To the Pruth

On Sunday morning (July 8, 2018), around nine o'clock, I leave the tent. I take advantage of the peace and quiet (the rest of the party is still sleeping) to shower and do some laundry. Then I head towards Kuchuriv with my trusty bike to have a small breakfast and a cup of coffee. Back at the tent, I doze off in the afternoon sun before we pack up our things and I say goodbye to Ivan and Roman. We exchange some contact information and around three o'clock, Rango and I set off. The plan was to take a bus to Chernivtsi and then take a train to Moldova. However, after two failed attempts to get the bike on a bus, we decide to continue on foot to the east. We set up our tent near a small unnamed settlement after walking for about 7 kilometers. I organize some drinking water for Rango and myself from the neighborhood. After a small dinner, we go to bed early, as the previous evening took its toll.

On Monday morning, we have a hearty breakfast while I recharge my batteries in the sun. Around twelve o'clock, we continue eastward. Suddenly, we are accompanied by a third wheel. The Big One has secretly organized a girlfriend who joins us for about an hour and then disappears just as discreetly. We reach Molodija around half past two, where I take a break in the center with some coffee and cookies. The local community generously donates food to me, so I am practically forced to feed most of it to Rango. Unfortunately, the village does not offer any opportunity to replenish my dwindling cash reserves, but I am promptly driven by Lada to the nearest ATM and back. We set off again around five o'clock and set up our camp half an hour later on the outskirts of the village. While setting up the tent, my improvised sleeve tears, so aluminum is not the right material. I temporarily secure the frame with a piece of wood, as there is nothing better available at the moment. For dinner, we have cucumber salad with bread and cheese. The donated cucumbers taste very bitter to me, and I can't help but think of dear Hopi, who ended up in the hospital after eating bitter zucchinis from his own garden. A quick internet search prompts me to immediately stop eating, as bitter fruits similar to pumpkins are not to be taken lightly. However, by that time, I have already eaten half of the salad. Fortunately, I only experience mild digestive discomfort, and no further symptoms occur over the next two days.

On Tuesday, July 10, 2018, before continuing our journey, I repair my tent frame again. This time, I use a beer can that I found while packing as the necessary repair material. It seems quite sturdy. We set off around noon, and under sunshine and high temperatures, we make our way to Lukovyzya in the first hour. Here, I treat myself to coffee and ice cream. We continue marching to Hodynivka and then to Horbova, where another coffee break awaits. It is already half past five, so I replenish our food supplies at the local store before looking for a place to spend the night. The Prut River is now very close, so a campsite by the water seems feasible. About 30 minutes later, we actually find a cozy spot under poplar trees right by the water and settle down. Another nearby body of water is inviting for a swim, so I enjoy several swims that same evening.

On Wednesday, the decision to stay for a day is quickly made, and so I spend the day swimming, exploring the area (by the Prut River and an old gravel pit), and having a cup of coffee in Horbova. I also make a paw protector for the Big One - it's time for him to carry his backpack again.