Simply say thank you

Day #42

Thursday, 11th of June.

From Kraimorie to somewhere near Gramatikowo

Country: Bulgaria

[Note from the editor: First, there was no internet in the Bulgarian mountains, and then came Turkey.

Nicko has generally prepared well. Except for Turkey, and then he was without internet due to roaming. But how he managed to resolve that is another story]

The night was wonderfully quiet, and I sleep very well until I am gently awakened by the sun.

I take my time for breakfast; the view through the trees onto the water is just too beautiful.

I gladly accept the delay.

Shortly after starting, I reach the sea.

There are plenty of potential camping spots here, as all the people with their motorhomes think.

So it was a good decision I made yesterday to call it a day.

Only in theory do I know where the Black Sea got its name, it shines turquoise blue again. Like the dream of the Caribbean.

A place where I can reach the beach also comes soon, and with the prospect of being able to swim, I gladly push my bike through the sand.

Super flat, it goes into the refreshing water, and I swim back and forth a bit, which is super refreshing.

After that, I let myself dry off in the sun, and with a heavy heart, I continue driving.

Beach vacation can wait for another time.

On the way, I encounter a construction site on an incline, where one direction of travel is alternately cleared.

This means for me to pedal hard before the oncoming traffic comes.

It's sweat-inducing, yet that’s how it’s most relaxing for me.

Later, I ride along the sea again, and just before heading into the mountains, I find a spot on a cliff to rest a bit.

The view is too fantastic and overwhelmingly impressive for me to capture it in a panoramic photo.

To my left is the coast and a bay, in front of me a peninsula, to my right a small harbor and more coastline, behind me a chapel and a fishing village.

Fortunately, I can attach photos to this report; otherwise, I would get lost in attempting to describe it adequately.

But even here, I have to move on at some point, so I say goodbye to the bay of Burgas and hello to the mountains where the border to Turkey lies.

As I labor up the mountain, I’m circled by flies that remind me more of a swarm of fish.

Yet, I even went for a swim today.

Maybe I have a slightly fishy smell?

They are definitely annoying.

After conquering the ascent, I am rewarded with a winding descent before heading steeply back up on the other side.

Over a stretch that I would hardly dare to call a road. Too much asphalt has crumbled away for it to still be called potholes.

Somewhere along the way, I meet border patrol, who make it very clear to me that there would be no further progression.

That’s understandable even without a common language.

The further communication, which is anyway quite one-sided, goes through Google Translate, so there was hardly any content.

The clear statement was that there are other colleagues; they will also send you back.

So, I take the brutal bumpy road back down, and what was previously a wonderful descent...

Thank you for this ridiculous route suggestion; the route over the regular road is practically the same length.

It’s basically shocking how many border patrols there are here.

This started long before I approached the border.

Somewhat frustrated, I finally reach the top of the mountain and follow the somewhat decently paved road.

And while I’m still considering where I want to spend the night, as I am in or near a nature reserve, I find a shelter by the roadside.

And luckily, the hut is on the inside of a curve.

People usually look in the direction they are traveling and rarely to the side.

Moreover, there is underbrush that shields me further.

So it's all a bit hidden and perfect for me.

And I have another stroke of luck since there’s a movable bench with which I can extend my sleeping area and don’t have to worry about falling off the bench.

And so, in the end, everything comes together.

Who knows where I would have ended up otherwise.

After dinner and brushing my teeth, it's off to the made 'bed'; by now, it’s already pitch dark.

So much for my day, which I also want to use to thank all the people who make this journey possible:

First and foremost, that’s definitely Jenni.

Thank you for your willingness to let me go.

That you agree with me being on the road for so long is something special, just like you.

After all, you have patiently endured my planning for months.

And every day I have my conversation with the wind.

Thank you to my family, with whom I made my first cycling trips at an early age. I know where it comes from that I’m currently hanging out in the woods.

Thank you to my employer, who makes it possible for me to take such a long leave to gain all those experiences and fulfill my long-held dream.

Thank you to my colleagues, who cover my absence.

Thank you to all my friends and the people who supported me in my preparations.

Be it through ideas, stimulating questions, or concrete tips, like instructions for repairing my bike.

Thank you to Dave, who accompanied me for the first part of my journey.

This made the start easier.

Thank you to my family and Juri with family, who came over for a joint breakfast on the morning of my departure to say goodbye.

Thank you for the positive feedback on my travel reports; it gives me motivation, and I’m glad when others can share in my experiences.

Thank you for allowing me to experience this journey right now.

And for every thank you that I forgot:

42

Song of the Day:

1.

Close to Freedom - Simply say thank you (maybe still available on youtube)

2.

Rage - Lord of the Flies