Things are looking up…

After leaving the Danube region yesterday, today's ride involved some significant uphill climbs, culminating in a near-mountain finish.

I set off at 10:15, once again blessed with glorious sunshine. It greeted me as soon as I opened the hotel room window this morning. The route continued along country roads through beautiful landscapes and small villages. I found the contrast between the jet and the horse-drawn cart particularly interesting. I must have been in the right place at the right time.

Finally, the climb to almost 500 meters above sea level began, and from there it was a short detour from the main road to Sredni Kolibi, where I arrived shortly before 4 p.m. and where I'll be spending the night. I found Bulgarian hosts on the Warmshowers platform who lived in Switzerland for many years. They have a wonderful house here with a fantastic view and lots of animals, including two dogs and five cats. The most affectionate of the cats kept me company while I wrote this post, which didn't exactly make it any easier ;-).

Anyway, a huge thank you to Stan and Desi for your hospitality; it was wonderful to meet you and your three children. Thank you so much for the great company and the lovely conversations; since I'm often out and about alone all day, I really appreciate it.