Safe Return Doubtful

Independence Day in the Ukraine – The Okole Pass

60 miles (97 km) – Total so far: 858 miles (1,381 km)

Fine weather this morning after a shower or two of rain last night.
Really good food at the cafe of the hotel last night; Borscht (beetroot soup) and a roast lamb, potato and mushroom stew in a thick garlic sauce served in a pot (there’s a name for this…).

This morning it was a steady 30 km ride to Yasinya to prepare for what was ahead.. I had left at 7:30 am, knowing it would be a big one.

Breakfast at this splendid bakery in Yasinya.

Then a steady start to what I hoped would be a highlight of the trip. The old road between Yasinya and Ust Chorna. I had read about it and it sounded up my street. The option is a long way south to come back north again, in roads that are pretty bad anyway.
The first 5 km out of Yasinya was paved (of a sort) with just a gentle incline.

After 9 km entry to the National Park (Carpathian) for which cars must pay, and its a lot, so they are discouraged, I saw none, except for the occasional logger.

There were a few young Kiev guys out hiking, off for a high camp in the mountains for Independence Day. I spoke to one group, who had good English, and said it takes them almost 10 hours by train and bus to get here from Kiev. They certainly consider themselves European, nothing good to say about Russia.

There’s been very little rain but it’s still really muddy, with lots of standing water in puddles. I had to wash my bike in the river after finishing.
If it’s been raining, this route may not have been passable.

At the pass at 1:15 pm at 1193 metres asl. The climb of 17 km (another flatish 5 km from Yasinya) took me 2 and a half hours. Very relaxed though, wonderful cycling with no vehicles, or indeed people, at all.

The descent was far steeper and rockier than the ascent.
At places near the pass the ascent may have got to 10%, but on average less than that.
The descent from the pass is more like 15%, hard on a loaded bike, and slow.
You wouldn’t want to carry much more stuff than I am, panniers may be difficult. On a mountain bike with suspension this would be fast and thrilling.
As it was, the descent took me longer than the ascent…
It’s 28 km until the sealed road starts, and there are quite a few little uphills, and level bits that are crammed with deep potholes.

Traffic problems..

Maybe I was slow on the downhill.. but the German blue camper van, waiting behind the logger, left there at the same time as me, 20 km left to go, and I beat them down. It certainly is a rough road.

But it was a thoroughly exciting and enjoyable day of cycling. One of the best and most memorable. Often total peace and quiet, and very few people at all.
This is entering Ust Chorna, where I’m staying at a homestay, very comfortable for just under £10.