Event Bulgaria Fest - Task complete

[catsinthewelder]

2551 miles to here

 

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Sofia,+Bulgaria/Khadzhi+Dimitur,+6140,+Bulgaria/40.8038567,21.7676937/42.6266591,18.1741603/Turin/52.3826151,-2.6079387/@46.1453033,2.5587403,5z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m24!4m23!1m5!1m1!1s0x40aa8682cb317bf5:0x400a01269bf5e60!2m2!1d23.3218675!2d42.6977082!1m5!1m1!1s0x40a8fe29f7f408a7:0x7030468d64a55d2d!2m2!1d25.4!2d42.7333333!1m0!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x47886d126418be25:0x8903f803d69c77bf!2m2!1d7.6868565!2d45.070312!1m0!3e0!4e1?dcr=0

[dollywobbler]

I was just going to follow Dollywobblers trabant then turn right when I get to wales

 

Ha! Imagine swallowing two-stroke smoke for 2500 miles.

[Squire_Dawson]

Hm. So in some old BMC chod, that's one oil change in Bulgaria. And some greasing. This is becoming an attractive idea to me.

[skattrd]

2551 miles to here

 

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Sofia,+Bulgaria/Khadzhi+Dimitur,+6140,+Bulgaria/40.8038567,21.7676937/42.6266591,18.1741603/Turin/52.3826151,-2.6079387/@46.1453033,2.5587403,5z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m24!4m23!1m5!1m1!1s0x40aa8682cb317bf5:0x400a01269bf5e60!2m2!1d23.3218675!2d42.6977082!1m5!1m1!1s0x40a8fe29f7f408a7:0x7030468d64a55d2d!2m2!1d25.4!2d42.7333333!1m0!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x47886d126418be25:0x8903f803d69c77bf!2m2!1d7.6868565!2d45.070312!1m0!3e0!4e1?dcr=0

 

That looks a bit unnecessary to me.

 

I was thinking, Serbia, Slovenia, Italy, France - 1836 miles to Lincs

 

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Sofia,+Bulgaria/Belgrade,+Serbia/Ljubljana,+Slovenia/Turin/Bourne,+UK/@47.3967492,2.4962565,5z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m33!4m32!1m5!1m1!1s0x40aa8682cb317bf5:0x400a01269bf5e60!2m2!1d23.3218675!2d42.6977082!1m5!1m1!1s0x475a7aa3d7b53fbd:0x1db8645cf2177ee4!2m2!1d20.4489216!2d44.786568!1m5!1m1!1s0x476531f5969886d1:0x400f81c823fec20!2m2!1d14.5057515!2d46.0569465!1m5!1m1!1s0x47886d126418be25:0x8903f803d69c77bf!2m2!1d7.6868565!2d45.070312!1m5!1m1!1s0x4878183561bfcf0d:0x9e2d9f4b93bd0f38!2m2!1d-0.378462!2d52.768599!3e0!4e1?dcr=0!1d-0.378462!2d52.768599!3e0!4e1?dcr=0

[catsinthewelder]

Depends if we want to visit

 

 

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Sofia,+Bulgaria/Dimitur,+Bulgaria/Belgrade,+Serbia/Ljubljana,+Slovenia/Turin/Clee+Hill/@46.9413221,2.4331478,5z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m44!4m43!1m5!1m1!1s0x40aa8682cb317bf5:0x400a01269bf5e60!2m2!1d23.3218675!2d42.6977082!1m5!1m1!1s0x40a8fe29f7f408a7:0x7030468d64a55d2d!2m2!1d25.4!2d42.7333333!1m10!1m1!1s0x475a7aa3d7b53fbd:0x1db8645cf2177ee4!2m2!1d20.4489216!2d44.786568!3m4!1m2!1d14.4483014!2d46.0411728!3s0x477ad2c773fdd29f:0xebec528b8873fdc8!1m5!1m1!1s0x476531f5969886d1:0x400f81c823fec20!2m2!1d14.5057515!2d46.0569465!1m5!1m1!1s0x47886d126418be25:0x8903f803d69c77bf!2m2!1d7.6868565!2d45.070312!1m5!1m1!1s0x4870685f540dbf91:0xd887dbc0ec79b4ad!2m2!1d-2.602164!2d52.373702!3e0!4e1?dcr=0

 

Admittedly Albania might be a pain in the arse,  we would need yellow fever jabs.

