Day 57: Sibiu to Bran, Romania, over the Transfaragasan highway. 210km, 8hours, 13.5-26DegC

-
This post is dedicated to our brother in law, Ken Rigby.
While we were crossing the mountains today we learned that he had passed away in New Zealand.
He loved my sister and his family, he loved his friends and he loved the mountains.
We will miss him.

Sibiu is home to an international arts festival and many other events including the Sibiu rally which is taking place over the next few days. 
We have our own rally to ride over the Transfaragasan  highway today. A high mountain road built during Ceaucescu's era.

The day dawned bright a clear, we woke Orlanda from her slumber in a shelter beneath our room. 
The JadSpa offers all sorts of treatments. Insomnia is not a motorcyclist's affliction.

Out of the city we ride through farmland with shepherds tending a few cows, corn fields, and horse drawn wagons along the road.

Up the hills we ride around the hairpins bends as we follow the road snaking up the hills to our first rest stop. 
Along the way a pig herder is tending his pigs on the side of a hairpin bend. Streams are often at the bends in the road.
Stalls selling local food and some tourist items line a  hairpin bend.
Some rally cars cruise by. Presumably checking the route for the event which starts tomorrow.

Tunnels, high viaducts, waterfalls, a flock of sheep, a flag man who send us on into oncoming traffic at the road works...

Rural scenes...
Hay making in full swing. 
Swinging scythes, rakes, and pitchforks...
Trucks bearing beehives parked in the flowering meadows.

A special day for us to remember a special man.




 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Through the tunnel and down the other side.
 
 


 
 

 

 

 

 

 
 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Homeward bound: Picton to Queenstown, New Zealand. 875km, 11.5°C-22°C

-
Image
We saved the best for last. The longest distance we have ever ridden two up in one day. From Marlborough's Wairau Valley vineyards... To lake Rotoiti And the forest-clad hills  That accompany us south and to the west coast. Coffee stop at the Beeches in Murchison Awesome pies for lunch in Hokitika Whitebait fritters at the Paringa Salmon Farm. So good to be on familiar roads, So close to home We decide to make a run for Queenstown while the sun is still shining. Through the Gates of Haast Over the Haast Pass To the warmth of Central Otago at Makarora Along the shorelines of Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea Through the early evening golden light  Etching patterns on slopes of the Crown Range. Home to Te Komata  Our house on the hill Which welcomes us with open arms. We are truly blessed to live in this part  of the world. Vineyards spread across the Wairau Valley. Home of Marlborough wines.   Lake Rotoiti - high water this summer. Beyond lake Rotoiti Dual single lane rai
Read more

Ngorogoro Crater

-
Image
Ngorogoro Crater formed 2.5million years ago after a volcanic eruption. The crater is about 19km in diameter and has steep sides. The road descending into the crater is definitely a 4WD road. Steep and rugged. The floor of the crater has lakes which provide water for animals year round. There is a resident population of wildebeest and zebra, buffalo, zebra, many hyena, lions and birds. While we were visiting the area the skies were magnificently moody. The crater is around 2300m altitude so it was pleasantly cool. Short grass necessitates knee bending for the warthog whilst feeding. One of the many hyena cooling off. A weaver bird.  There were lots of weaver bird nests in the trees. Some birds were on the winge carrying straw to their nests. The superb starling. A contented wildebeest Plenty of lions on the prowl. Weaver bird nests Zebra galore  Lions having breakfast on a freshly killed buffalo. Getting around by Caravan 
Read more