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Note to self: Check the route for Ferries.
When I was leaving Sinaia, it was getting cloudy. The guy at the hotel asked where I was going, and I said Bulgaria. He said that it was supposed to have Tornados there. I used my phone's "Wishful Thinking App" and put on sunscreen.
It started raining shortly after. It was not a hard rain, but with my wandering route, it did slow me down.
Danube River Cruise - Then there was the scary ferry, which I should have checked was there. As I aproached the Danube, which I had to cross to get into Bulgaria, I saw signs for a ferry. I had not counted on this. There was another route that had a bridge across the Danube. That would have, in the long run been much better.
I had to wait almost an hour for the ferry (longer than they said) and I could have just gone the bridge route and gotten to my destination sooner. It was a small ferry, and they stuffed it with 18 wheelers. This seems to be the main traffic for this ferry.
Passport control, pay a small amount for a ferry, and you wait. Then on the Bulgarian side, Passport control (I thought it was done on the other side, as sometimes happens), then I was waived on. I passed a window with no one there, and someone whistled and yelled something. I guess I was supposed to stop. Some guy comes around the building and starts waiving to shoo me away. Weird. Then I remember, in Bulgaria they nod up and down for no, and side to side for yes. Maybe this shooing meant come this way. Yup. I waited in line, and paid my $1.50 entry fee. Really?
The rest of the route to MotoCamp Bulgaria was nice, except for the rain. And the road conditions. And the impending darkness. MotoCamp is in Idilevo, Bulgaria, a village of less than 100 people. Very quiet. For a very small fee you get a room with two beds, a couple of shared showers, an outside honor bar, an inside bar (not any warmer) and a basic breakfast if you want.
I was here because I ordered tires. When I ordered the tires, I had planned on being here on Wednesday or Thursday, not Monday. The tires were scheduled to arrive either of those days. Well, plans......... So I stayed here for 4 nights. VERY relaxing. There were two guests the first night, none the second and third. one the last night.
motosapiens.org/motocamp/ - For a small fee they can help you store your bike, get your bike serviced, get insurance, immigration, you name it. Very helpful people. This is a place for world travelers to hang out and swap stories.
I met Haris Boukas, a greek who now has a small orange farm. He is making the best of things, given the financial situation in Greece. Riding around as much as he can. Currently on a VStrom.
Later, Dave, a 250 CMC or something dirt rider showed up. A real world traveler from Australia, and another rider, Chris, who also travels all over. Good stories. These are real adventure riders, riding single track all over the world.
He had this great YouTube video - How to Not Cross a River in Mongolia
The following day I rode Shipka Pass, east and south of here, great road. At the top, there is a monument about the Turkish War battle of 1876, where I met a Bulgarian Boat Captain named Sliven, on a small Ducati. He told me a lot of the history of the area and he brought me to a few other monuments in the area.
On the way to Shipka Pass. 
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Sliven 
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This "Spaceship", Pametnik Buzludzha, Monument House of the Bulgarian Communist Party or the Buzludzha_monument is an old Soviet Monument. There are discussions about refurbishing it, but it is currently abandoned. The road to the top is not too bad, and you can ride your bike all around the grounds. You can no longer go inside, but I was told by someone that had sneaked in that the roof is falling apart and very dangerous. I could not ride my bike inside, so I was not interested.
Beklemeto Pass and the Arch of Freedom had awesome roads and scenery.
That is not the only road up there. See the person standing on the right? 
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There are lots of things to do in this area, lots of history, roads, caves and more.
My tires arrived and I went to a tire place to have them mounted on the rims. The guy did a great job, quick and inexpensive. 
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My last night at MotoCamp Bulgaria was a blast. All the local riders, many world travelers, came around and we partied well into the night. I am getting too old for that. I was moving pretty slow when I left there the next morning.
