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Sean Barker

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Blog Entries posted by Sean Barker

  1. Sean Barker
    Tiszasuly (H) to Biharnagybajom (H)

    Another rain free day but boy was it hot! It was 32c out on the road and keeping hydrated was the order of the day, it is now quite noticeable how much more fluid I am taking on board.
    I followed my GPS course through “Kunhegyes”and on to “Karcag”, where I hit the E60 motorway and couldn’t go any further by bike, so I followed my compass in the hope of picking up a road taking a favourable direction. After spending the late afternoon and evening totally lost I found myself in the village of “Biharnagybajom” and made camp in the forest just beyond.
    I’m hoping to pick up my intended route sometime tomorrow
  2. Sean Barker
    Biharnagybajom (H) to Sarkad (H)

    Another frustrating day, inasmuch as I made my way to the road on my GPS route only to find that it was also closed to bicycles. There was nothing for it but to retrace my steps some 16km in the stifling heat that was now up to 35c in search of another route.
    Through the back roads and cratered lanes I made my way through “Zsaka”, “Furta”, “Komadi”, “Zsadany” and on to “Sarkad”
    I must admit to feeling somewhat apprehensive about entering Romania after hearing some of the things people have had to say to me today. But what the Hell I’m not one for quitting.
  3. Sean Barker
    Beius (ROM) to Abrud (ROM)

    Today was the toughest stage so far but by far the most spectacular.
    I made my way from “Beius down the busy E79 to “Lunca” where I took the 75 and was soon to face my first real mountain climb of the tour. In a mere 20km I climbed 1000m but the descent was through some stunning countryside as I followed the course of the river through the ski resort of “Vartop” and some lovely villages such as “Izlaz”, “Arieseni”, “Raul Valcea” “Ursoaia”, “Vadu Motilor”, the thriving town of “Campeni” and on to “Abrud”. It was 35c at the bottom of the climb and only slightly cooler at the summit.
    As tough as today was I am fully aware that the big climbs are in a couple of days time.


    Making my way across the Transylvanian mountains


    The charming village or Vartop
  4. Sean Barker
    Abrud (ROM) to Miercurea Sibiului (ROM)

    I left "Abrud" and started the climb towards "Zlatna", through “Metes” and on into the thriving town of “Albaiulia” before taking the altogether busier 7 through “Sebes” and on into “Miercurea Sibiului” Where I checked into quite a plush hotel which cost twice as much as the place I stayed at last night but at around £20 I can live with that.

    I really thought my number was up today when on the descent into Zlatna a maniac decided to overtake three vans in a row, as he was ploughing on the other side of the road (the side I'm cycling on) all I'm looking at is certain death unless I veer of the road and hope not to go over the ravine. Fortunately the combination of the thick bed of sand that lined the ten or so inches between the road and the drop I was never going to walk away from in tandom with the tree I threw my arms around for grim life were enough to bring me to a halt
    The maniac drove on but one of the guys he overtook stoped and came back to me. He said in his broken English that that driver was "loco' mad in the head" he then went on to say "you are a very lucky man, God holds you in his hand". I did think that was a particularly poetic turn of phrase, even if I have always seen myself as a batter for the other side

    The terrible roads are taking their toll on my bike; both front racks are broken and held together with string and duct tape. They clearly need to be replaced as soon as possible.
    I’ll look in “Sibiu” tomorrow but I haven’t seen any other touring cyclists in weeks and doubt they get many (in any) in these parts.
    I may well have to take a detour towards “Sofia” in Bulgaria to have any chance of replacing broken equipment.


    A typical and charming Rumanian church with obligatory silver domes
  5. Sean Barker
    God knows where (Bul) to Somewhere further Southeast (Bul)

    I really am cycling blind at this point. I’m just following my compass southeast until I either pick up my GPS route or hit the Black Sea.
    Bulgaria seems much the same as Southern Romania inasmuch as the people in every village I pass through cease what they are doing and are transfixed on me as I pass through or stop in their village. I rather suspect that cycling tourists are a rarity in these parts to put it mildly


    After suffering from a severe gastric bug for six days where I was left with diarrhoea and constantly vomiting in temperatures in the mid to high 30’s and despite consuming at least four and a half litres of water a day as well as two litres of fruit juice and assorted soft drinks and tea, I didn’t actually manage to urinate for three days (days 2, 3 & 4)
    Despite being in this pitiful state over the course of those six days I still managed to cycle over 720km
    I was quite pleased with that as it reassured me that I wasn’t quite as soft as I feared I was getting.
    I think this picture really captures the state I was in
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