Day 122: Amazing sunrise, crappy resupply and some sightseeing

Turned out this morning, that my campspot at the edge of the foret was perfect. When I wanted to pack my tent, I saw through the trees that the sky was red. So I quickly walked to the open field and was amazed. Even better, I was directly standing at the viewing tower, so I made my way up there to take pictures if a wonderful sunrise!

Then I walked down to Shipka Pass, where I was happy to find a little kiosk to be open that early. A very crappy and expensive resupply, but this way I didn't had to go all the way down into the valley and up again, like last time in Anton.

The water source I wanted to get water from was dry, but on my way up a few hundreds stairs to Mt Shipka and its freedom monument, I found a closed bottle of water, somebody had lost. I was happy about it, since my stomach was upset this morning and I hoped bottled water might help.

Next on the list of sights was a forested ridge towards Mt. Chadschi Dimitar, where the Assembly Hall of the Bulgarian Communist party was placed. A funky looking building but sadly a ruin. I had not wanted to walk up there at first, because my stomach really rumbled, but after a brake, lots of water and some Salmiak, it slowly got better. Plus, the sun came out a little, so I decided to walk up anyways!

Afterwards I got to walk through a large wind park and just made it in time into the beech forest, before a rain shower came down. I followed forest roads down through Bulgarka Nature Park, where I came along a notbthar impressive looking 500 year old beech tree.

In Krustets, I ate lots of blackberries, that grew all over the ruined village. I passed the train station and after some hiking through more open area, I set up my tent in a forest.

What a glorious morning!!!

Shipka monument

Funky looking Assembly Hall

Windpark - dark clouds are approaching 

500 year old beech tree