Today we were back in our element - riding over high mountain passes. The Transfagarian highway is the most famous road in Romania. It is called "Cescescue's folly" as it was built as a military road by the now despised despot on the 1970's.. It was then later "discovered" by a newer despised despot called Jeremy Clarkson who said it was " the finest road in the world". He appeared to have made the same comment about The Stevlio pass in Italy. That's our Jeremy !
So anyway off we go towards the mountains. The pass is in the distance
Up we go winding up through the forest on a delightful road
And above the tree line following a now defunct gondola. I hope it was defunct - the cabins were not moving and looked as if they had not for a very long time.
Then the pass steepens. The road was lovely. The corners were not as tight as the Stelvio Pass which made life a lot easier and more fun for the chauffeur up front.
You can see the GPS picture in the left hand corner
There is a tunnel at the top and then it is down the other side with an easier gradient
Then hey we must be in New Zealand - there are sheep being shepparded along the road
We drive across the top of a gynormous hydro dam
Then back into villages with their big and distinctive churches
There are lots of horses and carts interspersed amongst the modern cars
And freshly made hay stacks
And thus we rode into a little mountain village just near the town of Bran where we stay the night. It us just like being in Switzerland. In fact I think I even heard a cow bell ! There was thunder and lightening and heavy rain all night - rather nice to be snug in a nice hotel instead of on a bike.
Where is Dracula? Well that is now put back until tomorrow as we visit his home at Bran Castke.
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