Central Rhodopes

After Devin, much less high pastureland. The road wound its way up another narrow gorge, with more ascent than the descent in the one we had come down yesterday. It emerged in the village of Siroka Laka, where tourism with accompanying retail outlets was much on evidence.

We stopped for lunch and looked around and I left my mobile somewhere - this fact yo be discovered miles later, far too far on to do anything about it. We continued on, a long way up, to the edge of a ski area, then down into Smoljan. We had accommodation in a place a bit before the town.

Next day, into Smoljan town. We saw the new and impressive cathedral, and cycled on. It was downhill all the way and I got quite cold, so we made a cafe stop just to warm up. Some heavy climbing came later, of course.

We now went off route (off EV13) to the north of that route, to Ardino. This and where we went next is in the Eastern Rhodopes, so details to come.