Day 9. Fri. August 14. Alba Iulia (Romania) to Blajel (Romania)

Distance: 83 km

Time: 4 hrs 13 min.

Speed: 19.4 km/hr

Climbed:  1680 ft

AHR (Average Heart Rate) 103 bts/min

Cum Distance:  902 km

Cum Climbed: 11,554 ft.

Punctures: 0

Great to be back in the saddle again today after an enjoyable around Alba Iulia and getting that extra rest.

Around 8pm last night we had thunder and lightning but no rain. But it lightened the atmosphere...had been so close all day especially around 7pm.

Opened the curtains this morning but no surprise....sun beaming, more of the same.

Whole group ready leave at 8 am and we had a convoy for 5 km out of the city.

Again plenty of houses with their walls and closed gates as people made their way into Friday work.

All left to their own devices after the 5 km but still another 5 km to go on this busy Highway 1. Need to be wary and keep an eye on the rear view mirror. No hard shoulder to pull into.

At the 10 km mark we pulled off to the right into Santimbru and were soon on a dirt track. In fact we were cutting off an elbow but paying the price in conditions. This was a 3 km track and speed dropped right down and each took his own pace. This stretch tested out if all bolts etc were sufficiently tightened...really a bit of a bone-shaker. We all came through in one piece. We all knew there would be parts like this (and more to come ahead).

In time we came onto Highway 14B passing through Galtiu and Coslarin and over the Mares river. This was nice open countryside with undulating road and gentle hills on either side. Around here the landscape about reminded me of roads south of San Jose complete with sun scorched burned grass.

No great climbing today although we put 1680 ft behind us...the usual amount you’d do at home on a 50 or 60 km spin. Plenty of up and down with no Christ the King in it.

We never saw so many horses and carts along the way. I thought that once we came out of the Metalfieri mountains that we’d be back to mechanised agriculture. But this time they were’nt drawing hay or fodder. They were empty or carrying pigs etc with enclosures built on top.

At 34 km we dropped down to Blaj (pop 21,000) often referred to as ’Little Rome’ as it’s the religious and cultural centre of the Greek Catholic Church in Romania. It’s on the Mures river 

Vines appeared on the slopes as we passed Sona. Wine is an important part of the local economy in Sona, Blaj and Jidvei.

Just after passing through Jidvei the presence of so many horse and carts became clearer. Just up ahead was a traffic hold-up with police in evidence. Road traffic accident? No, it was the monthly horse fair. Fields on both sides of the road were filled with horses and carts and stalls selling related materials. You could even purchase you headstone if you felt that way. A young local police man explained to us this fair (not a show) and was interested in our race as he called it). I corrected him and asked him if this road led on to Istanbul. He’s still looking at me.

For miles along the road then were horse carts (with purchases, I presume) making their way home.

I had a chance today to get closer to the fodder crop that I’ve seen so much of, and seen on carts being brought into farmyards. Perhaps someone can identify.

Our lunch stop was relatively late (at 65 km) near Bazna just before entering our second section of gravel/dirt track. As we approached we could see clouds of dust from cars ahead. Fruit juice and salad sandwiches fortified us for the 4 km ahead as far as Bojan. Again speed dropped and those with suspension smiled all the way through. It was like cycling again from Kereight up to Galbally in the old days. The lads on the carts were happy out and enjoying the trip.

Into Bojan to find the Main Street torn up for pipes. It was a real mess, not just an inconvenience.

Back on sealed surface again we started to build up a bit of speed. Just spotted what looked like water-uffalo on our right hand side.

And as the other day, arriving into Blajel we had people on the side of the road selling tomatoes again. Now the fresh ones we have in camp are delicious. But not as nice as our own that I’ll taste when I get home!

Some local kid took a liking to the bright orange ribbon marking our turn for the campsite. None of the five of us spotted the small bit that was left and continued on another 3 km up around 3 hairpins before deciding that it was time to make a phone call. We were soon back in the right spot and set up the tented village in the great heat. It was just 12.45.....an early finish.

I met a German couple (from Wesphalia) camping here. She came over to me reckoning that I had an Irish accent. So happens that her brother is married in Meath and often comes over to visit him. (So that’s 7 counties accounted for now.) they are spending 5 weeks cycling on a tandem around Romania in anticlockwise fashion starting in Timoshuara and they cycled up around Suceava and Bucovina. They are enjoying their only Rest Day here in Blajel.

After a few swims in the pool and attending to a bit of bike maintenance, a few of us went across the road for a few beers to cool down.

Another great day of cycling in a varied landscape with a few unexpected events along the way.

Thank God for the health and thank God for the energy.