23 October 2023, Kostadinkino, 47.11km
Villa Ekaterina 100lev [R1000]

Not much to write home about on this warm autumnal day. We travelled east toward our next destination, Plovdiv, doing about one third of the total 150km distance. 
For the first 20km or so we rode the service road alongside the motorway. Initially this was too busy for comfort; later it grew quieter, at least traffic-wise. The noise pollution from the motorway was still a battering-ram.
Once away from the motorway on the more rural Route 8, we could relax, enjoy the warm weather, revel in the conquered climbs, and watch the yellow leaves flutter from the trees.
We had not reserved accommodation in Vakarel village, a mistake prompted by being overly budget-conscious. The one or two formally-listed hotels, scattered across several villages, were expensive, but one or two more reasonably priced possibles were dotted on Google Maps. These either had no contact details or did not respond when contacted. So we took a chance on one of them being open to us. 
Once in Vakarel we were directed to a residence. It took us ages to track it down as Google kept losing its GPS signal. When we did so, it was to find the gate locked. We managed to contact someone who said it was only available to groups of 18, but that Villa Ekaterina 3km away near the village of Kostadinkino could take us in. Once we saw the sign to the Villa and approach road, we knew if would be well over our budget. And so it is, but Charl negotiated an excellent discount... 
It is interesting that in the Balkans hotels have been open to bargaining on price. Either they clearly understand the concept of marginal cost, or perhaps 500 years of Ottoman occupation have left their mark. 
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As we were leaving Sofia, a man at a bus stop grinned and waved me down to offer me a cigarette! Charl was disappointed I did not think to take it on his behalf. 
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An enjoyable day.