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Istanbul!

a well deserved drink at the end of the tour

The Orient Express has arrived in Istanbul!  After almost 4000 km and 50 days together our crossing of Europe from west to east is complete!

The last week of our adventure had some superb highlights such as the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria, a very unique “Hospital Hotel” in Malko Tarnovo, the first road signs pointing towards Istanbul, a festival ongoing in our rest-day town of Vize, Turkey where everyone enjoyed the local hospitality and were able to get used to the tranquil pace of small town Turkish life.  

The last days of the tour were not without the similar challenges of hills and heat but these Orient Express cyclists are hardened athletes by this point in time and managed to complete each day with relative ease, and excitement at being so close to the finish line.

Our last day of riding took us to the edge of the Marmara Sea.  There we relaxed, put our bikes aside and sat together to watch a slide show of images from the last 2 months.  The next day, after a short transfer to Istanbul, we hit the town and enjoyed our farewell dinner together in the heart of the city where too many restaurants, bars, cafes and music venues await the curious soul.

Hats off to all our participants who made the Tour a success; with their ambitious goal of crossing a continent, their stamina to achieve it, their ability to adapt to the varying cultures/climates/conditions along the way, and most of all for their support of each other which of course in the end is what makes any journey a success.  Congratulations and keep on cycling!

Final photos from the tour are now online here!

Posted July 26, 2011 by Tour d'Afrique Ltd.
Tour Updates | Turkey 		Btn_share_twitter Btn_share_facebook


Heat wave


There were days in the beginning of the Orient Express when it seemed it would never stop raining. Well, it did. Now we have a seemingly endless stretch of sunny hot days. Of course this makes us yearn for the cool overcast days of Western Europe.

There is one place though where the heat is much appreciated, and that is in the Black Sea Resort town of Varna, Bulgaria. It’s our second oasis destination since leaving Bucharest. The first is the amazing locale of Rousse where we stay right on the Danube river at the Hotel Luliaka. The pool was well used by our cyclists and many locals enjoying a lazy Friday. It’s fascinating to see the Danube again after last crossing it in Budapest. The river is more wild as it travels in between Bulgaria and Romania, with it’s sandy shores directly merging into the thick foliage and trees.

From Rousse it was two hard days of cycling on roads that cover too many gradual hills to count; many described these days as being “solid”. It’s the point in the trip where Istanbul seems very close but each day of cycling still presents it’s own challenges. On arriving in Varna the Black Sea calls out to be swam in, its warm and calm waters in the summer are idyllic. The beach is certainly crowded and a bit chaotic but in this high season of summer travel it’s to be expected.

The road ahead will take us south on the Black Sea coast and then into Turkey and our final rest day in Vize. Despite the heat and the hills we’ll all try to savor these last days on our adventurous crossing of Europe!

Posted July 19, 2011 by Tour d'Afrique Ltd.
Bulgaria | Tour Updates | Turkey 		Btn_share_twitter Btn_share_facebook


Not so easy!




There are easy days and not so easy days.  The stretch of cycling from Alba Iulia to Bucharest definitely falls into the not so easy days.  Each and every person on the Orient Express was tested at some point in what unfolded as a very epic stretch.  Between the distances, road conditions and heat there were some very tired bodies moving slowly through the camps each evening.

It was also our most adventurous section and one that will certainly remain in the memories of those who partook.  Our first day out of Alba Iulia was the longest of the tour at about 150km, including a rough dirt stretch at the very end.  For many this was the longest they’d ever cycled.

The day over the Transfaragas pass allowed riders to test their ability on a 30km climb.  This year by chance a top level cycling race was going on at the same time so our participants got to see the pros in action cruising up the climb.  Another new feature this year was staying at the top of the mountain pass at 2000metres.  Our cabana was quite comfortable and the mountain air was indescribably refreshing after the persistent heat of the last week.



The descent from the top of the Carpathians is intense with views from the many switchbacks to the valley below, not that someone cycling 50km per/hour can really take their eyes off the bumpy roads too often to see.  Many of the cyclists stopped in at Vlad the Impalers castle.  The castle itself has deteriorated over the ages but the view from its’ hilltop perch is stunning and the imagination easily wanders to a distant, bloodier time.

