Balkan Bucket Bonanza

[The Moog]

 

 

More of the house please, will you have to cart all your building materials there by hand?

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He may have a new steed after shitefest!

[Bucketeer]

More of the house please, will you have to cart all your building materials there by hand?

 

Manual choke was a thing on those, can also be used to raise the idle for winching or as a crude cruise control.

 

180 speedo will be a Japanese 180 kmh one with a converter thing on the speedo cable and, on fancier installations like yours, the k crossed out with a permanent marker.

 

Right then Dave_Queue, you asked for it. More about my new dream house (and thanks for the interesting Shogajero info).

It's located about 7km from the nearest village, up in the Stara Planina (translates as 'old mountains' but they're actually quite new mountains in geological terms).

The first six kilometres are along the little track as mentioned previously.

 

 

There are several long since abandoned houses along the way. There's only one person that lives up there, about 2km back down the mountain from my place. He told me he's the Mayor (he's not) but obviously when you're the only person in the area you can call yourself whatever you want. I think I'm going to be the Chief of Police.

As you get further up, the track shows that no-one ever uses it.

 

 

Yes, that is the road.

It carries on up past the last abandoned house that's still standing.

 

 

It ends here and to carry on up to 'mi casa' you go through the gap in the foliage in the middle of this next shot.

 

 

You then continue along a little path that's only used by badgers, boar, deer and as I recently found out, BEARS.

There is the ruin of a house just up the path.

 

 

I was interested in buying it originally. . . .

 

 

. . . . . but then after exploring further up . . . . .

 

 

. . . . . I found the place that is going to be my palace.

It's just off to the right of the path, where the mountainside drops away steeply (the view of it from the path is the last picture in the previous post).

It's tricky to photograph and describe but I'll try.

These next two pictures are taken from what will be my floor looking at the back wall (to the left of shot) and the side wall (in front). The mountainside drops away sharply to the right. You can see how long it has been abandoned by the trees growing out of what used to be the floor.

 

 

 

The living space is cut out of the hillside and the back wall is terracing, with the ground level on the other side of it being at the top of the stones.

The view looking out to the front is mega, or rather will be once I've done some pruning (more of the view in a bit).

 

 

And this is from stood at the front looking back up at the back mountain-retaining wall. You get an idea of how sharply the slope drops away, I'm stood right by what will be the front of my property and the floor is level with my eye-line.

 

 

My main concern about the slope is the fact that lots of the trees above seem like they want to go sledging downhill. Meh, I'm sure it'll be fine.

 

 

I will have to hand-ball all the materials up there but that's doesn't concern me overly. I was in removals previously and if I have one skill*, it's carrying stuff. The ruin back down the path that I was originally interested in will be a great source of materials. Plenty of beams and roofing stones (or river stones as they call them here). A lot of mountain houses use these stones for the roofs and I reckon the sheer weight of them is part of the reason for some collapsage. That and the enormous trees falling on them.

Here's another abandoned house back towards the village with said stone roof.

 

 

The reason no-one lives in any of them is because the owners get old and die and younger family members don't want to live this kind of remote life. It's all about towns and cities nowadays.

They all have death/remembrance notices on them.

 

 

There was another place I was interested in, a bit of a way back towards civilisation, but it was in too good a condition for me (smiley face here).

 

 

Looking from behind it though you get a good idea of what my view will be like once I've cut some of the foliage away.

 

 

Plus I'll be able to nick borrow liberate some building materials from there too.

 

The stream is only about 500m down the hill and the water is amazing. I'll work out a way of pumping it up in the future (or find a spring somewhere higher up) but in the meantime I'm happy to go and collect when needed (obviously in bigger quantities than this 300ml bottle) and I'll be harvesting rainwater.

 

 

I've also had a practice at making a cob oven down at the eco-school I've been working on.

 

 

I've got a generator I earned in return for some work I did squirelled away too, so that can provide some leccy should I need it.

 

Anyway, that's plenty too much non-car waffle for now. I hope some of that made sense.

 

 

nutty ivan who started here last week is bulg and showed him the cyrillic for veiliko and he says he knows it

 

he says he comes from near varna

 

he mentioned a place beginning with b in the mountains near there and a place called marissa?

 

blagdarya

 

The place beginning with 'B' will be Buzludzha I'd imagine. It was mentioned a page or two ago. Tayne has also visited it. It's only a few hours walk from my new abode.

It was built as the Communist Party headquarters at the top of one of the highest peaks to look down on everyone, completed in 1981 I think, but was never actually used. It's nicknamed The UFO.  All my photos of it are on a memory card that divorced me a long time ago so here's a few pictures from the interworld.

