Zestaponi - Agara – 85 kilometres
Our late departure (10h45) was due to our tranquil site and a pleasant sunny
morning. Roadside stalls sold heaps of cherries, neatly platted on a stick which
made for easy nibbling while pedalling.
The route to Agata was enjoyable alongside a river, through mountains, over a
pass and down the other side. Our stop in Agara was purely to eat khachapuri, the
staple. A kind man suggested pitching the tents under a disused bar’s veranda as
he predicted rain. No sooner were the tents pitched than his prediction came true,
and rain came gushing down and continued throughout the night. However, I was
happy with his advice as the shelter allowed for cooking and sitting outside the
tents.
Agara - Tbilisi – 116 kilometres
By morning, the sky was overcast but luckily the previous night’s storm had
dissipated. The route to Tbilisi went past Gori, the birthplace of Stalin, where we
turned in to investigate. Surprisingly, an astounding number of statues of the man
remained and a huge one dominated the town centre. (I believe these statues
have subsequently been removed.)
It rained a bit each day but, being spring, the weather wasn’t cold and in such a
lush green countryside, one could expect rain daily.
The day’s ride finished in Georgia’s bustling capital, Tbilisi, situated on the banks
of the Kura River. Unfortunately, with its lively touristy trade, almost no budget
accommodation could be located. Eventually, we chose a slightly pricey room
sporting a buffet breakfast, something I assumed was a loss to the owners.