📆 Day 10 | 6 August

📍Route: Tismana → Baia de Aramă

🚴‍♀️ Distance cycled: 30 km

🏰 Places visited: Ponoarele, Podului Cave, God's Bridge

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.

Before reaching Baia de Aramă, we rode through a forest, where the shade made the air far more bearable. Once in town, we stopped for refreshments — cold drinks and ice cream — which instantly lifted our spirits. From there, we continued towards Ponoarele, eager to visit some local attractions.

The road to Ponoarele came with more uphill sections, and by then the clouds were starting to gather, hinting at a storm. We arrived in Ponoarele a bit exhausted, but still took time to admire God’s Bridge — a natural limestone arch and one of the largest natural bridges in the world that still carries road traffic. After that, we visited Podului’s Cave, staying longer inside as the rain had already begun. The cool air in the cave was refreshing, giving us new energy after enduring the heat earlier.

When we came out, the air felt fresher and cooler after the rain. We took photos, explored the area a bit more, but the storm still lingered on the horizon, pushing us to find shelter and food. That’s when we discovered Conacu’ Boierului — a timeless getaway that felt like an old Romanian manor, blending traditional charm with modern comfort. We treated ourselves to a good lunch, recharged our phones, and waited for the storm to ease.

As the rain slowly lost its threat, we decided to return to Baia de Aramă for the night. We pitched our tents by the Brebina River, letting them dry out from the earlier rain. The evening brought a clear sky, a glowing moonrise, and the quiet satisfaction of another day’s adventure behind us.