//Day 31 /11-04-22 /Sliven-Kazanlak

Yesterday I wrote about what is more challenging to cycle : climbing or headwind ? Today I can confirm that the combination climbing, headwind and rain tops it. When I woke up this morning it was grey and windy, as expected. I checked out, saddled Black Horse and started cycling. Maybe I should say the wind started cycling with me. The first 5 K I had a backwind which was so strong that even without pedalling my speed was around 40 km/hour. I hoped that the backwind would support me the rest of the day…I couldn’t be more wrong. After 5 K I needed to change direction and as from now on the wind became a side wind, still with the same strenght.  I continued cycling but was struggling. Cycling was so difficult that I considered either to return to the hotel or see in the next village if I could hop on a train to my destination. The first village I entered did not have a train station, so I continued cycling. Suddenly after 20K the wind dropped to more cycleable levels and was able to continue my route. 

For the rest of the day the sidewind was my compagnon together with the mountains. The highest mountains were now covered with snow. The views today were beautiful, the road was old (I assume the very original road from the coast to Sofia) without any traffic. The road went up and down, passed  poor villages, vineyards, orchards, shepherds, …Not a lot of people in sight, mostly Roma living outside the poor villages in the most dilapidated houses of the villages….The rain came and went today so I cycled most of the day in my rain gear, which also helped against the cold wind. Although the rain, wind and cold today I enjoyed cycling today, but was also happy to arrive in Kazanlak…..

(I deleted per accident the most interesting photos of the day - so you have to do with the leftovers…..)

I arrived in Kazanlak in the rain…checked in and took a warm shower (no bath…). After checking what Kazanlak main attractions are I put  a photo museum  and The Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak on my visiting list. The “photomuseum” was housed in a nice building. My expectations rose. I paid the 1 euro entrance. The museum consisted out of some glass cabinets displaying a collection of camera’s, light meters and flashes…and a room where the work of a local photographer was on display…not sure on how to put it politely….I can’t… I left the “photomuseum”. Next stop was the Thracian Tomb, an Unesco heritage site. When I arrived it became clear that the tomb itself could not be visited in order to preserve it, but a full-size replica can. When I arrived at the replica place, 45 minutes before closing, the light were out but the door still open.  When I entered a lady said they were closing and send me away…I pointed to the opening hours but to  no avail.

I walked back to the city center, which had a nice pedestrian area, when the rain returned I went back to my hotel and planned my route for the next days. When reviewing the stages I planned I noticed that my tomorrow ride would be 120 K, no problem in principle, but is also included a climb from 400 to 1250 meters at the end of that 120 K . Although the weather will be sunny the coming days I adjusted my planning. The new plan is to cycle tomorrow  95K to a village at 800 meter and stay the night there. The day after I will cover the remaining  500 meter to the top and cycle the 120 K  into Sofia. 

In the evening I had a fine dinner in a local restaurant next to the hotel. When reading the menu the restaurant seemed to be specialised in offal. I settled for a mixed salad, home baked bread and chicken filled with spinach, nuts, cheese and a bacon…

Lessons learned :

• The growling dogs are back in the  small villages. 
• Rain, wind, climbing can be interesting ingredients for a nice cycling day
• The amazing Buzludzha monument (located on a mountain top) is 16 K away from Kazanlak (check internet). 

Song of the day : Travelling Man - The Bony King of Nowhere