Full Moon in Transylvania

Day #31

Sunday, May 31st.

From Zārieș to Mihalț

Country: Romania

The Carpathians await.

And I am ready.

The night was quiet and I slept well.

There was a bit of rain in the morning, but thanks to the tarp, the tent and bike stayed dry.

Moreover, it has stopped raining, and the sun is coming through as I pack up.

However, today I have some significant headwinds - first world problems, I know.

It's as if I have to fight for the approach to the Carpathians myself.

Do you really want this?

Oh yes.

And so I tirelessly forge ahead.

A highlight of today's route is the fortress in Alba Iulia.

Though I don't appreciate it as much as it probably deserves.

Okay, bicycles are also prohibited there.

So, I continue, as I have a destination.

According to my guidebook, 75km after starting the Transalpina, from Sebeș, there is a plateau suitable for overnight stays.

Fortunately, supermarkets in Romania are open on Sundays, so I get fresh pastries and bananas to sustain me through the day and the first section of the Carpathians.

The questions about where I come from and where I am going, all while cycling, are piling up.

I also seem to be the exotic one, as I am the only one cycling with a road bike.

And that's only near cities.

In the villages, bicycles can occasionally be seen.

Most of the time, they are just standing or hanging around somewhere.

Meanwhile, I always offer German as a language in conversations, as I learned from Péter that many learn it in school. Along with English, it's one of the two optional languages.

For lunch, I turn off into a location that's questionable and seems more like a dump.

This is something new and disturbing for me.

How much trash lies in nature and what is thrown out of cars.

You brought the stuff here, so take it back with you.

The next trash can is coming; I know that from experience.

It’s nice that all the water sources today are working.

And since I'm already on the inclines, I fill my bottles at every available opportunity.

At the first stop, I'm lucky and seize a good moment before several vehicles arrive and the people want to fill all sorts of sizes of water bottles.

This reminds me a lot of the situation on Day #3.

A passing hare looks very much like Felix, so I greet him warmly before he sets off to his next destination.

He even told me he wants to write a letter.

I also reach my daily goal; the plateau is here, and to my right, a reservoir stretches while the sun shines down on me in golden yellow.

I find a suitable spot just below the road.

And I set up my hammock between two fitting trees, right next to the wall where the road runs above.

It feels good with the barrier on one side and the slope to the water on the other.

But I'm in the Carpathians, and warnings about bears are common here.

So, I go a good distance away from my campsite for dinner.

And then I hoist all my supplies into the trees before returning to my hammock.

With the knowledge that the full moon is shining down on me, even though it is obscured by clouds.

Fortunately, I know from the song by Freitag about Dracula that he is no longer around.

Otherwise, I might have gotten some garlic.

Since today, I've been on the road longer than ever before.

It’s a profound feeling.

Just like the 3,000 km that I've completed with today’s tour.

And with thoughts of what I’ve experienced so far, I bid farewell to this day, which had surprisingly plenty of sunshine despite the looming cloud fronts.

Song of the Day:

System of a Down - Attack!

(I debated whether I could use the song given the numerous conflicts; yes, I’m talking about conquering the Carpathians...)