Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB - Finding Freedom...World Wide Ride

Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/)

- Ride Tales (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/ride-tales/)

- - Finding Freedom...World Wide Ride (https://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/ride-tales/finding-freedom-world-wide-ride-65365)

Today it is rainy, but it did stop long enough for the 15 km ride to Tokaj town for a small boat trip on the river, a walking tour of the town, and a traditional Hungarian Fish soup lunch.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4181/3...c09ffa2b_b.jpg Hungary-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

We started out about 2 pm from here headed south to Budapest.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4179/3...cfe2a669_b.jpg Screen Shot 2017-05-16 at 23.32.43 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4173/3...b8142515_b.jpg Hungary-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

We had the heaviest rain we have ever seen. In fact we could not see, all the cars had 4 way flashers and were going about 30 km / hr. We finally found an overpass to hide under (even cars were hiding) until the worst passed. It was bucketing, lightening, and with intermittent wind gusts. We survived dry under the suits and in all the luggage!

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4160/3...34bb74c8_b.jpg Hungary by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

We had a few more small showers, but arrived to Bikercamp Budapest in the dry. We were met by the lovely owner Susan and our friend Trevor, who had been there since yesterday.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4166/3...d0132829_b.jpg Hungary-13 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Luckily he knew the way to the subway and we headed down town. The action here on a Saturday night is unbelievable. We also made a stop at the Szimpla Kert Ruin bar.

“Ruin bars are all the rage in Budapest and have been around for 10 years since the founding of Szimpla Kert, the mecca of all ruin bars. These bars are built in Budapest's old District VII neighborhood (the old Jewish quarter) in the ruins of abandoned buildings, stores, or lots.”

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4178/3...58d6c175_b.jpg Hungary-4 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4184/3...47e62fbe_b.jpg Hungary-3 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

The night was dry and we managed to pack up before the rain started. We waited it out until 11, but finally had to leave. We are headed south to Serbia and had heavy rain for much of the day.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4165/3...a9d22b5d74.jpg Screen Shot 2017-05-13 at 20.06.53 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Despite this we stayed on the small roads. When we were riding towards a particularly dark cloud at 1 pm we found a great stop for another fish soup and missed much of the worst of the rain. As we approached the Serbian border the rain stopped and the sun came out for the 15 minute line up. There was a quick Schengen/EU exit stamp from Hungary and a very quick passport stamp into Serbia. They did not ask for bike papers or green cards.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4182/3...b8bec869_b.jpg Serbia by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4172/3...59dafc87_b.jpg Serbia-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Now we had a 347 km drive to just past Novi Sad.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4155/3...8fd83420_b.jpg Slovakia by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

This hotel was a bit Faulty towers like, but in the end turned out fine. The owner is Turkish and with little English, but he did give us several rounds of welcome shots of Slivovitz, which is a plum brandy. In the end we had a good night and slept well.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4194/3...881bdc60_b.jpg Serbia by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4179/3...c6bbb8e7_b.jpg Serbia-2 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

This route after the fortress is then another 50 km along the banks of the Danube and with the sun shining it was 24 degrees.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4250/3...73bc7e72_b.jpg Serbia by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

We then turned south thru the park to end up in the small town of Zajecar. There is nothing to see here it is just a good spot to stop for the day and start out tomorrow for the Bulgarian border and route thru the mountains. The hotel had awesome underground parking and was very simple, but clean and comfortable.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4191/3...484aac15_z.jpg Screen Shot 2017-05-15 at 22.26.06 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

The sun is finally out today but cooler at 17 degrees for the 223 km day to Sofia.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4167/3...9285d56e_z.jpg Screen Shot 2017-05-15 at 22.43.48 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

The ride to the border is a quick 11 km at Vrska Cuka. Here we were waved thru to park at the gate. We were the only ones there, but still waited 10 min. Finally a sour looking woman came out and asked for our passports. She checked our photos, walked backed to her office, and returned with them in a few minutes. No smile at all or small talk, but she did say “have a nice trip” in a grouchy voice when she handed them back.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4245/3...6b95bf7c_b.jpg Serbia-9 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

You then ride a few hundred meters to the Bulgarian crossing where they are all smiles and very friendly. They also spoke English well. The agent stamped us back into the EU, but Bulgaria is not in the Schengen zone. He then asked to see our route on the GPS to check it went thru Borovitsa where “there are some very nice rocks”.

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4276/3...66525751_b.jpg Serbia-8 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4198/3...b586c704_b.jpg Serbia-7 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

https://c1.staticflickr.com/5/4178/3...00c379e4_b.jpg Bulgaria-20 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr