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 your legs.

Soon, we reached the Oașa Dam. The view of the lake surrounded by nature was stunning. We stopped there for breakfast and had some pancakes from local producers who were selling homemade goods.

While there, we met a group from Iași who were also bike touring in the area. They had a support car waiting for them at Obârșia Lotrului. We rode together for a while, but eventually, they went ahead — our energy levels were still low after a cold night and constant uphill riding.

We kept going, taking plenty of breaks. The climb felt endless. But finally, the dream became reality: a long, beautiful downhill brought us to Obârșia Lotrului.

There, we stopped for a meal and bought some delicious homemade cheese from a kind lady. She told us that the road to Petroșani starts with another 5–6 km climb — then it’s all downhill.

We pushed on, and though a light rain started, it was just a few drops — barely enough to bother us. We eventually reached the top, and then came a long descent — almost 10 km of smooth, easy downhill. It felt amazing.

We decided not to continue all the way to Petroșani and instead camped in Jieț, about 6 km before the town. The weather was much gentler down here. The sun was still warming the valley, the river flowed nearby, and the view was peaceful.

And finally — after two days on Road 67C with no signal — we had some mobile coverage and internet again. It felt strange but comforting to be reconnected.

After such a tough day, we went to sleep early — exhausted, but content.