Entry #12 — 52km Over the Iron Pass · 1107D+- · Sliven–Ichera

No rain this time. Just the road, the pass, and the kind of climb that doesn't ask if you're ready. 52 kilometres. 1100 metres of elevation. One mountain pass connecting Sliven to Ihtiman through roads that feel like they belong to another era. Old Bulgarian houses still standing along the way. Springs appearing where you least expect them. Secrets the pass keeps poorly. There was a bridge with a railing that had no business holding. It held. There were waterfalls nobody told me about. Two of them, side by side, tucked away like the mountain hid them deliberately. And then — something older, quieter, more forgotten. The kind of find that makes you stop pedalling and just stand there. This one was not random. But it felt like it was. 4 hours on the bike. The pass gave everything it had. So did I. These are the days I live for. 📌 Follow My Journey Website: https://lyuboslav-nemtsov.vercel.app/ Instagram:   / lyuboslav_nemtsov   Support the Dolomites project: https://gofund.me/eb8dbb669 This Entry is part of a long-term project where Lyuboslav Nemtsov documents his adventures: hiking, cycling, and alpine preparation through real experiences. #cycling #bikeadventure #bulgaria #sliven #ihtiman #mountainpass #balkan #outdoorlife #adventure #lyuboslavnemtsov