Fri 1st May
Left Svilengrad in pretty gloomy weather. Stopped around midday in small town around 20 miles north. Met Bulgarian guy who turns out to be artist and his French lady Francoise who live most of the time in Paris, and then we are joined by English couple, Barry and Margaret Williamson, who took early retirement, travelled the world 3 times including cycling across USA twice, Australia once and the length of New Zealand. They have a website, anyone interested in reading about their travels, I can give you details
By this it was pouring with rain so invited back to Boyko's mothers flat for a drink. All very interesting and sociable.
Booked into Hotel, which although one building, isn't one hotel, but THREE! A nine storey block split into 3 all competing for same customers.

Sat 2nd May
Still raining, but decided to get going. Stopped at really rough little bar when rain got really heavy, whereupon guys in bar seeing my plight, got a load of big old polythene bags, cut holes for arms and head, and dressed me up in them. We were all in stitches, and of course they can't speak any English.
I ate quite good evening meal in bar with Bulgarian pop music (not good!) blaring out, football on TV, and a big picture of Jesus Christ looking at us from behind the bar.

Sun 3rd May
Better weather. Nova Zagora to Karnobat, 58 miles along busy main road. Glad to find comfortable hotel, but all restaurants etc closed - Sunday. 3 packets of crisps, 2 beers, a bar of chocalate for tea!

Mon 4th May
Lovely weather and quiet roads. Loads of birdsong and alot of cuckoos. Great days riding today although tired after 62 miles and two climbs. Directed out of poor looking town of Veliki Preslav to hotel which has good restauant with a lovely girl singer who proceeds to sing "Yesterday" while looking lovingly into my eyes!

Tues 5th May
After breakfast walk down lovely little road where there is an extraordinary acheological museum. Beautiful building, quite a shock after all the ugly communist era tower blocks. All this overlooks lovely monastry which lies in a valley.
Good days cycling, and for one hour in the afternoon I have the wind with me, instead of quite strong north westerly headwind, and instead of making 7 - 8 mph, I'm suddenly making 12 -14 mph. Overnight hotel Popovo. Another good day.

Wed 6th May
Lovely morning and make my way through lovely lanes until I meet main road which leads into Ruse, a big town, and I catch my first glimpse of the Danube.

Thurs 7th May
A day off to rest my weary limbs, wash my "smalls" and chill out, and of course update blog. I've managed just over 600 miles in 15 days so far. Emile, the guy in internet cafe very helpful - hence photo uploaded; also been telling me much about the area, I really should come back here sometime.

Good to see support from everyone, we've even got Potter logged in. Glad to see he is ferverishly sorting Tiger Moth for trip to Lesbos!

And another late entry - Rachael, Laurent, Jessica and "horrors". Rachael please tell Luca and Oscar that 'Golden Go Go' has been my very lucky mascot so far - and he has done 600 miles on a pedal bike.