At MotoCamp Bulgaria
Days 1, 2 and 3, 2690 km
Day 1 - « So, where are you guys heading to? » Sylvia and Andrea, the lovely Austrian travelers we bumped into in Sofia, asked us. They’ve been exploring some hidden gems (like the Hill of Crosses, which they shared) for a while now. When they saw us hauling our motorcycle gear, they were curious about our journey. As we exchanged stories, we all agreed that food plays a huge role in travel experiences. It’s funny how taste and smell can evoke memories even more than sights can. We definitely lived up to that idea, enjoying some incredible roadside barbecue later that afternoon while heading to Ivo and Polly from MotoCamp Bulgaria, where we await for Gion’s new rear shock to arrive from Italy. And where Polly served her amazing Bulgarian Moussaka, crowned with a glass of Kirsch offered by the house.
Day 2 - Time to get things done! Gion’s new shock is set to arrive via DHL tomorrow, so we figured we’d take off the old one today. We got shelter here at MotoCamp Bulgaria in our make shift garage but were able to tackle the job with own tools. Plus, we had some awesome guidance from Dino’s Tinker Shed on YouTube. We basically took out the air box and pulled the shock out through the upper frame. Happy campers here. We also used the waiting time to clean our chains and do some minor maintenance to get the bikes back in shape. And chips and beer are readily available here to boost the morale and shorten the down time.
Day 3 - I know some who were really excited when that DHL delivery van pulled up - with a brand new shock! Finally! We got to work, installed the new shock on Gion’s bike, and …. realized we were missing a 21 and 23 spanner to mount it. Thankfully, Mide and Kev, experienced ADV riders from gorgeous Ireland, came to the rescue with their network of friends nearby who lent us the tools we needed. We’ve never been so thrilled to see a 23 spanner! We were all set to hit the road again. Fortunately, Chris connected us with someone in Sofia who can help us rebuild the old shock, so we could leave it there for repairs. As some storms rolled in, we decided to stay for another evening with all the nice people at MotoCamp and share stories about adventures on two wheels.
