I almost started to think I was the only one on the Eurovelo 6 route. But as soon as I hit the Croatian pavement I finally began seeing the unmistakable silhouette of the bike traveler (person + bicycle + Ortlieb bike bags.)
There are not very many long distance bikers in Eastern Europe at this time of the year: I have met about 12 'groups' (usually the bicyclists come in pairs). Some travel a part of the route each year. For others the France-Bulgaria stretch is just a little blip on the road to China, Istanbul, India.
I met eccentric Eddy from France, so much into staying cool that he's wearing 2 layers of wet clothing (I noticed his white button down shirt is growing mildew). Roxane, also from France, who is going to Kyrgyzstan on her custom-made bike including special insulated compartments for keeping food. The cute swiss couple with all the perfect biking gear on a 7 month sabbatical to China. The husband and wife from Hannover, cycling one Eurovelo 6 stretch each spring break.
I met the Hannover couple on a camp site in Baja, Hungary. Just as we were sharing how pleasantly surprised we were to actually camp with another Eurovelo 6 biker, there they came: a swarm of 40 bicyclists from Bulgaria! Going from Belgrade to Budapest, they were also camping in Baja and turned the little campground into a party scene Bulgaria-style, complete with rakija and music (they have a luggage and support van!). The next days there was no shortage of fellow bikers. I traveled parts of the way with my new friends, had dinner together and camped in the same place one more night. Time flew by. Budapest is in sight already!
PS. On one photo below I am with a Serbian family who is on a biking vacation in Hungary and decided to accompany me from Mohacs to Baja!
No comments:
Post a Comment