Day 16: Budapest

Writing this sat in an internet cafe in downtown Budapest. When we got in yesterday evening, tired hungry and getting pretty sick of cycling we sat down and over a couple of beers had a good look at the route ahead and formed a plan for the next week.

Basically we're short of time, and also in all honesty energy to complete the push for the Black Sea before we have to fly back next Saturday (Icelandic volcano permitting). We're not unhappy that we're not going to make it, as we had only ever put together this trip in terms of a vague plan, and it became apparent that our average speed on our touring bikes, fully laden, is not in the realms that would be needed to cover the 100miles + that we would have had to knock out every day. A fair number of days when we've only stopped cycling well after the suns gone down is testament to that.

Also our sickness enforced day in Vienna opened our eyes somewhat to the world around us and we didnt want to pass the opportunity up to take a good look around Budapest as well so we're stopping here for a day, then we've lined up a solid 5 days cycling to arrive at Bucharest on Friday evening totally exhausted and hopefully satisfied that we've put all we could into this trip. However because of the huge diastance still between us and Bucharest we'll be getting a train on Tuesday shortly after crossing into Romania and getting off at the foot of the Carpathaian mountains for the last three days.

So the plan is today in Budapest, tomorrow we cycle to Szeged near the border, Tuesday a short(er) ride into Romania to a town called Arad, where we pick up (hopefuly we dont miss!) an afternoon train to Sibiu, and then take it to the mountains for three days.

The Black Sea, our original aim when we set out 2 weeks ago is going to prove to be beyond us sadly. We think given one more week, and if we hadnt have been struck down with sickness in the middle of last week, it would have all proved possible. A note for the next time perhaps, but right now we're happy, and we certainly have some serious cycling ahead of us.

This afternoon, sightseeing in Budapest and a spot of Premier league football in the pub. Back on the bike tomorrow for the last push...

I'll put some photos up next time Im on the blog. It takes ages (about 2 hours for the 20 odd ive put up today) so it might have to wait until Bucharest next Friday. Not sure Wifi will be too abundant in the Romanian countryside!

From Budapest,
Phil