Safe Return Doubtful

Thursday August 8, 2019, 20 miles (32 km) – Total so far: 20 miles (32 km

Putting the bike together in Sofia airport baggage, with some welcome AC, it’s pretty hot outside,
Travel was all on time, it’s never easy though. Left last night on an 8:15 pm train to Edinburgh. Transfer to airport bus. Then settled in one of the closed cafes on the first floor for a read and a doze. Folk around em doing similar things, but they seemed to take telephone calls every half hour of the night..
Check-in was 4 am for a 7:15 am flight with Ryanair, which all went pretty smoothly, tiring though.

Waiting for me at Sofia Airport was Karin from Netherlands, we last biked together in the South Island Of New Zealand 15 years ago, but have stayed in touch. She’s going to ride the first 3 days with me to Drobeta, and it’s tremendous to have some company.
We took a taxi to get out of the Sofia traffic, to the Serbia border on an extremely busy road which really wouldn’t have been any fun to ride,
From the border there’s a new road, not on our maps, dual carriageway with good wide shoulder, and two tunnels, each well lit. It’s a good starter ride, test out the bikes. Scenic, but traffic though light, does hurtle past. Hopefully very few more roads like this.
We are on the Iron Curtain Trail now, Eurovelo 13 and will be for the next couple of days.

Arrived in Pirot just after 5:30 pm. Serbia’s strangely an hour behind Bulgaria.
Quick bike shop stop to remedy front disc brake rubbing – excellent and immediate service at no cost, as often is the case when touring. The guy more interested in where we were headed, as was the police who stopped outside to enquire.
Pirot looks to have some interesting options for food and drink…

Stayed at the Hotel Sin-Kom to the south of town which was very good, at 20 euros. There’s a really good vibe to the town, many good places to eat and drink, and a Folk dancing Festival with teams from all around the world was on, wonderful entertainment.