20th September 2014      15-22℃       123km
Rila – Sofia

A relatively easy ride towards Sofia, although the occasional sand on sharp bends made for some hair-raising moments as I slipped around corners.

Traffic to the south, in the opposite direction to me was very heavy, with Sofia residents heading into the mountains for the weekend. Along with many, many bikes, and I essentially rode with one hand for 30 minutes, returning waves to other riders with my left hand.

On arriving in Sofia, the GPS was playing up, and I stopped to get bearings and search for a hotel with my phone.  I stopped on the street, outside a shop and sat on the bike with the side-stand down while searching on the phone.  With my phone in my hands, when the bike started to topple over to the right, I was unable to save it, apart from slowing its fall using my thighs.  I managed to let it down gently, as the staff standing in front of the store, smiled, as the contents of my tank bag, including two cameras, spilt out onto the road.    A very silly drop.

I lifted it back up with the help of a guy who was passing, and located a hotel nearby, dropped off my stuff and headed out on foot to explore Sofia.

19th September 2014        14-22℃      227km
Plovdiv – Rila Monastery

I spent the early morning exploring more of Plovdiv, it is a very cool town. Chilled, confident, full of students and a good vibe.

Mostly easy riding today, tight twisty mountain roads, arriving at the brilliant Rila Monastery, where 300 monks live peacefully, making wine and communicating with whoever it is they communicate with. Brilliant architecture, set in a lovely mountain valley.

Grilled trout fresh from the river for dinner, although with an absolutely terrible glass of local wine.

18th September 2014       15-22℃        422km
Eceabat – Komotini (Greece) – Plovdiv (Bulgaria)

My original plan was to cross into Bulgaria directly from Turkey, but after looking at the map, it was a more direct and shorter route to transit through Greece, so I headed to the Greek border, and probably one of the easiest border crossings yet.  5 minutes of processing, and that was only because I needed to get off the bike to buy insurance, otherwise I would have been able to ride straight in.

I stopped in the town of Komotini for lunch, and listened to the kebab seller telling me how the Greek economy is stuffed, and did I know any way he could get out to Australia.

Thirty minutes later I was at the Bulgarian border, handed over my passport and in less than three minutes had been stamped out of Greece and into Bulgaria, without even getting off the bike.  European border controls are a blessing.

It was a cool 15’C over the mountain pass in Bulgaria, but great roads and wonderful scenery appeared.  I realise that I much prefer green and it is great to be back in the forests and mountains again.

Arriving in Plovdiv, a very cool town, I went to explore the ancient Roman ruins before heading in for an early night.