T = CH
Apologies to our blog followers but have limited access to internet over last 5 days.
Anyway, to continue the next 5 days of the GSA:
Sat 7th May We leave Cernivci in southern Ukraine, clatter the bikes over the cities cobblestones that almost shake bits off the bikes, and head to the Romanian border.
20 sidecar bikes line up at the border crossing and as we start to talk to the officials a stern woman in military style uniform (customs officer) says "20 motorcycles from Ukraine - this will be a big problem". We find that we are unable to leave Ukraine for a variety of reasons that keep changing.
Eventually an agreement of sorts is reached and we all have to pay $55 US to be processed.
We have to camp overnight at the border with no facilities and wait to be released in parties of 3-4 at a time.
Martin is allowed to go at 4.30am on Sunday 8th and his group head to hotel just over the border. Martin has to tow Sean 10km in cold rain to the hotel .I am released at 8.30pm Sunday and when I get to my bike the clutch lever is floating in the breeze - quick repair to clutch cable bracket and head to
Romanian side. Romania is a breath of fresh air particularly after 32 hours in no mans land. A Romanian customs official with pretty good English listens to our story and says "those Ukranians are all f'ers". 4 of us ride through a rainy night to Falticeni - arrive around 12.30am - Martin is on hand late to help us park bikes and check in. Martin & I sit up until around 2.30am eating salami & cheese, drinking vodka. Bev knocks on our door at 2.00am and is wondering where the last group (including her husband and our commander,Lang, are)
Monday 9th May - Falticeni - Romania is so different to Ukraine - the people smile spontaneously, there is fresh bread, the roads are better. A long run (at 50-60 kph) to Tecuci. Martin & I lunch at a service station on our usual faire of soft cheese. local salami, bread & chips.
Arrive at Tecuci, about 1km from hotel Martin's bike back blows through air cleaner and starts to die.
Serious problem that over next 12 hours will require new intake valve on R motor.
Martin & I help Hub (our new mechanic) pull the head off his R motor - it is obvious the intake valve is stuffed & will need repair in the am.
Tecuci hotel is a shocker - tiny room, bathroom stinking of mould. One double bed & not enough rooms for 1 room each. Martin & I sleep head to tail in the double bed. Htuge meal in hotel restaurant - massive meat platter for 2 that 3 of us struggle to eat.
Tuesday 10th May - Martin's motor needs significant work. I leave him behind & set off for Tulcea.
We cross the Danube at Galati on a ferry then beautiful ride through Romanian countryside to Tulcea on the Danube Delta.
Bikes on Danube Ferry
Martin, Hub & Lang fix Martin's engine and then head off late for Tulcea. Ride through wild storm with hail, sliding the sidecars through corners. We have big meal at hotel, including fishermans borsch.
Wednesday 11th May - We have a great run from Tulcea to Mangalia on the Black Sea in southern Romania. Bikes run well, some beautiful countryside. Kids wave to us on the bikes. Martin stops to get money in a little town and is hassled by gypsy kids. Lunch on the bikes in village of Sacele.
Nice hotel on waterfront at Mangalia - I go for swim in Black Sea - a little cold (maybe 16 C) but I miss the water so much that I don't care.
Tommorow we head for the border with Bulgaria.
Romania is a beautiful country - plains & rolling hills of agricultural land, beauiful people who actually smile & wave, fresh bread & the beautiful Black Sea. I'd like to come back here again.
More soon.
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