Romania, S-bends
and Bears. (Day 28, June 6th 2017)
A hot and sunny 7am saw us refreshed
and revigorated after a swim, supper and a good sleep. Our sociable campervan
neighbours brought us boiling water for coffee and in return we entertained
them by squashing, rolling, shoving and strapping all our stuff back on the bike. By 9am
we were ready to go. Our neighbours just closed their doors, turned the key and
the campsite was cleared. We continue up and up into the hills, riding past
rows of parked cars and people wandering along the pass in their swimming
costumes and draped in towels. Picnic tables were laid out with breakfast
breads and coffee, and some card playing activities, tucked in between the
parked cars. It was all a bit strange until we noticed the steam coming from
the bubbling brook. How lovely, these early morning risers were enjoying
natural thermal swimming. That explains the popularity and multitude of
campervans.
The back road (7D) to Targu-Jiu
got increasingly bumpy, quick reflexes on the part of a large billy goat
avoided a collision as he leapt out of our way up onto a rocky outcrop. That’s
a reminder to go wide and slow on tight right blind corners. No mirrors here.
We took the 67 out of town and
approached the 67C with excitement. Known as the TransAlpina Way, it is listed
as a dangerous road, with its companion road the TransFageren(7C). We were
advised to go UP the 67C and DOWN the 7C. News on the motorcycle grapevine came
to us that the 7C was closed to motorbikes because of snow - in mid June! And so we started this incredible climb, sharp
S-bends that went up and down and back on themselves still ever going UP. It
was both sunny and misty and we were followed and overtaken by motorbikes in
all directions. A bikers’ dream ride.
Through the tight hairpin bends,
the front end of the Sertao felt as if the stantion clamp bolts were loose,
causing some flexing. We checked the bolts, but they were tight. The problem appeared
to be a combination of :
- · the steepness and tightness of the bends.
- · the 21” front wheel
- · a normal standard outdated trailbike front end, which BMW stupidly fitted to the Sertao, which is a road-touring bike.
Previously, we owned an HP2, that came with two sets of wheels: 19” for
road use and 21” for dirt riding. B realized that he had experienced similar
road holding problems on the HP2, with the 21” wheels, on slow corners on tight
mountain passes. This triggered an idea for a modification when we return home.
We have since swopped the front ends of our BMW X-country and the Sertao. The
result is that the Sertao has now got a set of upside-down forks, 19” front
wheel, curing the roadholding problem. Considering
that we had an HP2 for 3 years, B found the handling of the Sertao to be a big
disappointment on these tight passes. Now the Sertao handles just like the HP2.
Strangely enough the X-country with its new 21” front wheel has become more fun
off-road.
We met donkeys and cows and a friendly
sheep dog joined us for lunch .
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