The Paschal Tour 2010 - part 5 (cycling in the glorious Wallachia)

This Jiu's Valley is an important thoroughfare and besides the road there is a railway, too.


For more then 30km the views are amazing. The road slightly descends following the river's course.
Here there are the historic boundaries between Transylvania and Wallachia.


After pedalling 24km from Petrosani we get to Lainici Monastery. This is one of the best cinobitic communities from Romania.


The old church has glamarous wall painting and dates back to XVII-th century.


I am very happy to find here a suggestive painting epitomizing the ladder of life.


Cycling just another one kilometer we run into an imposing cross. It's here that the outstanding general Ion Dragalina was deadly wounded in the First World War.


As we keep on cycling we get to a panel where we find out that rafting adventures are provided for the tourists on this boisterous river.


Soon we get to the small town of Bumbesti Jiu where the Jiu's Defile ends and we meet another friend of Liviu and it's time for a little break.


We take leave of the Middle Carpathians and we cycle on the worst possible strech of road from our tour.


Soon we get to the municipality of Targu Jiu, the main town of this county of Gorj.


From here we cycle on a tableland type of terrain with numerous ups and downs. Suddenly we are flabbergasted by an awe-inspiring phenomenon of nature. The sky seems to be illuminated by 2 suns.


We get hungry and we come to a stop at an interesting restaurant to have a decent meal.


Then we carry on cycling, the night overtakes us again and we continue cyclling till Baia de Arama where we find a cheap guesthouse that has only one big bed in our room but after a tasty dinner and a few beers and over 150km we manage to sleep very well.


The next day, we have a big climb, we have to beat the Godeanu Pass(1050m). It's a long and tiresome climb but the real obstacle is a steady drizzle that has soaked us through till the pass where we are lucky to find a rustic restaurant.


Here we can dry our wet coats beside a hot stove and we enjoy some good sour tripe soup and tasty red wine. Long live our bike trip!


Soon we have to go and we have to cycle another 36km till Baile Herculane, but it's going to be a long descent.


After a few kilometers we get to a huge rock where we take another picture of us.


The scenery is admirable. It's a pitty the weather is nasty.


But we are thrilled to cycle down the Cerna Valley on such a splendid route.


Soon we get to the county of Caras Severin where we meet fruit trees in bloom.


Here we make a halt at a restaurant for it's time to eat something.
Here we decide to separate for I want to prolong my trip with a few days and Liviu has to hurry to Timisoara for his holiday will be over soon and his office' job is awaiting him.


Thank you Liviu for this magnificent trip together!

Amor Ardiente - Traiasca cicloturismul si prietenia!

The Paschal Tour 2010 - part 4 (The wonderful county of Hunedoara)

We reached an elevetion of about 700m high, all around us we can see but rolling hills.


In the distance we can percieve the mighty Retezat mountains.


After a steep and speedy descent we enter the picturesque small town of Hateg.


Only a few kilometers from here, in the next village we meet a very special church dating back to XIII-th century.


The traffic is light and we can admire the snow-capped mountains.


Soon the night overtakes us and we carry on cycling looking for a guesthouse. It is rather chilly, the temperature drops dramatically.


We finally get to Bolestilor Inn, one of the famous guesthouses from the region and after a plentyful feast we rent a room. It's saturday night and it's the Paschal Night. We feel very good. After a lovely evening it's time to go to sleep. Good night kiddo!


The next day we have to climb the Merisor Pass(758m). Crossing a bridge we see Crivadia's Gorges on the left.


This area looks rather desolate and the cold is quite persistent.


Soon we get to the Merisor Pass.


Then we have a nice descent.


We pick up some speed on the hairpins we have to go down.


In the municipality of Petrosani we come across an old plane.


Then we enter Jiu's Defile National Park.


After a few kilometers we also enter the county of Gorj.


The landscapes are quite impressive.


We cycle next to Jiu River who forms some spectacular gorges.


The nature seems dead because of the bare trees and there are some potholes in the road.


Soon it's time for us to have a picture together.


Even if is pretty cold we still enjoy cycling on this touristic road.

Alisa Toma - dedicatie speciala pt. prietenul meu Martin, sensibilul doctor de biciclete din Deva

The Paschal Tour 2010 - part 3 (The great county of Hunedoara)

Soon as we go out of Brad we have to pass under an old railway viaduct that is closed down now.


We are crossing The Metalliferous Mountains which belong to the Western Carpathians. The spring has not yet come in this area.


After a few km of steady and easy climb, after Luncoiu de jos village we have to climb a hill and we face some swichbacks.


I am pretty fit and I unsuccessfuly try to outrun a truck on this climb.


To my sheer joy, the incline is a bit hard here and the climb is 2 km long.


I am the first to get to the top but Liviu is indeed a strong cycloclimber. In less then 1 minute he gets to the top, too.


From the top we have a steady and long but easy climb and we cycle a lot next to Fornadia stream.


In another one hour of cycling, near Soimus township we meet the great Mures River that is one of the best rivers from our country. In the distance we can see the Deva's citadel perched on the top of a hill.


After crossing a long bridge we get to a busy road and we have to pedal a few kms. annoyed by the heavy traffic and the horendous noise.


Soon we get to Deva which is the main town in the county of Hunedoara.


Here we meet Sebi, a friend of Liviu and we go together to play billiards and eventually I am a great loser.


Then we pay a visit to Sebi's family and his parents are very kind to us and give us very tasty food.


At about 4 o'clock PM we have to go, heading for Hunedoara, an industrial town that boasts one of the best castles in Romania.


In about half an hour we get to this martyr town that has such a gorgeous coat of arms.


From here we face another great climb on a secondary road with low traffic.


We are feeling so good and especially my I really enjoy this few kilometers of decent climb.


On top of the climb the road is rather winding.


And then after a short strech of false flat we have to struggle against a tough slope again.


All of a sudden we are delighted to run into Adrian Florin, one of the best cyclists from this region. He is happy to meet us and we tell him about our trip.


Then we carry on cycling on this scenic road who gained some altitude now.