Day 9

While nipping through Romania we briefly stopped at Brasov (for local produce – i.e. more meat) and, on the hill outside Bacau, we pulled over after being hailed by a passing motorcyclist. Expecting anger (possibly due to our driving), we wound down the window and instead met a kind and enthusiastic Romanian called Bogdan who was supposed to be on the rally with friends in the Paramongols team but sadly became ill a few months ago. After initially wishing us good luck he stopped again and, having let our shabby and unwashed appearance fully sink in, asked if we were hungry and/or needed a shower. We obviously jumped at the chance and this turned out to be one of the best chance encounters we’d had on the rally so far. The reason for this? Bogdan and his friends and family are incredibly generous. His sister fed us (including Peacock pate[!?]) and let us shower, his friend Ramona invited us over for drinks, late night chats and to eventually stay the night and another mechanic friend speedily diagnosed and resolved a nasty noise that Keith had starting making that morning.