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Sean Barker

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Blog Entries posted by Sean Barker

  1. Sean Barker
    I was pretty sure that this would be my last tour so I wanted to go out with something special. This would be my sixth major tour in as many years. I knew I was well prepared and experienced but I was also aware that with traveling solo so far off the beaten track both triumphs and disasters lay ahead.

    All the entries you will read are taken directly from my diary that was written at the end of each day before going to sleep. They are for the most part an account of the route I had taken that day and my state of mind
  2. Sean Barker
    Sarkad (H) to Beius (ROM)

    Today was the hottest day yet at 38c. With no cloud cover, covering up was the order of the day. I wore the desert scarf which has turned out to be an inspired purchase.
    I made my way across the border and into the busy town of “Salonta” and then through “Tulca”, “Tinca”, “Soimi” and on to the busy town of “Beius” where on spotting a pension and the heat sapping my strength I decided to call it a day.
    The woman who ran the establishment asked where I’d cycled from and when I told her England she called out for all the staff to witness my tale. She later went on to tell me that they had never had a touring cyclist stay here before.
    This pension also runs a popular restaurant with a large stone oven where pizza’s are cooked to order. I enjoyed a large one and a couple of bottles of surprisingly good Romanian lager before heading to bed for an early night and a bed, something I hadn’t enjoyed since back in the Czech Republic which seemed so long ago.


    Desperately trying to protect myself from the oppressive sun in those early days
  3. Sean Barker
    Miercorea Sibiulut (ROM) to Cartisoara (ROM)

    A really tough and stressful days cycling as I made my way along the busy 1 and through the city of “Sibiu”. Then it was on to the equally busy and stressful E68 through “Bradu”, “Avrig”, “Porumbacu de jos” and on to the “Transfagarasan Highway”
    I found accommodation in the little village of “Cartisoara” where a local family have a home with a small annex that they rent for weary travellers. They invited me to join them in their evening meal where they fed me and questioned me at length on my tour so far. We ended the meal with strong liquor that they distilled themselves, I think it was from pear but it was bloody strong stuff.
    Today was hot, 35c in the shade and considerably hotter out on the road.
    Even now in the cooling evening it is still well over 30c and I find myself transfixed on the snow-capped Carpathian Mountains to the south that I will have to cross tomorrow
    I have no doubt that tomorrow will be a day that I will never forget.

    The hot Rumanian summers, probably not really conducive with long distance cycling but I soon got used to it

    The beginning of that famous road and the daunting Carpathian mountains in the distance.
  4. Sean Barker
    Marinka (Bul) to Kirklareli (Tur)

    I really wasn’t confident where I camped last night and didn’t sleep well as a result. This left me tired on what was a tough stage.
    I got to the border and then pushed on to the nearest town. I was absolutely spent and filthy when I arrived in “Kirklareli” so sorted out accommodation, something I plan to do on all my stages in Turkey.
    I’m slightly off course now but am hopeful I find it again southeast tomorrow.

    Crossing into Turkey
  5. Sean Barker
    Bujmir (Serb) to Jagodina (Serb)


    It was hot and muggy today, the storm clouds are gathering, it's obvious that this is going to be a big one and with no waterproof clothing and not feeling well I could well be in for a torrid time.
    The question is will it break tonight or tomorrow when I'm out on the road?

    Today I made my way along the N road that for the most part shadowed the E75
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