Continuing onto Bucharest with still more hills and also higher population and busier roads to deal with we have been fortunate to see many different aspects of Romanian life.  It’s a country completely unique to those around it and the Latin flair is much enjoyed.

Tomorrow we leave Bucharest and head towards Bulgaria.  Our second last country on the trip.  We’ll see the Danube River for the first time since leaving Budapest; who knows, maybe we’ll even jump in for a swim.

Posted July 14, 2011 by Tour d'Afrique Ltd.
Romania | Tour Updates 		Btn_share_twitter Btn_share_facebook


Into Romania




We left Budapest early last Sunday morning, with our two new sectional riders, Wolfgang and Rick, onboard.  After 2 rest days in Vienna and 2 in Budapest I think everyone was gung-ho to start a 5-day stretch of cycling.

The first couple days out of Budapest are long and flat with many farm fields to cycle by and more than few bumps/potholes to watch out for on the roads.  Our first stop was in Szolnok, which sits on the Tisza River and Zagyva Rivers.  This area is what they call the “Great Hungarian Plain” As it was a long day most riders arrived in camp to relax but a few did venture back into town to check out a very peculiar cycle bridge which has been built over the Tisza river; rather than just a straight line across the river the bridge goes this way and that way, enjoying it’s short but profound journey over the rapidly moving water below.

From there we continued to Gyula, Hungary, a town with a very relaxed feel and well known for it’s thermal baths.  The day of cycling went smoothly and luckily enough the group enjoyed some pretty nice tailwinds for a large chunk of the day.  Entering Romania the next day was much anticipated and lived up to expectations.  The locals are curious, outgoing and there is a decent espresso to be found in pretty much every village.

Our last 2 days of cycling into the rest day in Alba Iulia were extraordinary.  The roads are starting to get hilly and the scenery is spectacular.   Transylvania offers some great climbs and the day into Alba Iulia had one of 12km and another of about 8km.  All cyclists reached the top successfully and enjoyed the long downhill and flat roads into town.

The next stretch takes us up and over the Transfagaras Pass, which is a highlight of the trip.  A 30km climb into the Carpathian Mountains and then the long twisting descent towards the town of Curtea des Arges.  Let’s not forget Vlad the Impalers castle situation on the south side of the mountain pass as well!

Posted July 08, 2011 by Tour d'Afrique Ltd.
Hungary | Romania | Tour Updates 		Btn_share_twitter Btn_share_facebook


Vienna to Budapest




It’s amazing that in just 3 days of cycling you can go from the capital of Austria, to the Slovakian capital of Bratislava and then to the capital of Hungary, Budapest; and that is exactly what we did.

The ride to Bratislava continued along the Danube trail, and the riders were quite quick to finish the stage.  Which was great for them as we were staying in the “Botel”, a boat turned hotel permanently anchored on the Danube in Bratislava.  From there it was a very short walk into the historical center which is full of restaurants, cafes and shops selling all sorts of traditional knick knacks.  After a good nights sleep we headed east for our final stint on the Danube cycle way.  As a going away present nature offered us a roaring tailwind for the first 40kms along the river!  

On reaching our stop in Komarom, Hungary many riders mentioned the great change in the villages compared to Western Europe.  There is the leftover feeling of Soviet times and the extreme neatness of the west has dissipated and something more rustic has appeared.  There is a feeling mid-way through the Orient Express that all is suddenly new and for those who have not traveled this part of the world there is much excitement as to what will come next.

Our ride into Budapest was led by the one and only Gergo, our trusty bike mechanic, expert on all that is Hungarian and resident of Budapest.   Despite the busier city traffic the cyclists had a fun and safe ride to the hotel.  Everyone was also very lucky to see Gergo and his band, Arabesque, play a concert on our rest day here at a very cool local bar.  It was great to see everyone out enjoying themselves in this amazing city.

Next up is 5 days of cycling to Alba Iulia, Romania.  We still have a few flat days ahead of us crossing the Hungarian plateau, but once we enter Romania the hills begin.  As we have still had a fair bit of rain we’re all hoping for some sunshine.

Happy trails.

 

Posted July 03, 2011 by Tour d'Afrique Ltd.
Austria | Hungary | Slovakia | Tour Updates 		Btn_share_twitter Btn_share_facebook