Beastie becomes our blinkered racehorse. Quickens his stride as the prize of Greece comes into view. 100% focused. He’s been bred and trained just for this moment. Trainer and jockey execute the perfect race plan.
But, and it’s a big but. It’s so easy to lose sight of the bigger picture.
That’s just what we did a couple of stops ago. Pitched up within 10K of a ‘must see’ natural phenomenon. Galloped on by. Over the sticks and out into the sticks. Our trusty steed let rein. Encouraged to get there sooner rather than later. Not for the first time we steel ourselves not to do that again. No excuses. We have that nice Mr Google on board.
So, today becomes a race of two halves. A four hour trot down to Kromidovo, broken with an extended lunchtime stop at Rila Monastery. It adds 80K. But it’s well worth it. Our eastern dog leg delays.
Photography is not permitted (or, a high fee is charged) in most of the religious buildings over here. We settle for the exterior again. No bad thing when the setting is as stunning as this.
The narrow and winding short cut back to the A3 take us past a small chapel. Seven feet square at a push. Seems it’s dedicated to Ivan of Rila. No charge applies here. We snap.
At the final part of any journey, it’s the ‘getting onto’ site that can sometimes prove testing. Even for a thoroughbred like Beastie. Today’s end, no exception. [No prizes for guessing who the sensible one is . . . ]
We end up coming in the back way. Nothing new there. We turn into a back garden. Two Brits decided on a life style change. Sarah and John bought this place six years ago. Three years later started Camping Kromidovo.
