Our expedition began with a setback: Pali Bácsi felt unwell, so we found a replacement and left Miercurea-Ciuc later than planned. Before setting off, we visited Ingens Risus and discussed our project with their curious team. The ride was tough—steep climbs and headwinds—but we enjoyed breezy descents, saw mineral springs and a cold geyser, and ended the day camping by the peaceful Homorodul Mic river. 

The first night of camping went well. None of us slept very soundly, though, as we could hear dogs barking all night long. Thankfully, no bears made an appearance. At 7 a.m., we crawled out of our tents, made some coffee, and began packing up our gear to start biking.

We had to cross the river again to reach the road, but this time it went even more smoothly than the previous evening.

We woke up in our apartment to find our gear dry. After morning rain cleared, we explored Sighișoara—a beautiful medieval town and Vlad Țepeș’s birthplace. At the Furriers' Tower, we met Mathe Zsolt, who shared his craft and gifted us thread rope bracelets, which we deeply appreciated.

After visiting Vlad-related sites and enjoying lunch, we biked toward Agnita on a gentle, low-traffic route. We camped by the Hârtibaciu River—muddy but surrounded by flat green fields. Light rain sent us to our tents early for some much-needed rest.

We woke to fog and a herd of sheep wandering through our camp—a funny reminder to get moving. The ride to Sibiu was smooth, with friendly locals, fellow cyclists, and charming Transylvanian Saxon houses along the way.

In Sibiu, we explored the center, admired its famed street, visited the Carpenters' Tower, and enjoyed lunch before biking on. Strong sun followed us to Săliște, where we camped by a cool river near the mountains and turned in early, exhausted but happy.

We woke up in the morning and made some coffee. The place was beautiful, and the sun was already drying the morning dew from our tents. We packed up, as it had already become a routine.

We started biking through the forest, surrounded by beautiful scenery. The climb was quite steep, so it wasn't easy. We continued on to Poiana Sibiului – a village filled with large houses with interesting architecture, though many of them appeared uninhabited.

We woke up to freezing temperatures. Everything was damp — the river, the morning dew, and the cold air made the humidity cling to everything. We started packing just to warm up and get moving again.

The road climbed uphill once more. A lot of motorcyclists passed us, and we couldn’t help but think how easy it must feel to have an engine instead of just biking

We woke up feeling off — Andreea and Eliza were both dealing with stomachaches, most likely from something we ate the day before. The night had been rough and restless. We made some tea in the morning, hoping it would settle things, but it didn’t really make a difference.

Since we were relatively close to Petroșani, we decided to pack up and head there, hoping to find a pharmacy and get something for the sickness. After arriving, we found a pharmacy, but there wasn’t much more we could do than wait and hope the medicine would start working.

We woke up rested and feeling better, but we still weren’t ready for the big effort that sticking to the plan would have meant — riding through the Jiu Gorge all the way to Târgu Jiu. So, we decided to take the train and save our energy. Cycling uphill through the gorge to the city would’ve been too tough and might have undone the recovery we’d worked for. 

Today was all about exploring. The night had been rainy, and it was still raining in the morning, so we stayed in our tents a bit longer, waiting for the drizzle to stop. When it finally did, we started packing — though everything was still a little damp. The view over the Jiului Delta was worth it, with birds filling the air with a natural symphony. 

Once ready, we set off for Sohodolului Gorge. The scenery was stunning, with dramatic rock formations that locals have nicknamed after their shapes — like “the Nostrils” and “the Ring.” 

The day started as usual, with us waking up one by one — Bela first, Andreea second, and then Eliza with Cătălina. We made some coffee and began packing. It was clear from the start that it would be a hot day; the sun was already strong in the early hours. Our tents dried quickly from the morning dew, and soon we were ready to set off.

We biked for a while, but the heat made it tough. At times, the road was under repair — stripped down, full of holes and rocks — and passing cars kicked up clouds of dust. Not exactly the best combination: hot weather, dust, and us sweating away.

The day started without much sun — clouds covered the sky. We packed up and began biking. First, we rode through the villages, and then, following the DN67D, we climbed steadily uphill for quite some time. After leaving the villages behind, the road grew quieter, with only the occasional car passing by. 

There wasn’t much life around, just a few small tourist shops here and there. A couple of dogs from nearby sheepfolds seemed a bit threatening, but thankfully, there were no incidents. 

After our usual morning routine, we headed out to explore the town. The day started with a lovely surprise — a stop at a small local antique store, where we met Sebastian, the owner. He welcomed us with the most aromatic Persian tea we’ve ever tasted. While we enjoyed it, he shared a few of his own life adventures, and we told him about our bike tour. It was one of those easy, warm conversations that make traveling so special. From there, we made our way to Hercules Square, the historic heart of Băile Herculane. 

We started the day slowly, without rushing. The view was beautiful, so we took our time to enjoy it. Our goal for the day was to reach the Rock Sculpture of Decebalus, which we were both excited to see.

After packing our things, we got back on our bikes and continued our route. The road went slightly uphill, but it wasn’t too hard, and we could still enjoy the scenery around us. It really was stunning.

These last two days are joined together, as they include both our time exploring Orșova and the long journey back home.

Today was all about discovering Orșova. Our day began at the riverbank, where we watched fishermen—some had stayed all night, others woke before dawn—patiently casting lines into the Danube. We admired their quiet dedication as they waited for a catch.