Little overnight trip to the Balkan range
Discussion
Luckily, I live right at the start of the foothills of the Balkan range,a s it goes across the middle of Bulgaria. So little bro got some new tyres on the Pinin, (after it was finally sorted after his fuel pump issues), so we decided we'd go camping for a night, and go and see what we could fine. Was really his forst time offroad, but he did pretty well. Very impressed with the torsen rear diff on the Pinin. Although he did have a small issue with tyres, (he has AT rather than MT due to him waiting to see what lift options are available), the diff was great. Both wheels turning, as though it was locked at times, in the mud. Very nice. Anyway... Started off on a trail, and he got stuck on the first muddy pool thing...
It was really clay-like mud, and was uber slippy.
Got through on the second attempt no problem. Just needed to give it some beans. later on down the trail, he had 'an issue' on a slippy slope, and gave a tree a little kiss, which gave the Pinin a little dimple. No bother though, lobbed a nut and bolt in there, and fixed the bumper to the car again.
My little Vit
Down a trail to see what we can find.
Tab and pish break in the woods.
Where we kipped for the night... (Camp 'Bush Tucker Man')
Sunset
Muddy logging trail
Checking out a wee watery bit for stones, logs, and Honeybadgers.
Big monument/sign heading into Apriltsi...
One of many hunting cabins. They are open for anyone, although the build quality is dubious, they very. Some good, clean, and well kept, others are like something out of the film 'Wrong Turn'.
View from another od the hunting cabins...
His first little river crossing...
I tried an 'adventurous' route through one river, and got stuck! The inside filled with water, which was a new experience for me! Never managed that before. Still, no bitter aftertaste. There is a vid he has, I think. I'll try to grab a screen shot!
Nice 2 days, all in all!
It was really clay-like mud, and was uber slippy.
Got through on the second attempt no problem. Just needed to give it some beans. later on down the trail, he had 'an issue' on a slippy slope, and gave a tree a little kiss, which gave the Pinin a little dimple. No bother though, lobbed a nut and bolt in there, and fixed the bumper to the car again.
My little Vit
Down a trail to see what we can find.
Tab and pish break in the woods.
Where we kipped for the night... (Camp 'Bush Tucker Man')
Sunset
Muddy logging trail
Checking out a wee watery bit for stones, logs, and Honeybadgers.
Big monument/sign heading into Apriltsi...
One of many hunting cabins. They are open for anyone, although the build quality is dubious, they very. Some good, clean, and well kept, others are like something out of the film 'Wrong Turn'.
View from another od the hunting cabins...
His first little river crossing...
I tried an 'adventurous' route through one river, and got stuck! The inside filled with water, which was a new experience for me! Never managed that before. Still, no bitter aftertaste. There is a vid he has, I think. I'll try to grab a screen shot!
Nice 2 days, all in all!
Edited by ChiChoAndy on Thursday 2nd June 23:38
I was just thinking "more commitment required" about the first puddle Bloody brilliant! 
More of that please.
I need to chuck up some pics of my little adventure the other week, but it was no where near as stunning a setting as the Balkans. Awesome territory.
Oh, and you're right about if it gets stuck, give it beans. I took that approach and it just belted its way through.
More of that please.I need to chuck up some pics of my little adventure the other week, but it was no where near as stunning a setting as the Balkans. Awesome territory.
Oh, and you're right about if it gets stuck, give it beans. I took that approach and it just belted its way through.
blindswelledrat said:
Excellent thread.
That looks properly beautiful there.
What kind of animals are around?
I get the impression you dont see many other people?
No-one for miles, (at least we didn't run into anyone. It is stunning. Reminds me a lot of Upstate NY as it happens, and the Adirondack in particular. It is right at the base of Botev mountain, so has a great view of proper mountainous scenery. Right up my alley. There are Bears, deer, boars, humans, wolves, and there are wildcats too, as well as snakes, and all that jazz. We came across a few hunting lodges whilst up there, and you can go in them if you want. The only rule is that you have to leave wood, and water behind for the next person if you use it, which from what we saw seems to be adhered to. Some are kept better than others. A few were very dodgy to climb up, with rotten wood, and with VERY skanky interiors, whereas there was a 'nice' one with wood, clean floors, etc, which was better. Still not a hope in hell of me staying in one, especially as I've seen 'Wrong Turn' and 'Deliverance'...That looks properly beautiful there.
What kind of animals are around?
I get the impression you dont see many other people?
Proper skanky bed... Fit for a tramp.
The nicest one we found...
Anyway, twas fun, and we're going to be doing a lot more of them now we have 2 cars, and can pull each other out when we get stuck, (for example, attempting to cross a river!
)
Oh, and a nice wee road back to civilisation.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLhPhldy3-I
Some pics of the Pinin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLhPhldy3-I
Some pics of the Pinin
Edited by ChiChoAndy on Friday 3rd June 22:41
Chainguy said:
Bloody brilliant! More of that please.
I need to chuck up some pics of my little adventure the other week, but it was no where near as stunning a setting as the Balkans. Awesome territory.
Oh, and you're right about if it gets stuck, give it beans. I took that approach and it just belted its way through.
Oh, and yes you should. I like to see these little trips like that, not just a pic of a muddy car. Makes it a lot more interesting, no matter the location. More of that please.I need to chuck up some pics of my little adventure the other week, but it was no where near as stunning a setting as the Balkans. Awesome territory.
Oh, and you're right about if it gets stuck, give it beans. I took that approach and it just belted its way through.
ChiCho- what are the rules on offroading over there, how frequent are the tracks and how often do you meet "grumpy" people?
A group of friends and I go out and do a different off road destination every year, and have done for past 6 years- done Pyrenees, 2x Marocco, Iceland, Portugal and Croatia.
We'd really like somewhere new- how long does it take to drive to Bilgaria?
A group of friends and I go out and do a different off road destination every year, and have done for past 6 years- done Pyrenees, 2x Marocco, Iceland, Portugal and Croatia.
We'd really like somewhere new- how long does it take to drive to Bilgaria?
Never met a grumpy person. You can offroad pretty much anywhere, as long as it isn't a national park, farmland, or some of the forestry stuff. Finding trails isn't difficult, BUT, where they end up is anyones guess. We're still 'exploring' so to speak, and will have a week or so in a months time to scoot off and go for a week long excursion to see what we can find. There are roadbooks, but few, and far between. Still trying to locate one myself. Offroading seems to be a big pastime here, and within reason, you're pretty free. As for driving to Bulgaria, I've no idea. A few days if you take it easy, or 30 hours or so straight through. I've always flown, however.
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