Orient Express Day 29 Budapest to Szolnok - 130km

Today we bade farewell to Budapest where we parted company with Leana, who had cycled with us from Paris, and Mark who was with us for only a week. We welcomed Wolfgang from Germany and Ric from Canada and we also have the pleasure to ride through to Istanbul with Gergo's girlfriend Esther. Gergo's mother, sister and sister's boyfriend also joined us just for today.

Ric

 

 

 

Wolfgang

 

 

                           

We cycled in convoy out of Budapest just short of the first turn. Most went straight - a major error - and were not sighted until well into the day. 

 I started the day with Edna Rudolph Mieke and PC and we had the first food break together. I tried a chocolate coated cheese snack recommended by Gergo as a Hungarian treat - not too bad..

After a few days off, I was feeling good so stretched out on the Merlin. My lead got bigger and, as Edna was with a group, I kept going and cycled most of the day by myself and was one of the first to lunch and into camp.

There was not much of note in the way of sights but plenty of sunflowers. The condition of the roads deteriorated throughout the day and the rain held off.

We had a nice dinner at camp - grilled chicken legs, potato salad and corn on the cob.