14-15 October 2023, Delchevo, 49.17km
Hotel Panorama City 1625 den [R527]
A near perfect 50km to Delchevo despite (or because of) 760 metres elevation gain. Although there were a few hundred metres at 10% and two decided climbs, the elevation gain was spread over the total distance so most of the incline was moderate and all of it was manageable.
What made it near perfect?
Take a 50km stretch of land that drops between Delchevo (our destination) and Kochani (our departure point). Fill the land with a tumbled jumble of hills, a haphazard spill of treed mounds. Take your cue from the Bregalnitsa River which twists and curls toward the west, seeking and finding the path of least resistance, and build your road to twist and curl beside it. Fill the hidden valleys with the sounds of burbling water and the
tunk-clunk of bells on livestock - we assume sheep and goats, and chirping birds and populate them with elegant poplars.
Under a sky of blue on a day warmer than we have any right to expect in mid-October, detour the road around Lake Kalimanci, an artificial reservoir on the river. Despite the water being low at this time of year, the lake was picturesque.
Mix in little traffic on a smooth road, friendly locals and stray dogs, and a leisurely pace, and you get close to perfect...
As we are taking a rest day tomorrow, we were in no rush to reach town. In one village we bought almond and coconut cookies and ate some of them on a bench in the sun outside the store. In the town of Makedonska Kamenitsa we lunched on gigantic hamburgers made from local sausage meat and garnished with cabbage on fresh bread.
We topped up our water flask from a tap on the roadside. Earlier in the day we had tried to assist an elderly couple whose car had broken down. They said they needed water for the radiator and we gave them what we had. They never did overtake us and Charl wondered later if they had in fact run out of fuel.
Our hotel was easy to find and is old-fashioned but comfortable enough, and Delchevo has a vibrant vibe on this Saturday evening.
A great day...
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Images from Delchevo on a quiet Sunday morning...
Kochani to Delchevo
Kochani to Delchevo
Kochani to Delchevo
Kochani to Delchevo
Kochani to Delchevo
Kochani to Delchevo
Kochani to Delchevo
Kochani to Delchevo
Kochani to Delchevo
Kochani to Delchevo
Kochani to Delchevo
Kochani to Delchevo
Kochani to Delchevo
Kochani to Delchevo
Kochani to Delchevo
Kochani to Delchevo
Delchevo
Delchevo
Delchevo
Delchevo
Delchevo
Delchevo
Delchevo
Delchevo
Delchevo
Delchevo
Delchevo