Blood on my hands

Day #40

Tuesday, June 9th

From Kawarna to Рудник

(... all clear ... Rudnik. Luckily, place names are listed twice)

Country: Bulgaria

This morning, for the first time, I am surprised in my camp.

That happened to Juri and me on our last trip too, but we had already packed everything up and were just standing with our bikes in the woods.

Now my whole camp is still set up and I just got out of bed.

However, it is interesting to see how late the mushroom collector discovers me.

Since he talked non-stop, I noticed him quite early.

He looks puzzled, we greet each other, and everyone goes back to their own activities.

The map material has loaded, so my efforts from last night paid off.

Maybe it’s because I turned the device off yesterday and restarted it now.

Anyway, the result counts, and it's practical that I can see side roads and paths again.

Shortly after departure, I have a beautifully curved descent that takes me to the coast.

The view is incredibly beautiful with the sea on the left and eroded rocky edges full of greenery on the other side.

The water is so turquoise that it's hard to tell it apart from the sky.

I pass through a vacation camp and am right by the sea.

Of course, I take advantage of this and happily push my bike through the sand.

I need to go for a swim and refresh myself.

Enjoying and taking in the moment is why I'm out here.

Where it goes down... it also goes back up.

And this up and down accompanies me all day long.

At the end of the current ascent into the mountains, there is a water source where I can cool off again and refill my water bottles.

A business-savvy taxi driver offers me his services.

Thanks, since I'm already (almost) at the top, I want to take the descent to Varna as well.

He also advises me to visit the rock monastery we're currently at.

I still ride up to the entrance of the area but decide against a visit since it's already afternoon.

I still need to go through Varna and make some distance until I can find a place to sleep for the night.

First, it’s necessary to go shopping again.

It's handy that I pass by a tobacco shop.

And they have my preferred type. Perfect.

And with full pockets, which unfortunately happens too often, it's back to uphill again.

I have to revise my statement from yesterday about considerate driving around me as a cyclist.

It's very exhausting and uncomfortable to ride on the main roads.

The women of the horizontal trade at the roadside probably rejoice over such a large potential clientele.

Around 7:00 PM, I reach 100km and call it a day.

I just got over one last steep section and take a short break, then I can go right into the path next to me.

Crazy, I'm standing in the woods, and yet it's a challenge to find the two suitable trees.

It takes a while before I can decide.

The distance must be right, no disruptive plants between the trees, and preferably without an ant path, which can be found on almost every tree around here.

The forest is alive.

Full of mosquito colonies who think I’m their dinner.

For some, it is the case, others I catch and hope that the blood on my hands comes only from myself.

Unpleasant.

After washing up, I can spray myself with anti-mosquito spray, and it gets significantly better so that I can enjoy my own dinner.

Something is really bothering me.

By now, it's almost dark, and flashes keep flickering between the trees.

Oh, there are fireflies here as well.

After a long time, I hear a deer again. Thankfully, I know how they sound and can lean back relaxed.

Song of the Day:

Stillbirth - Baptized in Blood

(was already confirmed at the beach, fits perfectly)