[dollywobbler]

Cheapest flight for me arrives in Sofia at half eleven at night. That's convenient! It's Ryanair too, which gives me EXTRA FEAR.

[skattrd]

Cheapest flight for me arrives in Sofia at half eleven at night. That's convenient! It's Ryanair too, which gives me EXTRA FEAR.

 

iirc Ryanair have less luggage allowance if you plan on carrying tools.

[The Moog]

Where you looking from DW? 

 

I can get a direct flight from Manchester I think for not too much. 

[bub2006]

I'm looking sub 30 quid 1 way from east mids to Sofia

[dollywobbler]

Where you looking from DW? 

 

I can get a direct flight from Manchester I think for not too much. 

 

Birmingham. Train from Aber goes direct to Brum International, so it's an easy run. Certainly happy to consider other options though. Guess we need some teamwork on tools too! 

[andy18s]

Depends if we want to visit

 

 

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/dir/Sofia,+Bulgaria/Dimitur,+Bulgaria/Belgrade,+Serbia/Ljubljana,+Slovenia/Turin/Clee+Hill/@46.9413221,2.4331478,5z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m44!4m43!1m5!1m1!1s0x40aa8682cb317bf5:0x400a01269bf5e60!2m2!1d23.3218675!2d42.6977082!1m5!1m1!1s0x40a8fe29f7f408a7:0x7030468d64a55d2d!2m2!1d25.4!2d42.7333333!1m10!1m1!1s0x475a7aa3d7b53fbd:0x1db8645cf2177ee4!2m2!1d20.4489216!2d44.786568!3m4!1m2!1d14.4483014!2d46.0411728!3s0x477ad2c773fdd29f:0xebec528b8873fdc8!1m5!1m1!1s0x476531f5969886d1:0x400f81c823fec20!2m2!1d14.5057515!2d46.0569465!1m5!1m1!1s0x47886d126418be25:0x8903f803d69c77bf!2m2!1d7.6868565!2d45.070312!1m5!1m1!1s0x4870685f540dbf91:0xd887dbc0ec79b4ad!2m2!1d-2.602164!2d52.373702!3e0!4e1?dcr=0

 

Admittedly Albania might be a pain in the arse, we would need yellow fever jabs.

This has fallen into such bad condition that the government has put full time security on site to try keep peeps out....

Local conservation group has said that the next 2 winters could see it fall beyond economical repair,so be quick if you want to see it!

[Squire_Dawson]

What is it?

[Isaac Hunt]

That looks a bit unnecessary to me.

 

I was thinking, Serbia, Slovenia, Italy, France - 1836 miles to Lincs

 

Your all totally barking......which makes it a must do real hoot, a reverse route banger rally. You should chuck the Furka Pass into that route for some full on chod testing. Are you going to take the tunnel through the mountain, NAh, we're going over the top of the Furka #passodellafurka

[Isaac Hunt]

There's a couple more listed at the mo

And if you want accommodation for the trip home then hows about a loverly chequerplate lined Merc?

Arrive, do a deal on the Merc, straight down the divan shop for a mattress and that's you accommodation sorted for the weekend and the journey home, who needs a tent.

[dollywobbler]

I'm minded not to think about what to buy too much. I guess that might have to change leading up to the event. A Wartburg would certainly please me a great deal, because three-cylinder engines are awesome. I've never driven a Trabbie though, and perhaps the best introduction is to buy one blind and drive it across Europe. Hmmm. Tricky. 

 

Did Nyssa vans make it to Bulgaria?

[Stanky]

I probably won't buy this 1000 lev beauty

 

https://www.auto.bg/pcgi/details.cgi?adv=11514999589786352&page=1&searchres=yn8xqei1

 

I get an ad on the right-hand side for what looks like the Bulgarian version of Cavcraft

 

[skattrd]

I'm thinking that I might bin the idea of driving to BG to start. It would mean I could take tools and other useful crap, but time/effort  to get there, plus trying to sell a car as well as trying to find one to buy might be too much to do in a couple of days. Flying out and driving back could be a 1 week enjoyable* break. If flights are cheap cheap now, I might even look at booking one soon.

 

The route back, I'm not hugely concerned about, but like Catsinthewelder, I was thinking of avoiding Germany and Switzerland due to the potential state of our vehicles and not wanting to get stopped or drive over massive mountains.

