Tourism, Travel

Wien to Bucharest

One train, almost 19 hours..,,

Waiting for the slightly delayed train

I have a bed booked for the train. I have no idea of the quality of the accommodation.

Here’s my ride- the actual carriage that I am going to be sleeping on.
The cabin

Three of us sharing the cabin. So there followed a game of Jenga to fit everything in.

Bike space, later becoming my shoe rack.
The sink
Toilet
The connecting door looks ominous
The corridor

The train set off, crossing the border into Hungary just after half past nine, Austrian time. I slept through most of Hungary, but was woken up by shouting, possibly in Budapest.

We crossed in Romania at around 3:45.

Train station Simeria at seven in the morning.

It’s a long journey from the border to Bucharest, under bright blue almost cloudless skies.

Sighisora
Albesti
Houses Albesti
Houses Vinatori

Many of the houses are small but colourful.

Cata

It’s cold outside but looks dry with the grass parched.

House at Cata
Cata
Horses
Cows at Cata

I didn’t see any livestock, apart from close to houses. Presumably due to the grazing being poor at this time of year.

Humorod
Racoș

We start seeing snow.

Augustin
Dickson a partially frozen river
Braşov
Predeal

The snow is getting thicker and the buildings have the look of a resort.

Near Braşov

Mountains
Predeal
Predeal
River near Poiana Câmpina
Floreşti
Florişti – it’s gone flat.

Near Brasi
Mogosoaia
Coming into Bucharest
Bucharest Nord

The journey flew past in a flash. I slept well, much to my surprise. I shared the cabin with an Austrian and a Romanian who works in Austria, but barely speaks German. They were good company.

Cycle to hotel.

Slightly uncomfortable ride across to the hotel, trying to use the smaller roads.

Good view from fourth floor.

And time for a quick explore.


Not Ceaușescu’s palace but massive
Travel

Didcot to St Pancras

A day book ended by two Premier Inns

Didcot Premier Inn – Plus room
Bathroom- shower better than standing in a bath.
Leaving Didcot
A view of the BT tower on the way across London
St Pancras Premier Inn – a plus room.
View from the room.
Paddington to St Pancras

The cycle route was mainly on protected cycle lanes. Some are very new. This makes the ride far more pleasant. But stop start.

Stop – start on the bike.
Travel

The far north to London in July

Setting off

A sunny but cool day for the trip on the far north line.

Train arriving

And then on to the Caledonian Sleeper at Inverness.

Dinner

All very civilised, dinner (overpriced) and breakfast in the buffet car.

Breakfast cuppa

This is a very effective way to get to London, set off at 1632 from Thurso, arrive in 0800, 30 minutes earlier than expected. There were meant to be delays due to engineering works.

Arrival at Euston

After leaving Euston station I encountered action by people dressed in orange tabards, who I believe were Just Stop Oil protestors. This did not affect me for two reasons. I was cycling and I was heading in the opposite direction to the blocked carriage way. Traffic stationary on the other side of the road. A minute later I spotted a single police car trying to make its way through the traffic. Then another few minutes on half a dozen police vans with sirens blaring. The vans were struggling to get through the stationary traffic so they crossed over to my side of the carriage way. All very exciting. Why did they not travel from the opposite direction in the first place ?