It is getting late now - so just some quick notes:
Starting in Serres at about 10:20 we did about 40km south east but our first hill about 400m - nothing - but at about 40degrees in the sun we gave up avoiding getting beating by the sun, so we went back the 150m height and took the bus to Thessaloniki and then decided to take the next bus as well because it was starting 15 after arriving in Saloniki next to our bus arriving.. So we are here at beach at the Hostel Summit Zero hanging out with some coolest of the cool type of chicks from Toronto.
Having the Olymp right in the back of us (about 10 km away) we decided to change our plans and go for a daytrip on the olymp to about 1600m from Zero and stay another night here at Perry's Hostel at the beach and take the train on friday right down to athens.
Well did about 60km today.
Good night.
Lex and Peter (already sleeping for one hour).
30 June 2010
Day 3: Kovachevitsa -> Serres
Starting in rain - what else.. - almost getting used to it we had a nice asphalt downhill through the deep south gipsy area of bulgaria. Rain stopped after 1,5 hours during our first stop for a tea. Heading south towards the bg/gr boarder we choosed to take a shortcut to a small valley avoiding the main road to the boarder. Well took us 45 minutes, 10 rivercrossings (without bridges of course) getting wet again - this time from the bottom up :-) but it was getting warmer because sun was shining. The 3rd beck crossing cost me my sunglasses while I was dropping into the water..
Boardercrossing with a bike is fun - we had no problems this time.
After crossing a big valley of fields we went up to 1000, back to 800 up to 1000m again enjoying another amazing view. I will post a video later to make you jealous :-). And the downhill was more than cool again - topspeed 73km/h from 1000 to 80m from chilly 15degrees to humid 26 in Serres. Serres is a very noisy city - we both had a bad night too hot and way to loud - I bought some oropax for both of us the next morning.
Boardercrossing with a bike is fun - we had no problems this time.
After crossing a big valley of fields we went up to 1000, back to 800 up to 1000m again enjoying another amazing view. I will post a video later to make you jealous :-). And the downhill was more than cool again - topspeed 73km/h from 1000 to 80m from chilly 15degrees to humid 26 in Serres. Serres is a very noisy city - we both had a bad night too hot and way to loud - I bought some oropax for both of us the next morning.
Day2 - Yakoruda to Kovachevitsa
Posting from town Gritsa - Hostel Summit Zero right at the beachside in front of the Olymp(Greece).
But now to our 2nd aswsome day:
After a Omlette and some shopping in yakoruda (800m), we started late at 10:20 with a quite hard uphill on a - when we started - dry sand, forrest road. Weather was perfect for the first 1,5 hours - cloudy and not too hot. Light rain started to turn to pooring rain. After resuiting we managed somehow to get up the first hill (1660m) - still on sand but now wet.. with torrents coming down. Luckly we found a place to dry our complete clothes for about one hour. Thx to the guy from the little shop. Starting after one hour again almost dry, suddenly the sun came out - well for just a few minutes - getting warm - resuiting for sunny weather. About 30 minutes later again pooring rain but still not that cold. We almost decided to go to the village Dospat (where we stayed for one night 4 years ago on our trip to istanbul) but we still had about 5h of daylight so we decided to proceed to our original destination Kovatschevitza. After about 50km on sandy roads we finaly reached an asphalt again - amasing how easy biking on asphalt is. Arriving in Kovatschevitza we did 74km with 1650 meter of elevation.
The town of looked kind of crappy and awful at the first sight but the hotel turned out very nice with an extreme amasing panorama few.
