Sulina - at the Black Sea

On Friday, October 27th, 2017, the alarm clock rings at 4.45 in the morning. After using the snooze function several times, I finally get up at quarter to six. Despite good preparation the night before, I don't arrive shortly before, but shortly after six to start heading to the ferry dock in Mila 23. I rush through the night with my bike - it's still pitch black. On our way, all sorts of street and courtyard dogs provide a noisy accompaniment. Nevertheless, I believe I can hear the sound of ship engines about 200m before the dock. And indeed, the ferry has already left without us, as we arrive at our destination 3 minutes late. Very annoying. After a short chat with the harbor master, I decide to take the Pelican Express (which operates between Tulcea and Mila 23 and has already taken me here) to Gorgova, in order to take the ferry to Sulina on the same day. We can board at half past seven and reach Gorgova half an hour later. By now it is light and I walk along the 'promenade' of the small village until I find a magazine called Mixt with seating. It's time for a coffee and a small breakfast. Most of the other guests start the day with a beer. After a game of table (backgammon) with the landlady, I also treat myself to a Timişoreana in the morning sun. In the meantime, I carve a wooden spoon, because during the last dishwashing, my tablespoon disappeared invisibly into the Danube mud. So the waiting time passes quickly. At one o'clock I have to leave the establishment, the landlady takes a 2-hour lunch break. I leisurely stroll to the ferry dock, my ferry is scheduled to depart towards the Black Sea at around 3 pm. On the way there, I manage to take a photo of a dice snake for the first time. During my walks around the Mila 23 area, I was able to discover plenty of wild animals, but I didn't get them in front of the lens. Just after three o'clock, we are on the ferry and reach Sulina a good 2 hours later. After a little shopping on the promenade, we head straight for the city beach of Sulina. On the way, it gets dark and so we reach the Black Sea only in darkness. I set up the tent between the dunes and then follow the sound of the gentle surf.

Saturday is mostly drizzly and windy. Except for a little stroll on the beach, I spend the day reading and dozing in the tent.

On Sunday, the sunrise wakes me up at half past six and I enjoy the sight for a while. During the morning, I use the sun to charge my phone and battery a bit and take a short swim in the sea. At lunchtime, I head towards Sulina with Rango. The town is characterized by several hotels, restaurants and many decaying industrial facilities around the harbor. Otherwise, it offers a handful of churches and chapels and the majority of the residents live in small houses with their own gardens. After researching at the ferry dock, I decide to return to Tulcea on Tuesday morning at seven o'clock.

On Monday (October 30th, 2017), Rango and I take another extensive walk on the beach and through the town. However, first I have to rid the inner tent of some sand. During the night, the wind apparently came from an unfavorable direction and if it had lasted a little longer, a small dune would have formed next to the mattress. This also leads to the fact that after returning from Sulina, I have to bake my bread over an open fire again, as the gasoline cooker seems to have some sand in its gears. Afterwards, I prepare our belongings as much as possible for the departure the next morning. I am determined to catch the planned ferry.