Simply moments earlier than coming into the Black Sea seashore city of Tsarevo, Bulgaria, I noticed a mountain biker developing the highway in my course. As we drew nearer to 1 one other, the person approached and requested if I knew the place he may be capable to discover some dust trails to trip on. I wasn’t positive the best way to reply the person, as a result of I didn’t know the world myself, however I advised him that he we positive to search out some dust roads within the space I had simply come from. In order that was it. We went in several instructions and I by no means anticipated to see the person once more.
However somewhat additional down the highway I seemed again and noticed that the identical man on his mountain bike had rotated and was now following me. He approached and requested the place I used to be going. I advised him I used to be headed north towards Varna… and he then requested if he might trip with me for some time.
Prepared for firm, but in addition prepared for a brief lunch break, I stated “sure,” but in addition let the person know that I hadn’t eaten but and that I used to be very hungry. So my new buddy (his identify was Martin) and I rode to the following city up the highway (Lorents) the place we discovered a small street-side cafe the place I ordered a tacky vegetable lasagne-like meal.
After consuming, Martin nonetheless wished to proceed using with me… and he didn’t need to simply trip with me, however he wished to trip my touring bicycle as nicely!
I’m tremendous hesitant about letting anybody contact my bicycle, not to mention trip it. However Martin appeared extremely reliable and I used to be surprisingly laid again about letting him trip my fully-loaded touring bicycle for a number of kilometers. Plus, as a part of the deal, I obtained to trip Martin’s light-weight mountain bike in trade. Boy did his bicycle appear mild after using my heavy rig all the way in which from Istanbul!
Martin ended up using with me for the remainder of the day. He didn’t really steal my touring bicycle. We simply switched bikes for a number of hours. He rode on my touring bicycle and I rode on his mountain bike. We handed via a number of Black Sea seashore cities and he even helped me discover a place to remain that evening within the charming little city of Primorsco. When Martin lastly stated goodbye and commenced his bike trip again to Tsarevo that night, I used to be positive it could be the final time I might ever see him. However there’s extra to this story. So keep tuned for my subsequent replace from the highway.