I will post some pictures maybe tomorrow.
lex
But now to our 2nd aswsome day:
After a Omlette and some shopping in yakoruda (800m), we started late at 10:20 with a quite hard uphill on a - when we started - dry sand, forrest road. Weather was perfect for the first 1,5 hours - cloudy and not too hot. Light rain started to turn to pooring rain. After resuiting we managed somehow to get up the first hill (1660m) - still on sand but now wet.. with torrents coming down. Luckly we found a place to dry our complete clothes for about one hour. Thx to the guy from the little shop. Starting after one hour again almost dry, suddenly the sun came out - well for just a few minutes - getting warm - resuiting for sunny weather. About 30 minutes later again pooring rain but still not that cold. We almost decided to go to the village Dospat (where we stayed for one night 4 years ago on our trip to istanbul) but we still had about 5h of daylight so we decided to proceed to our original destination Kovatschevitza. After about 50km on sandy roads we finaly reached an asphalt again - amasing how easy biking on asphalt is. Arriving in Kovatschevitza we did 74km with 1650 meter of elevation.
The town of looked kind of crappy and awful at the first sight but the hotel turned out very nice with an extreme amasing panorama few.
I will post some pictures maybe tomorrow.
lex
27 June 2010
1st day finished - arrival in Yakoruda
Yakoruda
The owner of Hotel Helier - Onnig - welcomed us very friendly with a beer after he offered to help us cleaning our very dirty bikes.
We booked the night in advance (the only night which was planed in advance) so we were very lucky getting to our planned destination for that day!
Onnig even managed to send us the gps coordinates of his hotel so we had no problem finding it. For dinner we had the traditional Schopska Salata and a delicious grilled trout (forelle) for €3. Off to bed now. Next day is waiting. Heading east to Kovachevitsa - maybe further. Good night! Lex out!
We booked the night in advance (the only night which was planed in advance) so we were very lucky getting to our planned destination for that day!
Onnig even managed to send us the gps coordinates of his hotel so we had no problem finding it. For dinner we had the traditional Schopska Salata and a delicious grilled trout (forelle) for €3. Off to bed now. Next day is waiting. Heading east to Kovachevitsa - maybe further. Good night! Lex out!
Best downhill ever
After warming up we decided to take an alternate shorter route to yakoruda where we wanted to stay for the night. Turned out it was the perfect decision because the choosen path was a very challenging and legen - wait for it - dary track (no asphalt) and took us almost 2h and ~38km down very close to our hotel. Also the weather was getting better when we started (almost no rain) which helped a lot to keep warm and almost dry. Picture was taken about 14km before we reached the hotel.
On the top
Finaly we reached the top. Just a quick picture because it was fucking cold! We had to bike another few km to find at least a bar/cafe to get some food and - more important - dry ourselfs and warm up.
1st day start - sestrimo
First we took the train at 0735 to Sestrimo (2h - 400m). From there we startet right away our looong uphill trail to the dam of Belmeken (~5h +pauses, 35km up to 1950m). The weather was quite ok at the beginning but changed to steady rain after 2h :-(. Also it was getting colder and colder - brrr.
Sofia from above
The amasing view from Stu's aqartment. Big thanks to stu for the possibility to stay for a night! (On ~800m)
Hostel info
On my departure i saw this info about the hostel. Turns out it was originaly build to host people on their way to athens!
26 June 2010
25 June 2010
Arrival in Sofia
I was too lazy assambling my bike at the airport, so I took the taxi to my hostel for the night (Hostel Mostel). Now I've time to get my bike setup! Cu
New ticket!
Got my new ticket for €151 :-). Flying at 1340 now. Hartrate down normal. many many thanks to mariella and thomas for helping me out! You saved my day!
Fuck!
Standing in front of the check in the lady gave me the passport of my daughter katja back... Plane leaves at 10:40. Maybe my passport will be here in time.. Not the start I was looking for...
Equipment
Just a few notes on the equipment
- Just managed to connect my SonyEricsson W995 with this blog. So if I manage to organize a bulgarien and greek Prepaid data SIM it should not be the big deal to push some update here during the trip :-)
- As I mentioned earlier, I am talking my Bicycle - a KTM Mountainbike with me.
