Didn’t go far today but legs were protesting despite having lots of stops and nothing terribly difficult – 7 miles to campsite at end of day seemed never ending. Campsite is nice with a fancy restaurant – don’t think they have many scruffy sweating cyclists turning up. Rained on and off today and no views until late afternoon but beautiful just now. Not sure what height I’m at but from the campsite I can see the top of a chairlift – unfortunately it’s not been open for 3 or 4 years due to lack of snow – my Romanian is now so good that I managed to establish all of that – not.

If you zoom in to the high point on the right you might be able to see the top of the chairlift

Could have done with a cycle lane today – road busy at times at times with some big trucks – cycle lane could be doing with being wide enough for a horse and cart as I saw a few of these today. Stopped to take a picture of one of them – he slowed down as he approached me – I wondered if he was annoyed at me taking his photo but he indicated (I thought) that he wanted some food – fair enough I’ve taken a picture of him so rummaged in my back pack for the rolls and lump of cheese I’d bought earlier on and crossed road to give them to him – turns out he didn’t want food but was hoping for a cigarette and that I didn’t have.

Stopped at the tourist information at Orasu Nou but despite saying it was open, door was locked and nobody seemed to be about. Same thing happened a few miles along the road at Negresti-oas but as I was about to leave Patricia turned up with a pizza and keys and let me in – she’d just popped out to get lunch. While her pizza was probably going cold she told me how to find the open air museum of traditional buildings including an old traditional wooden church that had been moved and rebuilt there; where to see the local traditional pottery being made and how to get to the campsite – unfortunately she couldn’t help with tired legs.

My camera has made the blue brighter than it a actually was
Early outdoor washing machine
Rebuilt wooden church

Marian told me about the museum and when I asked about the blue paint “he” told me that traditionally it indicated who had paid their rent or not – if you hadn’t coughed up you had to paint your house blue until you did – he also tells me it’s a good colour as it’s like the sky – seems a bit of a contradiction to paint your house a good colour for not paying your rent?? Marian tells me that in Romania, unlike the UK, Marian is a man’s name – I asked if Marian had a meaning and he told “Dave” and while he lived and worked in London for a few years this is what he was called!