 

Opening ceremony.

 

 

Recent times.

 

 

 

 

New* house* receives Bulgo-Shitefest-Unsuitability marker.

 

Many sozzes JM but that wasn't right at the top of my list of priorities. I know, I'm a selfish bastard.

 

 

He may have a new steed after shitefest!

 

I've got my fingers, toes and eyes crossed for a win but even if I am lucky enough to get the Samara I reckon it'll need a 3 foot suspension lift to cope with the mountain track.

 

 

Again, soz to anyone reading this post for the lack of spots or motoring content, blame Dave_Cube, he asked 

[Junkman]

Many sozzes JM but that wasn't right at the top of my list of priorities. I know, I'm a selfish bastard.

Yeah, just because of you, I now have to buy a bloody Matra Rancho. Yer bollox.

[garethj]

The entrance to Bucketeer's new place.

[Spottedlaurel]

Eye-opening stuff there Mr Bucket. I feel like I’m living in the house equivalent of Autoshite, as I’m still doing it up over eight years after we moved in, but what you’re up to with that takes things to a whole new level.

[Bucketeer]

The entrance to Bucketeer's new place.

Please don't give me ideas I don't need to be having. Bad Gareth.

Note to self - build walls, floor and a roof before a remote operated secret entrance.

 

 

Eye-opening stuff there Mr Bucket. I feel like I’m living in the house equivalent of Autoshite, as I’m still doing it up over eight years after we moved in, but what you’re up to with that takes things to a whole new level.

Thanks SL but if I am taking things to a new level, that level would be something like Sub Basement 6 - Sewers, Cobwebs and Dank Misery.

[Dave_Q]

Can I just ask, has any money changed hands to purchase your house? Or did the Mayor down the hill there just say you could have it?

 

Have you sold your last house or are you planning to keep it in the portfolio?

[Bucketeer]

The guy I bought the first house from appeared last time I was up there and said his nephew had been asking about it and would I be interested in selling it back to him. That is what sparked off my much more remote mountain hovel search.

I have a Bulgarian lawyer friend who has found the legal owners of the new plot and has struck a deal for me. That's the best way to do things as if people here know a Brit is looking to buy, you can guarantee the price will double. They think we're all rich. Little do they know, I'm the poorest person in Bulgaria.

So, the sale of the first will fund the purchase (yes, for real cash money) of the second. And I'll be slightly up on the deal.

[Dave_Q]

And I'll be slightly up on the deal.

 

Property Tycoon level 0.0001: Achieved.

[KruJoe]

This Samara has surprisingly tall and compliant suspension. It has seen some action since we've had it, and will take everything in its stride without complaint. 

I do hope it ends up with you Alex, I can't think of a more deserving winner.

[Bucketeer]

I have limited time and battery power for internet usage here at the bar 8 miles from home so thankfully for everyone this will be a text/waffle free update. Just a potted history of my last few weeks in spots: Bulgaria - UK - SF16 - Knockhill - Northern Powerhouse meet - Bulgaria.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[anonymous user]

I don't know what this is, but I like it

[nigel bickle]

Pop down tomSussex, Hirst. I've a couple you can stare at.

 

And if you get off in Seats, a Ronda, Malaga and 1430 bocanegra to lust over. All with tales to tell..

[Bucketeer]

I don't know much about the blue Volga pickup yet but I'm going to have a chat with the owner about it and get some more pictures when I find it/him. He cuts grass around the locality so it's always in a different place.

 

Whilst I'm here I may as well deposit a few spots I got on the way to bar this afternoon. The Zaz 968 is the same one from my last post but I couldn't resist grabbing another shot as the gorgeous Zil was parked behind it this time. Also, as always, soz for all the Ladas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Actually, looking at those now I may have already spotted a couple of them but care much I don't.

[hairnet]

must. go. on. holiday. here.

[andy18s]

1800ish miles to Veliko Turnovo

Or this has popped up on my faceache feed

[Bucketeer]

Marko - Yes. You. Must.

 

Andy18s - I've done the bus twice now. Once from London to VT with Balkan Horn and once recently from London to Bucharest with Eurolines. Both times were as unpleasant as sitting in a cramped seat for 48hrs can be but they got me where I wanted to go. Two bottles of Brandy smoothed out the latest journey a bit though.

Also, please don't think all Brits in Bulgaria are like the majority of people on the expat Facebook groups. I'm a placid person but whenever I read the ignorant, offensive, moronic drivel that makes up a large percentage of their content I want to gouge my eyeballs out with a blunt rusty spoon and shove them so far down their throats I'll be able to see the inside of their feet. Or something.

