8. DEVA TO ALMOST BUCHAREST ON A LITTLE KNOWN ROUTE

The Belgium team we stayed with when we arrived in continental Europe had told us about a drive they had taken while heading toward Bucharest last year. It seems that it isn't well known internationally with the "locals" the only ones taking good advantage of it. We headed off to find it when we left Deva. It took us off our scheduled route a bit, but we were told it was well worth it. After a couple of stops for directions, we were well on our way. (We have met no one on our trip thus far who hasn't been polite and courteous when we have asked for assistance.) We encountered brief heavy rain on the way to the new route. Speed limits are low in Romania like 20 miles an hour through many of the small towns and villages we passed through, and many open country roads are posted at only 80 KPH.

We had to stops a few times for directions, but made it to the last turn off. The road looked normal for a short distance and then it started to climb and turn through the forest that began. The entire drive is a good distance with much down shifting of gears. The road runs near a river in the mountains and ends at a large hydro electric dam which we drove over. There were many people camping in tents near the various streams that feed into the river. Weeds all over the places were they camped and were cooking meals. The surface of the road was fine until the last 15 or 20 miles, than it began to have many pot holes and broken asphalt. It was dark when we stopped for the night.

We stopped for the night in Pitesti. Romania. We found a hotel called the Hotel Victoria. There was a wedding reception there (Saturday night). We were told we had been given the last available room which was almost long enough for a bowling alley. The hotel manager came out and personally decided where to park our vehicle as it was total confusion with the wedding guest starting to arrive.

Have to get up early again tomorrow.

(Blog Spot appears to have changed their photo posting process. None of the photos are in the order I want.)