OFF15 On Argeș river bank

We are on December 22, 2019, 30 years after the 89 ‘revolution and it is the first day after the winter solstice which means that astronomical winter has begun. For motorcyclists and optimists, this date represents the time when the day begins to increase, and the nights will be shorter and shorter. But most important for us is the fact that today 15 degrees Celsius and clear sky have been announced. 

So it’s a perfect day for a motor ride. We set out to explore the banks of the Argeș river from 1 Decembrie village  to Budești, that is the place where Dâmbovița flows into Argeș. This portion is part of the famous Danube – Bucharest Canal, a work started during Ceausescu’s time in 1986, and stopped in 1989. Since then nothing has been done. People just stole what they could from the construction sites. Along the proposed route you will see all kinds of ruins of the begun works: bridges, dams and concrete banks, locks and all kinds of other amenities left in decay.

I will describe the road conditions we encountered because this is the kind of road that you will probably travel in late autumn or early spring when there are no favorable conditions in the mountains. We had a pretty hot day, but there was a lot of moisture during the night. As a result the road was damp and at times muddy areas and some more serious puddles.

The entry on the proposed offroad road segment is made in 1 Decembrie, just before the bridge over Argeș. We will start from the left bank because in this area the bank has been systematized and the road goes to the crown of a dam. Here the road is quite good, there are only a few bumps, some gravel so it is practicable even in a more humid weather.

Immediately after the Copăceni village, near the Copăceni Lock, I came across a section of muddy road. It is not a problem because there is another road to the left that goes around the problematic area and goes out onto a paved road. The asphalt does not last long and we will return to the dirt road. From here the road enters into a forested area so if it has rained recently, chances are high that you will encounter mud and big puddles. It should not be very difficult to pass because there is still enough stone on the road to have a decent grip.

Once you get out of the woods, the road gets better and wider. On this part you can go with no difficulty with 70 Km / h. The road is almost perfect, there are no bumps. Soon you will reach the railway bridge near Grădiștea, which should have connected Bucharest with Giurgiu. This bridge was never completed so if you believe it, there is no direct railway between Bucharest and Giurgiu until now. And to make things even sadder, the first railway for passengers in Romania was built on this route between 1865 and 1869.

After passing the unfinished bridge from Grădiștea, in a few kilometers we will reach an improvised bridge over Arges. We are near the village of Gostinari. This bridge was built of concrete pipes stacked on one top of eachother, over which earth and gravel were poured. Probably it was made for the Danube Canal – Bucharest site works.After 35 years, the bridge is still in use. Here we will pass on the right bank because on the left the road is paved and it is not very fun. The road on the right bank is becoming more and more spectacular. This is because on the right side the bank becomes about 20 m high.

At about 4 km from the bridge near Gostinari the road on the bank of Argeș disappears. We will turn right onto a road that takes us to DN5A and after 4 km we will descend again on the river bank to the dirt road.

We will follow the course of the river for another 7 km. The road has about the same aspect on this part, it goes on a relatively straight dike and without too many level differences. Near Hotarele we can see a bridge designed by the famous engineer Anghel Saligny. The road continues with the same aspect as until now for about 10 km. Near Budești is the point where Dâmboviţa spill into Argeș river. Here we will conclude this segment. You can make a last stop on the high pier near the bridge over Arges. From here you can admire the last ruin on the route: Budești Lock.

This road segment can be traveled without problems in dry weather. If it has rained recently or it has been snow that covered the road and melted, then you will most likely encounter muddy areas that may be impractical. As a landscape, the road is pleasant but unfortunately the level of civilization of people is very low. Near all the villages, on the roadside is full of rubbish although I am convinced that all have sanitation service in the village.

If you still have time, you can continue on the bank of Argeș until you reach the Danube, that is, near Oltenița. There are about 25 km.