Thursday August the 5th
Total distance driven: 5591 Km
Today’s distance: 348 Km in 5:49h
Walked distance: 8.1 Km
It wasn’t easy leaving Plovdiv but the next destination promised to be an exciting one: a huge cave called devil’s throat. Little that I know, the best part was going to be the ride to get there.
As most adventure rider, I don’t go fast and prefer enjoying the landscape than rush to the destination. But I’m travelling also to hunt for great roads and this time I found one and I pushed.
The Testastretta twin cylinder engine of the Multistrada 950s is the same of the Ducati Supersport and Hypermotard. Pure street bikes. With the sport riding mode selected, the Multi gets very close to a sport motorcycle that eats the curves. The excellent Pirelli Scorpion Trail II tires do the rest.
Have a look at today’s route with 348 Km total length. Well 2/3rd of that where in the mountains. Not just usual hairpin curves. Actually no pattern at all. High revs, fast pace for hours. I had a lot of fun!
It was around lunch time that a restaurant caught my attention. It was across a river, with a wooden bridge and even a table up on a tree.
I had the best Kebapche ever. The flavour was a symphony of spices and grill scents.
The road was amazing, unraveling in a gorge with a river and with thrilling slaloms. The vegetation is different than before and includes Mediterranean trees like pines, with their typical smell of summer.
Suddenly I got in front of the cave entrance.
Fresh spring water. Notice the cups to drink! 
Imagine a cave 150m long and under the mountain. There is an underground waterfall and a river. The noise of the water roaring below accompanies every step.
This impressive cave inspired the story of Orpheus going down to the kingdom of Hades to look for his dead wife Eurydice. His journey began in such a cave and he succeeded in convincing Hades to release her, but at one condition: he could not look back at her, while walking back to the land of the living. When they were almost back, he couldn’t resist and turned back to see her, just few seconds before she disappeared. Great story 👍
The entrance 
Artificial tunnel 
Gigantic 
A Tracian Relief 
Orpheus and Eurydice 
The original natural entrance
It truly felt like being swallowed by the devil. The underground waterfall made the rest. A special experience. By the way Greece 🇬🇷 just 50 Kms away from here.
Back on my Ducati to eat some curves. The time on this road just flys by. Soon a gorgeous lake shows up on my left. I’ve learned from Alexey. Let’s go off-road and take a refreshing bath!
It felt like being 20 years younger. I was rested and refreshed. Ready for the rest of the road. This time coasting a railroad through the mountains. Suggestive view!
In the evening I reached Sofia. Today I drove 350 Kms but it felt like the half of it, thanks to a great road and a lake.