It is - as Peters Carbon-machine is as well - a hardtail. We both got Magura hydraulic disc brakes on.
Few weeks ago I also got my new Brooks Saddle. Have been told they are the one and only for a long distance mtb-trip. Last time I did choosed a ultralight gel-racing saddle from Selle.. well a very very big mistake - OUCH!!!
Our clothes, gadgets and tools will be stuffed to our rucksacks (hand luggage on the plane) - improved on the last trip - and it was quite comfortable.
Of course we are using GPS (Garmin). Mainly based on Google Earth and Google Maps.
to be continued...
- Just managed to connect my SonyEricsson W995 with this blog. So if I manage to organize a bulgarien and greek Prepaid data SIM it should not be the big deal to push some update here during the trip :-)
- As I mentioned earlier, I am talking my Bicycle - a KTM Mountainbike with me.
It is - as Peters Carbon-machine is as well - a hardtail. We both got Magura hydraulic disc brakes on.
Few weeks ago I also got my new Brooks Saddle. Have been told they are the one and only for a long distance mtb-trip. Last time I did choosed a ultralight gel-racing saddle from Selle.. well a very very big mistake - OUCH!!!
Our clothes, gadgets and tools will be stuffed to our rucksacks (hand luggage on the plane) - improved on the last trip - and it was quite comfortable.
Of course we are using GPS (Garmin). Mainly based on Google Earth and Google Maps.
to be continued...
Details on the Trip
Hi,
here some details on the plan:
I will fly to Sofia on friday 25th of june - Peter will follow on Saturday.
We will meet in Sofia on Suturday to complete our serval setups (bike tuning aso..).
On sunday we plan to take the train from Sofia to at least Kostenets - maybe some stops further because getting out of Sofia by mtb is not very exiting. After that will take the road torwards Yakoruda. That first day will take us from Kostenets (500hm) up to 2000hm to a very nice dam. Then we will follow the ridge for about 10km which will be continued by a hopefully very nice downhill right to Yakoruda (about 900hm), were we already reserved a room for the night. Total length about 110km.
The next day will bring us at least to Kovacevica. Well it is only 70km away - lets see how far we will get...
The next targets should be crossing the boarder to Greece and heading south towards Serres (GR).
After that we are still not quite sure how to continue. Eiter we will change the route in BG to have another nice day in the bulgarian mountains and than just go to Saloniki and thake the ferry. Alternative would be cross Saloniki in the north and continue on the coastline in the south of Saloniki towards Larissa. And take the Train to Athens from Larissa.
Point is: Peter has to be in Athens at least on friday the 2nd afternoon so we only have 6 full days for the approximately 900km.
Well - we will see..
Alex
here some details on the plan:
I will fly to Sofia on friday 25th of june - Peter will follow on Saturday.
We will meet in Sofia on Suturday to complete our serval setups (bike tuning aso..).
On sunday we plan to take the train from Sofia to at least Kostenets - maybe some stops further because getting out of Sofia by mtb is not very exiting. After that will take the road torwards Yakoruda. That first day will take us from Kostenets (500hm) up to 2000hm to a very nice dam. Then we will follow the ridge for about 10km which will be continued by a hopefully very nice downhill right to Yakoruda (about 900hm), were we already reserved a room for the night. Total length about 110km.
The next day will bring us at least to Kovacevica. Well it is only 70km away - lets see how far we will get...
The next targets should be crossing the boarder to Greece and heading south towards Serres (GR).
After that we are still not quite sure how to continue. Eiter we will change the route in BG to have another nice day in the bulgarian mountains and than just go to Saloniki and thake the ferry. Alternative would be cross Saloniki in the north and continue on the coastline in the south of Saloniki towards Larissa. And take the Train to Athens from Larissa.
Point is: Peter has to be in Athens at least on friday the 2nd afternoon so we only have 6 full days for the approximately 900km.
Well - we will see..
Alex
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