Leaving Hungary, entering Romania

Those shots last night ... well, they were from a home brewed Palinika (made from Plums, evidently).  I thought I had better find out the name of what did the damage !

So, after some strong coffee and Hungarian sausage, I got on my way ....

A cooler start to the day .... not for long.

Entering Romania, I change some money at the border.

Still flat as a pancake.

You always catch up with them in the bends.

Some great sections in-between the bad,

Rural Romanian life.

And then the GPS sent me down here !

Its even got a "D number" as a main road.

3km later, and I'm out of trouble, onto a new freshly paved bit.

Nows thats a birds nest.

Now some mountains finally beckon.

Its getting better.

Nirvana.

Twisties .... bring em on.

So thats how they build them .... woman on the top, I see.

Quick pose.

Stopped in this pretty city ...the name escapes me.

And finished the day with a 60 km blat down the motorway to Sibiu...

Real old town charm.

Checked in ... could not have asked for safer parking in the hotel courtyard.

More like a room in an old house, than a hotel room.

Went for an evening stroll.

The Bridge of Lies.

The place had a festival going, and was buzzing.

Live Cossack dancing

With the celebrations going on well into the night.

Note to self : Come back to Sibiu when I have more time.

Bumps ahead.

Waking up with a bit of a thick head, I quickly found the continental buffet breakfast, with the coffee pot being the first port of call.
Headed out about 10am as only 250 km to do today.

Traffic congestion !

Didn't realise the route over the river was a ferry, and not a bridge... typically, the ferry was the other side..

10.30am now ... OK looks like its a 30 minute wait.

Here she comes.

Plenty of room

Was getting bored ... I know, take a pic.

Was about an hour behind schedule, but no problem,... will just have to get a spurt on ...  or NOT.
The roads were in a terrible state, so I really had to watch the speed.

Bumps ahead ... you are not kidding.

Finally some better tarmac ....

... and with that comes more traffic.

Stopped at a familiar place to pick up some phone charger leads & headphones.

Easy peasy .... the electronic check-out spoke English !

Stopped for a late lunch in Szarvas.

Pretty city.

Then the diuretic effects of the coffee kicked in 30 mins later.

Tonight I was Couch-surfing again, and had been offered a night in Bekes.  My host, Eva, had very thoughtfully gone to the trouble to find GPS co-ordinates for her house .... and if that wasn't enough, even hung a welcome sign on the gate for me.

"Showering".... well that was an outside affair.

Eva had prepared a nice meal too - Goulash, of course

And after a tour round Bekes, a few drinks in some local bars, it was time for the shots !

..... and that's all I can remember !

So flat

Leaving Austria, entering Hungary, the one thing that will stick in my mind is the change in scenery.  It's flat ... very flat.   With roads that are straight, very straight.

And after the mirror smooth roads of Germany & Austria, the roads here are akin to Thailand ... rough and rutted.

Easing into the days riding

Roadside stall .... spoilt for choice !

First stop was at a place recommended by my friends last night - The Esterhazy Palace.  Yeah, pretty .... I'm not a culture buff, so should be able to knock this waypoint out in 5 mins !  

If you want to know lots about it ... then click here.

Poser

The synopsis

Must be a pain cutting the grass

Moving on, its just more of the flat stuff.

Typical road & countryside combination

Typical village

Got to my destination, Velence, where I had pre-booked a Pension (guest house).  Took ages to find as the GPS co-ordinates on their website put it just 100 mts out, but on the wrong side of a main road.  I mean, you would not put a wrong digit in your phone number .... so why not care a bit more care on the bloody GPS co-ordinates !!

This place was close to a large inland lake so I figured something would be going on somewhere.  So after a shower, took a nosey around, and lo & behold... well like an inland Blackpool appeared.

Parked the bike ... next time u see a pic like this, I'll be in Chiang Mai.

Not much space on the beach.

Panoramic shot

7pm at night

 As noted on my Facebook post, its seemed strange to be at the seaside, but without seeing waves!

Well earned drink .... the first of many that night.

And as a postscript to the last pic, Hungary has a Zero percent blood alcohol limit ... well that works, doesn't it ?   Oh, I'm bad !