23/05/2020
Day 2 - Samoko to Sapareva Banya
About 38km, starts as a long flat straight road across plains, was into wind today and you follow the line of some mountains to your left, it was here I stopped to take the pic of yellow flowers looking towards them.
The road was mostly good but a part with a few k of roadworks and gravel meant alot of dust was thrown up in my face by passing cars and I ended up pushing some way where the gravel stones got big enough that I feared a puncture. At another spot here I took the pic of the ploughed field with Mt Vitosha off to the left, nice view, bit of perspective on where I came from.
Around half way to Sap Banya (15-20k in) I detoured off the road to take a look at Belchin, which I knew had a spa thing going on, this loop added about 5k. In one spot here I was chased at full sprint by a tiny furious dog which I think would have nipped me if I hadn't accelerated away.
Back on the main road there was a couple of slogs uphill to Klisura, but was mostly riding and just pushing a little toward the end into the village square where I took a rest and ate my sandwich, purchased in Samokov.
Now around 25k into a 2nd day of riding and 'feeling it a bit' I was wondering what the last 12-13k for the day would be like but I was in for a pleasant surprise.
After a short 1-2 min ride up to the crest of a hill near the centre of Klisura a downhill section, which continued for 8, 9k was very welcome. First winding down through the trees fairly steeply with brakes on the whole way and then at least 3-4k on a really nice new surface bit where I could mostly freewheel, just peddling a bit on the last section before the turning to Sapareva Banya, where I photographed the red flowers with the town as a backdrop beneath the tree lined mountain behind, and the horses by the road.
After a manageable uphill bit into Sapareva Banya I linked up with the guesthouse hosts and settled into my log cabin for the night. Photo to follow.
After a rest at the cabin, a short walk from there I spent no more than an hour in the main town spa pool, enough to chill right out and allow the various exercised muscles to relax, then walked up to a recommended new pizza place in the town centre for dinner (pic below). Pizza LaRocca. They're good!
Writing from there now. Will head back to chill at the cabin shortly. It'll be 60k + back to Sofia again tomorrow, I think weather may be less good in PM so will leave early. I'm a bit worried about the big hill back up to Klisura, to get back I have to retrace my route for about 20k, then 'I think'(?) it'll be mostly down to Sofia.
We'll see, it's been a great day, weather has held, beautiful sights, feeling very chilled in this cute spa town I've always been a fan of. Think it might be 9 years since I was last here. Been a few times before I'm sure.
