Featured Touring In The Footsteps Of Dracula

Day 1/8:
Today we left our home at 0550 and after about 1 hour we crossed the border into Hungary. From then on we only headed east. Once completely across Hungary from the westernmost edge to the eastern edge with the border to Romania. We needed 1 refueling stop in Hungary. This was a bit expensive! In Romania, after another really cheap fuel stop, we headed east again for more than 300 kilometers. We currently have a very nice place to stay in the small town of Turda. In total, we were on the road for 9.5 hours today. Pure driving time was 6 hours and 54 minutes. The total distance: 835 kilometers.
The weather was particularly kind to us! A maximum of 37 degrees Celsius was displayed on my bike. No problem during the ride. It was only very hot at various traffic jams and in towns. Tomorrow we will explore the tourist highlights of our small town before we continue our search for Dracula.
In the following some impressions.

In the early morning in Austria.


Our bikes at the first stop in Hungary.


Mine "loaded".


This time I am the "Yak".


At 1030 we reached 36 degrees and this temperature accompanied us until 1400. At this time we reached the maximum of 37 degrees.


Following some views of our accommodation.








Todays report.

 

Day 2/8:
After our long tour yesterday we enjoyed ourselves in the centre of Turda and the famous outskirts of it. In the centre we found nice cafes, an on Sunday opened vegetable market and many churches. After shopping some refreshments and some food for dinner we headed back to our accommodation. There we tried to get a nap because our night had been disturbed by many dogs barking nearly the whole night and a cock which started crowing at 2 o clock in the morning and never stopped until the late afternoon.
After this break we headed to the famous salt mine of Turda. From the ancient Romans until 1932 they digged there for salt..In 1992 the mine was reconstructed to a museum and since 2010 it is an "adventure park". We payed our ticket and walked some hundreds meters into the old mine. Suddenly a huge hall opened and we were able to see about 15 floors down into an unbelievable scenery. We saw a place to play minigolf, a giant wheel, some table tennis courts and some snooker and billard tables. To get downstairs you may use an elevator, but most of the visitors queued there. Therefore we used the alternative stairways. Some minutes later we enjoyed the flair there. In on edge of the big salt hall we found another possible way to get deeper into the mountain. Another endless stairway to the most unbelievable scenery I ever saw in my life. A hudge cave as high as a big cathedral, a wooden bridge, some interesting places to rest and a boat rental station. About 120 metres down into the salt mine you are able to row a boat in a small salt lake. Terrific!
After this experience we climbed up 30 floors to the surface which was really exhausting!
At the entrance of the mine I had left our belongings in a locker and we redressed first for the +30 degrees celsius outside of the mine after the two hours at about 10-12 degrees.
Next to the salt mine there are two salt lakes situated. This was our next station. The water is so salty that you can not really swim in it. Most of the time you just sit/lay in a comfortable position and wobble around like a buoy in the sea. You can compare the situation in the lakes with the "Dead sea" which is in next to Israel and Jordan.
After some minutes we were "cured" and had to shower ourselves and bathing clothes for some minutes.
Our last way brought us back to our accommodation again where we had another shower.
In sum we walked/hiked today 15 kilometres. Tomorrow we will ride about 4 hours to the town and castle of Bran, which is famous for "Dracula", the vampire.
In the following some more impressions.

This was our yesterday's tour.


A view of Turda.


The typical look of cabeling here.


We are in "Transilvania" already!


Next to the entrance of the salt mine.


The long way into the mountain.


View down in the first big "salt hall".


Boats in the salt lake 120 metres under the surface.


On of the two salt lakes.


Dracula is waiting for us!

 

@joe mc donald:
Many thanks to you Joe!
We prepared ourselves which bracelets made out of garlic.
I love my smartphone! It is a "no name" with a great camera and I am able to text all my stories with it on our journeys.

 

Day 3/8:
Today we rode another 4 hours more to the east of Romania. We reached the town Bran, which is most famous for it's castle and the stories of Dracula. The city is/was crowded with tourist! We were lucky with our arrival time. Because at 1200 the castle opened and so we were able to do a tour through it before the big amount of the other tourists arrived. In the castle you can find explanations of the whole mystic Romanian history. Naturally also about the story of Dracula. Beside this mystic history also the real historical aspects were explained.
It took us nearly two hours to reach all the possible rooms and hidden edges of the castle. When we left the castle we saw an unbelievable long queue of visitors waiting for their entrance. I expect, that they would have been waiting for at least two hours.
Afterwards we spent some time in the town and enjoyed local food and drinks. Tomorrow we will "climb" with our bikes into the mountains and ride the famous "Transfagarsia" road.
In the following some impressions of today.

