Safe Return Doubtful

60 miles (97 km) – Total so far: 744 miles (1,197 km)

Leaving Putna this morning at just before 8:30 am on a cloudy morning, and thankfully very much cooler, 16C.

Cut through to Vicovu de Sus

And the border, which despite its electronic deisplay, has been closed for 7 years…

So why did I come here you may ask? I wrote to the Ukrainian Tourist Board and they replied saying this was a new border, open less than a year, and showed me the google streetview photo of it, which I also found myself.
The photo is exactly correct.. but it didn’t open. Maybe there are plans to, but not right now.

So back to Vicovu de Sus to consider options..

At a coffee shack, by chance completely I came across Dimitri – in his insurance office, but he owns the coffee place and the florists next door also.
He couldn’t speak much English but called his daughter. While we waited I had coffee, croissant, and even wine made by his friend (at 9:30 am) – such wonderful hospitality.
Magda, his daughter arrived, and helped arrange transport to get me to Siret, 50 km away, which would put me back on schedule. Just a bit further to ride in Ukraine.

Another friend of his who spoke English arrived. He told me about Bucovina, the area we are in, and how it sees itself as different to the rest of Romania, more hard-working, more ambitious, and therefore richer. It is certainly noticeable. Magda told me that around half of the young people live and work in London. She herself lives in Wembley, and after a degree from University of Westminster, works in Event Management. Tremendous people, and I hope to reciprocate in the Lakes one day.

At the border again, this time it’s an open one..

A War Memorial In Berehomet – much of the cycling for a couple of hours was flat and not scenic, a bit like I expect the majority of Ukraine is. But I’m heading to the hills.

Onwards, and eventually upwards.. Even a sign for bears… much more encouraging.

You don’t come to the Ukraine for smooth road surfaces…
This is a pretty major road, and so very many potholes.
This is a 12% downhill to Vyzhnytsya, almost the end of the riding day for me.

The towns of Vyzhnytsya and Kuty, separated by the Cheremosh river, also the boundary between provinces, and entry to Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast, back to the Carpathians.

And Gryski Kut, the hotel I have arranged for tonight.