E3: Poienita Tomil to Ilia: Day 76

A morning walk through woods down to Ilia, and a much appreciated "Pensiunea" for the night.

I reluctantly rose from my sleeping bag and decamped, somehow loosing the bag that the tent goes in. After a perplexing search I eventually found it wrapped up in my sleeping bag. I could not feel too cross as the sun was shining and it was easy walking for the first stretch along roads among the trees. In addition to the usual beech woods today there were areas of birch trees on the higher ground among grassland. Rose hips added welcome colour.

Leaving the road the E3 followed forest tracks with patches of mud and large puddles that I had to work around, pushing through dead branches in the surrounding trees. Although the track deteriorated to an overgrown path I managed to push through without much effort. I was keen to press on so I could arrive in the town of Ilia in time to find a room for the night.

After the village of Dumbravita the rest of the route was on a gravel road along the base of a valley. I was grateful there was no more climbing. Fortunately today there were no steep gradients to tackle, and the last part of the walk was downhill or on flat ground. This gave me the energy to admire some of the wayside flowers in the long bleached grass: blue chicory, different types of daisies, yarrow, knapweed and others. In the woods there were scattered autumn crocus.

As I approached Săcămaș, houses began to line the road. My arrival was announced by a chorus of dogs, informing others further down the valley that I was coming their way. A couple of loose dogs followed me, barking but not baring their teeth, so I hoped they would not bite.

After Săcămaș my route was on a main road across the wide valley of the River Mures. The valley is a key transport route between mountains to the north and south with a railway line and motorway. 

I diverted off the E3 to the centre of Ilia, where, on second attempt, I found a "Pensiunea" (guesthouse) where I could stay the night. It was a relief to shower off the sweat and rinse some dirty clothes after three nights camping in the sparsely populated countryside. As I arrived about lunch time it gave me the afternoon to rest, important as my left knee was showing signs of fluid build up.

Ilia is not a tourist town and the paint is peeling on many of its buildings, but there are a few supermarkets, a fast food outlet and a place selling mainly savoury pastry items and pizza slices. The Pensiunea Atlas seems to cater for workmen, visiting the area on a job. From viewing the outside of other possible places to stay it looks the best place in town (or maybe the only one open).