Some of our group is off to Pleven for a city tour, but we opt to stay in town and take a couple of bikes off of the ship. We didn't want to sit on a bus for hours and looked forward to getting some exercise and fresh air. As we ride through town, we could see that this was a bustling area at one time, but not presently. Most of the factories are vacant with broken windows. The streets are rough, with a combination of cobblestone, cement and dirt. We have no guide, but we can only assume that it is a result of the transition from communism to democracy.
We decide to head out of town and start riding up one of the main roads . Roxanne takes the lead and I'm trying to follow with a 30 pound backpack and to semi-flat tires. It was like trying to stay up with Lance Armstrong in the Tour de France. After riding uphill for miles, we stop under the shade of a tree and take in the country air. We see no end to the climb so we decide to head back down. Back in town we chat with a couple of fellow cruisers and then head back to the ship. Not the most interesting stop but tomorrow we go through the Iron Gates, which we hope will live up to its name of the highlight of the cruise.