6 November 2023, Strazhitsa, 34.97km
Hotel Ralitsa 60lev [R600]

We were amused by this billboard advertising a McDonald's 200km away in Varna on the Black Sea coast. We hoped that the flip side would have one of those U-turn arrows pointing out the McDonald’s 200km back, but instead it advertised another branch 25km ahead.
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Summery weather and lovely views made the 10% climb-walk-push out of Veliko Tarnovo perfectly pleasurable.
Two subsequent punctures and another soft tyre as we arrived in Strazhitsa did not entirely ruin this short 35km day, despite there being something hugely irritating about punctures. I can never quite get my head around punctures and always think they are somehow Charl's fault! Over the years we have perfected our teamwork and can now get ourselves back in the saddle fairly quickly, but still...
Bulgarians will often tell you to watch out for Bulgarian drivers. Today, on mainly quiet back roads, we saw numerous stones remembering those who have been killed on the road, at one or two places, two or more deaths.
There seems to be no English spoken in Strazhitsa, a clear indication that we are off the tourist path.