearing the regular assortment of stray dogs fight with each other, we could also hear a lion roaring.
Our new campsite this year happens to be located right next to a zoo.
On a Tour like ours nothing can be routine or mondane as a trip of this length travelling through 8 countries will always present us with challenges and pleasant and peculiar surprises like our friend the lion.
The riders have had two incredible days of climbing in North West Romania. The scenery has proved to be spectacular. Many barely clothed tourists partaking in healing springs rituals proved to be to much for a few of our riders. Others took in a hike up to the best view of Baile Herculane the health spa town in which we are spending a rest day. After the hike they had dinner with a local family who invited them in. There are a few birthdays among the group who are currently celebrating with a family of Roma who happen to be camping here also. It sounds like heaps of fun from where I am sitting.
The flat cycleway and the plains of Hungary are both behind us now, and there is a certain anticipation amongst some of the riders for what will be a much needed, and very challenging series of days ahead in Romania, as we head from Timisoara into the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains.
The weather in Timisoara was perfect today for us to unwind and prepare ourselves mentally for the hills ahead.
Tomorrow in Resita, we will stay in the towns finest 1 star hotel. No approariate camping area could be found, so the "adventure tour" again will live up to its name as we venture into the heart of Romania.
