Distance: 77 km
Time: 4 hrs 21 min.
Speed: 17.8 km/hr
Climbed: 2630 ft
AHR (Average Heart Rate) 106 bts/min
Cum Distance: 979 km
Cum Climbed: 14,184 ft.
Punctures: 0
Another day of variety except for the heat. Cool at 14 deg as we set out but by 1pm it was overpowering in the upper 30’s. By that time we were in Carta but spending a while on a visit.
The night in the campsite in Blajel was interrupted by the 30 minute pealing of bells from a nearby church. Luckily they stopped before I turned in. But all during the night local dogs kept up long distance conversations and once awake they made it difficult to get back to sleep.
Once out of the campsite at 7.20 and we were into a 4 km climb generally at 6%. (We had done 3 km of that climb yesterday when we overshot the campsite.) It had a few hairpins and the fact that it was cool made it tolerable.
From up here we had a good view of Medias below, a town beginning to stir with the erection of stalls for the weekly market. We had a great downhill into the city and then paid the price and had to climb back out again. Reminded me of those towns in northern France last year on our London to Paris run...towns all built in valleys.
As we moved along Highway 141 I saw collections of bee-hives both static and on the side of trailers with honey on sale by the roadside.
At 18 km along this road we came to Mosna which boasts of one of the many fortified churches scattered around Romania. We stopped here for a visit and paid 4 lei each to enter the enclosure and basilica. The Basilica of St Mary was built in the 14 century. Then in the 16 century with the threat of the Ottomans, villages built fortifications around the church to retreat into. The enclosure contained stables, school and other necessities. The basilica itself was built in Transylvanian Late Gothic style. A striking feature is the four sets of pillars each of different decoration, dimensions and angles to th horizontal. It is still in use as part of the Evangelical Church. 
As we were leaving the guardians young dog took a shine to us. Reminded me of our own Pascal/Ralph.
Today in all we had 4 notable climbs ranging between 2 and 4 km in length and all with constant 7% periodically hitting 10%. Also we had a good number of short snappy ones in this undulating countryside. Each time the 5 of us regrouped at the top.
Not many horse carts visible today (it is Saturday). In the fields it was bales, round and square that were to be seen; none of the hay pikes from the last few days.
Again progress was halted today by a good number of gravel sections - these were roads that were at the early stages of construction. Some of these dirt roads went through towns like Vard and Chirpar. Narrow tyres were a distinct disadvantage. 
The village of Vard seemed to me predominantly Romany, with their colourful dresses and rounded hats.
I’m intrigued by the terraces/ ridges along the slopes. Was this area beneath water at some point of development? I don’t think they are the result of cultivation.
Plenty of shrines all along the roads and it’s generally the crucifix that appears. Also crosses to mark the location of tragic accidents.
We halted in Agnita for a cold drink...it was beginning to warm up and on comes more from the group storming up the hill and mad for the road!
Most villages were extremely quiet, seemingly deserted as we passed through close to mid-day. Where was everybody? And no shops to be seen in the smaller villages. I enquire this evening and am told that there are plenty of small shops there....front room shops with no sign outside containing a limited range of goods. The locals know where they are. Even in the recognisable shops everything is behind the counter and you must ask for ’one of those and one of those’. Accordingly service is very slow.
I thought that there were more established woods along today’s route. Didn’t get close enough to determine what type of trees they are.
We got into Carta at 1pm, very hot but impressed by the co-ordinated flowers all along the street, the freshly painted houses and the well appointed central square.
Cathy, Susie and I decided to visit the ruins of the old Cistercian monastery. This is not regarded as a fortified church and was the most eastern establishment of the Cistercians. It was built in 1202 in Romanesque style and was damaged and restored many times. All that remains now is the transept and chancel and is used as a church.
Checked into the campsite around 2 and set about putting up the tent for the last time on this trip. All hotels from here on. I’ll miss the camping schedule and the dynamic around. 
Denise(Australia) and I were on pots-and-pans duty tonight and those pots go away now shining and sparkling.
As I’m writing this here sitting on a stool outside the tent at 8.30 (still warm) I can see the Fagarasan Mountains out through the trees. They’re looming into the sky (6000 ft +) and the top is our target for tomorrow. It’ll only be 40 km but all uphill....’hors catagorie’ for the professional Tour of Romania. I’ll wear my Tipperary (Wheelers) jersey and hope the lads also scale the heights and come out on top in Croke Park.
Thank God for the health and thank God for the energy.
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