A short stop on our way to Bran. The area of Transilvania looks like the province of Styria in Austria.




Our accommodation for this night in Bran, "Casa Dracula".


The first view of the castle.


Climbing up .a very narrow staircase.


In the courtyard of the castle.


The famous "Vlad". He is the historic person behind the myths of Dracula.


Some historical armors.


Another view of the inner castle.


The queue was about 250 metres long. In the castle at most of the stairways only one person was able to pass. Therefore this people had lots of waiting time.

 

Day 4/8:
Today we did a 5 hours tour. We rode the longest alpine road here in Romania, the "Transfargarasan" with a length of 150 kilometres. It runs up from the flat Romania up to the alpine section of the "Karparten mountains". As we are used to alpine roads it was no real challenge for us. But many other bikers which are not trained in alpine road riding had some problems or tricky situations. It was a wonderful ride. Many great views into the area and behind a curve we had a big surprise. We met a bear sitting next to the road and waiting for some food from the passing cars.
At this point I stopped my bike and made some photos. Some kilometres later we met a "Mama" bear with a small one. There we didn't stop and just passed by as soon as possible.
Our tour ended today in our accommodation in a fish farm. Tomorrow we will do another big mountain tour.
In the following some impressions of our tour.

Start in the morning. Everything is ok.


We are on our way to the mountains.


First impressions in the mountains.


A short photo stop with a great view.


A huge damm. We had to pass it.


Up we go. Curves followed by curves and hairpin bends.


Another great view down to our starting point.


After passing a tunnel the weather changed for some minutes on the other side of the mountains.


On our long way down suddenly - "Mr. Bear".


He was waiting for a snack.

 

@TRIPLE X :
Many thanks to you! This bear was lovely. The "Mama" bear was to fear.

 

@Dawsy:
I had the same impression!
Thanks Dawsy! Yes, indeed. I think he is used to this situation.

 

@Bikerman:
Many thanks to you!
It is a great tour!!!
Some more impressions of today will follow soon.

 

Das 5/8:
After a delicious breakfast in the restaurant of our accommodation - a fish farm with little houses for guest - we started our today's tour. We had to do 122 kilometres to reach the starting point of the second famous alpine road of Romania, the "Transalpina". This part was really exhausting! Lots of traffic, many road works and in some parts bad road conditions with many holes and or bumps. For this distance we needed 2,5 hours. But after a short break with coffee and a snack and fueled bikes we started the 148 kilometres of the "Transalpina". The road starts as always on a low altitude and climbs up to 2.145 metres at the highest pass. As yesterday, with alpine biking skills it is not so heavy to ride. But you have to be always aware of not so skilled bikers and car drivers in both directions! The road with is views is unbelievable. In some parts the road leads directly on the mountain ridge. I have never seen such a road construction before. We were again lucky with the weather!
With all your stops for photos it took us nearly another four hours to reach our today's accomodation at the end of the road. I am not able to count the amount of curves and hairpin bends we did today. It was great again!
Tomorrow we will ride to a city called Temesvar.
In the following some impressions of our great tour along the "Transalpina".

Our start in the morning with a view to the upcoming mountains in the back.


Climbing up the mountains.


Our well performing bikes.


Some impressive views with no need for a comment from my side.








The unbelievable road on the mountain ridge.


The happy bikers!


My new friend! - "Mrs. T"

 

@TRIPLE X :
Many thanks to you!

 

Day 6/8:
Today we did a short and easy ride of 250 kilometres to our next accommodation in Temeswar. Here we will stay until Saturday morning and refresh and recreate ourselves. We found a local 4-star wellness hotel and pay per person and night unbelievable €34.- (no, this is not an error!) including breakfast.
They offer here different kinds of saunas, a jacuzzi, an 25 metres indoor-pool with 6 lanes, an outdoor-pool, a fitness-centre and many more goodies!
After our arrival we did also some shopping in a huge shopping mall and in a sports-equipment shop.
Tomorrow we will go by taxi to the old town and we will do some sightseeing.
In the following some impressions.

A small guest at our breakfast today.


The famous French sports-equipment shop.


Bike parking in front of a huge shopping mall.


Some impressions from inside. You can find an uncountable amount of shops in all price levels.




Some delicious bakery with coffee to refresh ourselves.


A view from our room.