Tulcea – Constanta – Varna

Why the end of the Danube route is not in Tulcea but in Constanta is beyond me. Somehow I don’t find that entirely logical. However, from now on, I will no longer be following the beautiful blue Danube.

But I also like the route to Constanta very much. Little traffic, good road quality and, fortunately for me, a pleasant tailwind that allows me to sprint easily up the many steep inclines.

In Mamaia I cross a 7-kilometre-long headland, which I had imagined to be like Key West in Florida but which disappoints me greatly because the water is nowhere to be seen on both sides. You should have taken the gondola for that.

Shortly afterwards I reach Constanta for the third time. A year ago as a Rega patient, last week to get the dog repellent spray and now finally as I have long wished, as a tourer.

As usual for finishers of the Danube cycle route, the first thing for me is to cool off in the Black Sea.

Then I visit the old town and take a look at Romania’s largest harbour.

I really like the metropolis. The mixture between Europe and the Orient is quickly noticeable. Unfortunately, the casino is closed for renovation and we won’t win millions. The park is all the more lively and there is a party atmosphere. Nevertheless, the next morning I am ready to continue on the coastal road southwards.

The route is quite entertaining. Again, and again I stop briefly for a photo shoot.

Fortunately, the road signs with the towns are usually also written in Latin, so I don’t end up on Jupiter unintentionally.

My challenge on this European road E87 is to always drive on the right-hand lane. If I forget to do this for a moment, a car overtaking me from the opposite lane will surely come at me head-on and there will be little space left, so I have to stay extremely concentrated. The mobile phone is stowed in my jersey pocket and set to silent, so I’m not distracted.

In Varna, I go to the harbour and the beach before cooking myself a delicious ratatouille in the evening.