Bike trip in the Western Carpathians with my friend Marius Reghis - part 1

Between 3 and 10 august 2014 I made a gorgeous tour of the Western Carpathians together with my old and good friend Marius Reghis. The itinerary was the following - Ineu - Moneasa - Stei - Padis - Poiana Horea - Belis - Gilau - Cluj Napoca - Teius - Alba Iulia - Zlatna - Abrud - Rosia Montana - Ciuruleasa - Brad. The travel was interesting with plenty of emotions and memorable experiences. We started our tour from Ineu, the little town where we lived our eventful childhood and where I still live together with my parents even if most of my time especially in the warm seasons I was away following my dreams of travelling by bike throughout Romania and almost the entire Europe. After cycling 25km we made our first halt at Onyx restaurant, the best in Sebis` town, where we had something to drink as it was a hot day.

The terrace of the restaurant is overlooking a lake with lots of fish. I simply recommend this place where I stop every year to relax a bit.

After Dezna village we enter a mountain region. We are at the bottom of Codru Moma Mountains, the most easterly range of the Western Carpathians.

I stop for a while to take a snap of some lovely flowers.

Our next stop is in Moneasa spa, the best in the district of Arad where a hermitage was built recently. Here we will eat and drink something at a restaurant.

Then we have to climb about 10km on unasphalted road and then the descent is terrible because the road is heavily damaged, but in afew hours we get to the hamlet Ursesti which is so picturesque.

We spend our first night in a motel in Draganesti. I don`t sleep so well because Marius was snoring a few hours.

The next day we will have the strongest climb in our tour. Till Pietroasa for about 13km, the climb is steady but very light. From here till Boga ` touristic hamlet the climb will get tougher and we follow the Rocky River.

The route is wild, the asphalt is good and the weather is great. We meet many small waterfalls on our way.

After a few hours of climbing we get to the top, considering the last 9 km of climb being ferocious with an incline up to 15%.

Here is a great region very popular with tourists. We have another 4km of easy climb on unasphalted road till we get to Glavoi. The last time I was here was 9 years ago when I was going to have a magnificent tour of Romania by bike. When we get here we eat a delicious mushrooms` soup. It`s going to be a nice evening and we meet many tourists from all over Romania and not only.

The next day we will go trekking on a nice touristic route.

We come across many mushrooms.

The route is rather rocky with many climbs and descents.

Marius is a great mountain lover.

In a clearing we also meet lots of flowers.

After about 1 hour and a half of trekking we reach the Yellow River.

We will follow this river taking in amazing views.

This is not an easy route. You need to be fit to do this tour.

We meet some Hungarian ladies in this wilderness. We love this place.

For this wonderful trip I thank very much my good friend Marius and I am grateful to him for inviting me to this beautiful and unexpected cycling holiday!