I was greeted with a warm cup of coffee and a delightful breakfast, all
thanks to my thoughtful neighbours. It was the kind of kindness that
lingers longer than the taste of the food.
Just as I set off on my ride, a gentle drizzle began to fall—a drizzle
that would keep me company on and off throughout the day.
Thankfully, the air was warm, and with my trusty plastic raincoat, I
pedalled on, the Black Sea a constant companion. If it weren’t for
that pesky headwind, the ride would have felt downright blissful, but,
alas, a stubborn headwind is always a party pooper.
In a way, the grey skies pushed me to keep moving, as there's little
motivation to linger in such dreary conditions. On the bright side, the
road was a marvel—wide, smooth, and forgiving, even as the wind
played its tricks. Tunnels offered thrilling escapes, even if a tad
intimidating, and the cliffs above, impossibly steep, bore the weight
of tea plantations. I marvelled at the effort it must take to coax
leaves from those steep cliffs, towering majestically right above the
gentle waves.
As I rode on, I had my sights set on the nearest campsite marked on
my map. Just a few kilometres before reaching my destination, I
stumbled upon a town with a supermarket where I could refuel for
the night. Afterwards, I made my way to the campsite, where I found
a delightfully basic, yet perfectly positioned one right on the shores of
the Black Sea. To my relief, the reception had enough electricity to
revive my gadgets—thank goodness! So, I settled in for the evening,
but my body had other plans; food poisoning crept in, and the night
unravelled into discomfort.