15/10/2024
Wk 24: Flood warning, Transfăgărășan Pass, No possibility of postage.
We were nestled by the serene Trouts River in Romania, the cool night air wrapping around us, when suddenly, at exactly 2:27 a.m., the phone shrieked with two blood-curdling rings. Jolted awake for a moment, we groggily drifted back to sleep, thinking nothing of it.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1STy8U2DizFNmvZq534z-B2MPEDgbIHTH/view?usp=drive_link
Only in the soft glow of dawn did we discover the alarming truth—it was a flood warning! Leaping up, we scrambled to check the river. The water had risen ominously, but fortune smiled on us; it hadn’t yet reached our camp. The river whispered its power, but we remained untouched, if only just.
Later that morning, eager to continue our adventure, we decided to take what we thought was a “shortcut” back to the main highway. However, when we arrived at the bridge, a sinking realisation hit us—20 feet of it had been swept away by the floods!
Forced to backtrack 14 kilometres through winding roads, it was a humbling reminder that nature had her own plans for us.
It seemed like storms have decided to be our constant travel companions. As we neared Brașov, Romania, the heavens opened in a torrential downpour. Rain bucketed down so fiercely that camping under the stars became impossible. But our impromptu decision to take shelter in an apartment was perfect—a warm, cozy reprieve from the storm’s rage.
Brașov itself was nothing short of a fairy tale. Its beauty took our breath away—the architecture, an unexpected blend of medieval charm and grand, elegant designs, stood in stark contrast to what you might imagine of Soviet-era buildings. The town had a captivating allure that made it hard to leave. While there, we picked up three delicately hand-painted Romanian eggs—miniature works of art, each more beautiful than the last.
The following day brought another highlight of the trip—the legendary Transfăgărășan Pass. Described as one of the most beautiful roads in the world by Top Gear, the reality surpassed even the wildest expectations. Winding through the majestic Carpathians, each turn revealed jaw-dropping views that left us speechless.
Words like "breathtaking" and "stunning" somehow didn’t do it justice—it was a symphony of nature’s finest, with snow-dusted peaks, lush valleys, and crisp mountain air that seemed to sing of freedom.
To capture this magic, we tested out our new Insta360 camera and attachment. Wow—what a game-changer! We filmed every curve of the road, in 360*, the vivid colours of the landscape, and even controlled the camera from within the car. This was video footage that will last a lifetime.
That night, we camped at the foot of the mountains, but the temperature dropped to a brisk 4°C. It was the first truly cold night of the trip, and even with hats and jackets on, we felt winter’s touch.
It was clear—it was time to start heading south.
The next morning, we tackled the Transalpina Pass. Compared to the Transfăgărășan, it felt rather underwhelming, leaving us with unexpected time on our hands.
So, what do you do when plans change?
A series of small, amusing adventures, of course.
First, we tried to post a parcel to Louisa in New Zealand, only to find Romania only ships to EU countries—so much for that idea.
Next, we explored an incredible store called ‘Dedeman’. Imagine a shop that has everything you never knew you needed.
We left with:
a new headlight (mine had broken),
a thick blanket to fight off the cold creeping up from the ground beneath our airbed,
and five LED strip lights to finally illuminate our camp at night.
Seriously, why hadn’t we thought of that sooner?
Oh, and petrol—just €1.14 per litre! We couldn’t stop smiling at that.
Little wins make the journey all the more satisfying.