 

I'm with DW on the not firming out on what vehicle I want to buy as what's available will change, you'll spot the dream vehicle next week, and it'll be long sold before we get there. I'm sure there will be a choice of chod when we get there. I'd love a warty tourist (with VW engine) but am not fussed about what I get, as long as it isn't a fucking astra,

[dollywobbler]

That's the worry, that desperate buyers end up with desperate crap.

[Ghosty]

I really want to do this.

Am I being pie in the sky to want a Lada?

[catsinthewelder]

I've been looking at Lada's and they seem to represent the sensible choice.  What we think of as Riva's are still holding a bit of money as the the choice of the type of stingy giffer that is running mk1 Octavias over here.

 

I fancy an earlier one with round lights which are available in slightly restored or comedically knackered.

 

https://www.mobile.bg/pcgi/mobile.cgi?topmenu=1&act=4&adv=11512053202102151&slink=5pd4p7

 

I saw an incredably cheap and tidy looking Moskvich but a Google translate session told me it was scrapped,  I would have a go at wriggling round it if I had any idea with the lingo but I can't even speak French.  I'm just going to wing it and see what comes up for around £500.  There are some lovely cars available for a bit more but they would need to make it home and we can't really guarantee that.

 

I should really be looking closer to home with the Astras MOT fail only 10 days away.

[catsinthewelder]

I would be happy with this

 

https://www.mobile.bg/pcgi/mobile.cgi?topmenu=1&act=4&adv=11512656984906058&slink=5q4mg1

[Jerzy Woking]

Wish i could join you, but I will be in Slovakia that week, riding there on some form of motorised two wheeler to meet up with some mates who are working out there.

 

If you come through Serbia, check the border crossings carefully-some aren't actually open and you'll end up with a massive detour. Likewise you may have to buy insurance at the border, so factor that in. I cant remember how much the worthless bit of paper cost me last year, as despite having a Green Card and an insurance certificate stating I had cover, some of the Balkan states insisted I buy their insurance.

[Ghosty]

I was thinking of an earlier Lada myself too, preferably a reasonably tidy one like this, the Rivas don't do much for me. I also don't fancy 2000 miles in a 60hp 1.2...

 

However, Rivas are out there for OK prices - look at this one in Veiko Tarnovo, for ~£500:

 

https://www.mobile.bg/pcgi/mobile.cgi?topmenu=1&act=4&adv=11514212705675497&slink=5q4n58

[dave21478]

If you are driving back in some chod, you could head south into Greece...google says its a 6 or 7 hour run to the western ports, then get an overnight ferry to northern Italy for 150 eurocoins, then its a 12 hour drive to my gaff where there is a MIG welder, a hammer and enough cable ties to see you to Calais.

 

This offer still stands. Its a little out of the way of a direct run back to UK, but could be a handy pitstop?

My nearest big town is Albi if you want to route-check it.

[andy18s]

I'm minded not to think about what to buy too much. I guess that might have to change leading up to the event. A Wartburg would certainly please me a great deal, because three-cylinder engines are awesome. I've never driven a Trabbie though, and perhaps the best introduction is to buy one blind and drive it across Europe. Hmmm. Tricky.

 

Did Nyssa vans make it to Bulgaria?

?

[andy18s]

Tools or anything bulky can be shipped over in advance

I use a company in Enfield to get stuff sent over fairly regularly

Stuff comes over fortnighly then gets transfered local by a company called Econt

Prices are around half you'd pay in the UK, with seemimgly no limit to size

I have a garage with a pit available but I'm 280km from Sofia so I guess something bought local would be best

Please bare in mind that Bulgaria is still the poorest European country

Stuff is run on a shoestring but that also means it's looked after as many peeps can't afford to replace a car once it starts playing up

Every village has it's own little garage,parts seem available but then I've not looked for old Lada/Wartburg stuff......

[dollywobbler]

I must admit that what slightly puts me off a Warty is the availability of two stroke oil on our journey back. Unless I find one with an oil pump. Some had that.

[andy18s]

They do sell big bottles of the stuff Ian....

[dollywobbler]

That's good to know! May have to do some maths and work out how much I'd need...

[Asimo]

Two stroke oil in cans / drums anywhere that sells chainsaws etc.