 

Tayne - I imagine the Zil also looks familiar to you as there are masses of them here that you probably saw, and all in the same colour scheme. It's seems odd to me that all the Zils in the world seem to be that same 'mk2 Cavalier china blue' colour. I've seen huggins of them and only ever spotted one that wasn't, a red one probably about a dozen pages back. I love them for the noise they make more than anything, I think I said previously that they sound like a drunk muscle car with a 50 a day smoking habit.

Combine them with all the old Ural and Kamaz logging trucks that are everywhere here and you've got a fabulous (to my ears anyway) V8 soundtrack.

[Six-cylinder]

I just love your spots.

[hairnet]

He takes tablets for them

 

I feel a mpoed trip coming on

[Bucketeer]

Thanks Chris, I try my best.

Mark, do it. As well as a 'mpoed' trip you could also be the forward scouting party for Shitefest Bulgaria, check out my facilities and suchlike.

[Bucketeer]

I had a bit of a near miss earlier today. I was washing my clothes at the usual place, here -

 

 

 

I had a stroll in towards the trees to answer a shout of nature and a gunshot went off close by. It was three hunters who had no idea I was there. We still haven't worked out how close they were to hitting me but they've taken me down to the bar now for a few 'sorry we nearly killed you' drinks.

 

Humans are the one danger in the mountain forests her I suppose. We have poisonous snakes including the Horned/Horny Viper but they're no threat really and bears don't count as I would feel honoured if I were to be mauled to death by one. A rare chance to admire the powerful claws as they tore in to my flesh, a special opportunity to examine the inside of it's mouth as it ate my face.

 

Anyway, spots.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Someone's going to have to help me out with identifying this next one. I really think I did know what it was but recall has vanished. I was thinking IFA or something, maybe even Austrian, but my memory is FUBAR. It's as if being a semi-drunkard for a large proportion of my 41 years and 2 days on this planet has had an adverse effect on my mental attributes. Who knew that could happen?

 

 

 

A few things I saw from a train.

 

 

 

 

 

My new night-time chum who lives in the roof and insists on trying to get in bed with me.

 

 

A couple of spots from a Lidl visit to the city.

 

 

 

 

After an amount more drinks I shall head back up the mountain and cook the shit out of my kitchen where there is a chicken waiting with my name written all over it. C U L8ER.

 

[Skizzer]

You are living the dream there Bucketeer, apart from nearly getting shot obv.

 

I have no idea what that ex-army looking thing is, but googling 'GAZ 4x4' images has thrown up all sorts of fabulous contraptions.

[Spottedlaurel]

That Volvo P1800 looks a rather delicate thing to be out there, especially on wire wheels.

[Bucketeer]

As I think I think I've probably said before Martin, I'm living MY dream definitely but I possibly wouldn't recommend it to others. Also, the murky waters of commie 4x4s is very enticing. Be warned, Russian all wheel drive off road truck videos on YouTube can take over your life.

 

SL - I agree completely. The wheels on the Volvo not only look very fragile for the terrible roads over here but they also look turd. That was the second time I had seen it, both times hungover (don't judge me), and it's definitely someone's pride and joy, just my cup of horlicks.

[castros_bro]

As I think I think I've probably said before Martin, I'm living MY dream definitely but I possibly wouldn't recommend it to others. Also, the murky waters of commie 4x4s is very enticing. Be warned, Russian all wheel drive off road truck videos on YouTube can take over your life.

 

SL - I agree completely. The wheels on the Volvo not only look very fragile for the terrible roads over here but they also look turd. That was the second time I had seen it, both times hungover (don't judge me), and it's definitely someone's pride and joy, just my cup of horlicks.

 

No no no no no  woops!

 

[The Moog]

Will have to get you a high viz jacket for Christmas so that you don't get shot/the bears can find you more readily

[Sigmund Fraud]

Someone's going to have to help me out with identifying this next one. I really think I did know what it was but recall has vanished. I was thinking IFA or something, maybe even Austrian, but my memory is FUBAR. It's as if being a semi-drunkard for a large proportion of my 41 years and 2 days on this planet has had an adverse effect on my mental attributes. Who knew that could happen?

 

It's a LuAZ 969... Like a Steyr-Puch Haflinger, but from behind the Iron Curtain !!!

[Bucketeer]

^ YES! Thanks SF, me in an alternate sober life nods in agreement with you and tuts disapprovingly at me in this life.

[Bucketeer]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Spottedlaurel]

Any MoT test there?