Tag 9: Bicazului Gorges > Lake Iuvorul Muntelui > Secu, Sihastria, Sihla & Agapia Monasteries > Borsa

After packing up the tent and saddled up Fia, things get exciting: I drive through the Cheile Bicazului, a navigable rock gorge, right at the start of the day - a real highlight. This brings back memories of the Georges in France. By 8:30 a.m., numerous selfies are being taken - this time without me.

I continue along the Bicaz to Bicaz town, where there is a huge dam on the Bistrita river.

The result: The Lacul Izvorul Muntelui stretches over a length of about 17 km - surrounded by mountains, a beautiful and well-prepared panoramic road. Many pensuines invite you to relax. I think there are also many holiday homes here in ideal hillside locations and views. I drink a Cafea Langue at one of the numerous viewpoints.

Lots of cattle, sheep and one or two anglers are using the huge space. I head right to the Manastere. To do this I make a long loop of about 70km through the Parcul Natural Vanatori Neamt.

When we arrive at Manastirea Secu, the monks are hard at work in the garden. Mowing the lawn, trimming the hedge. The rooms in the courtyard are being swept. Everything is sparkling. I'm really early. The tourists arrive after me.

The church in the courtyard is very lavishly decorated. It smells of incense everywhere.

In the sides there is the muzeul and accommodation.

The next manastirea is called Sihastria. It seems very big to me. I only have two photos here because 📷 are not allowed here. It was also well-tended down to the last blade of grass. Here and there there was renovation. Flowers everywhere in the most dazzling colors.

The next Manastirea is Sihla and is located at the end of a gravel road on top of a mountain.

Since it is a bit shady here, I take more time and do the circular route. I am immediately approached by Romanian tourists who can speak a little German - they explain to me the connection surrounding Saint Teodora, who meditated here for several years in a crevice in the rock and only lived on roots and rainwater.

It reminds me a bit of Saxon Switzerland.

The route then continues over hill and dale to a small bee farm run by the monks. All without protective suits and of course the Romanian flag cannot be missing.

Down in the monastery everything is again in tip top condition.

The next Manastirea is Agapia. I have to take the gravel road down the other side of the mountain. There is a lot of oncoming traffic here. There were also German license plates.

Agapia is the manastirea with the greatest variety of flowers in the courtyard. Very impressive.

The corridors around the courtyard are lined with white columns - southern flair.

But now enough of all the mansions. I close the loop via Targu Neamt and drive past the reservoir on the left towards Câmpulung Moldovenesc.

Beautiful, winding, well-prepared route along the Bistrita. I meet a lot of bikers here. It seems to be relatively well-known in the scene - but not too many here yet 😉

On this stretch of road there is one thing to see: self-made suspension bridges. All of them are original - some seem unstable.

The locals have houses on the other side and use the bridge as access to the road, car or garage.

The route leads along clean, well-prepared and winding mountain roads via Vatra Dornei. Here I find the most original bench of my trip.

We continue up the Pasul Prislop to the Borsa ski area.

This place is teeming with off-road fans (4x4, motocross).

Today I'm pitching my tent at the offRoadventure Borsa camping site. The off-road route there leads from the town of Borsa up the hill. A great panorama awaits you here, with huts built in the old style and few people. I'm greeted by the owner Bouke from the Netherlands with a palinka for each leg.