Kladnitza 2026

Our traditional autumn hike around the village of Kladnitza, in the southern slopes of Vitosha. I don't know how many years it's been, that we do this hike, but it has become an inseparable part of our annual hiking program. Sometimes we vary it a little and this year we decided to add a peak to the circle and an alternative track for part of the trail, but one thing is certain - the forest in this part of Vitosha in October is magical.

After the cold spell the previous week, the day was fantastic - sunny and warm, just perfect for an autumn hike. It got so warm in the afternoon, that I finished the hike, wearing only a sleeveless top - and I am usually a freeze-baby :)

Hike info:

Date: 21 October 2026

Destination: round trail Kladnitza peak Krusta

Mountain: Vitosha

Total length: 16.4 km

Elevation gain: 560 m

Total duration (plus picnic and rests): 5 hours 30 min

Average difficulty: 4.5 / 10

A late summer flower

The beech and birch forests around Kladnitza are simply extraordinary in the autumn - I couldn't stop taking pictures of the colorful leaves.

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

 

Husband: men's boxers, Burda cargo pants, Burda hoodie

I:  lingerie, Sinclair blouse, leg-warmers

We decided to have our lunch on the slopes of peak Krusta, in the open sun and it was divine!

Our view from the slope - the vast field of yellow grasses of the plateau and the numerous peaks of Vitosha and Rila in the distance - already covered with snow. We spent at least an hour, drinking our warm herbal tea and munching our tortillas and home-made jam filled muffins.

Then we decided to continue the climb up to peak Krusta (1561 m).

A deer ran nearby and a flock of partridges scattered scared as we stepped on the peak.

On peak Krusta, with a view to Studena dam and Pernik

Down the trail through the plateau, my most favourite part of this hike. We saw several more deer jump around the fields and heard a male deer roar.

After the plateau the trail runs down though forests and open fields and circles back to the village of Kladnitza.

Dolni Pasarel 2026

This Sunday we decided to revisit a trail we've hiked only twice before, last some 8 years ago. The trail starts from the village of Dolni Pasarel, some 35 minutes drive from home, and climbs up to the ridge of Plana mountain.

The day was supposed to be sunny, but it was cloudy and rather cold, especially up on the ridge. 

The beech trees on Plana were spectacular and totally justified the effort to climb that close to the village and the road in the height of the hunting season.

The trail is fairly steep, especially in the beginning, as it quickly gathers altitude above the village.

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

 

I: lingerie, knitted sweater, hat and fingerless mitts

Husband: men's boxers, Burda cargo pants, Burda blouse

Hike info:

Date: 18 October 2026

Destination: peak Ziganka (1157 m)

Mountain: Plana

Total length: 11.5 km

Elevation gain: 450 m

Total duration (plus picnic and rests): 3 and a half hours

Average difficulty:  4 / 10 

The trail seems not to be very popular, we met only a couple of hikers, several motor bikers buzzed in the distance and two cars with hunters and dogs passed us by.

We climbed up to a small hill, called Ziganka peak and found a nice sheltered place under a birch tree, where we had our picnic - tortillas, muffins and sweet herbal tea.

The place was beautiful and serene, but cold and windy, so we didn't linger long there.

On the way back we tried to find a partial alternative trail that was present on the map, but in reality it was totally abandoned and overgrown, so we returned to the initial trail and traced our steps back to the village and the car.

The start of the trail is next to the village stadium and we could hear an active and very emotional football match in progress as we approached the village. Unfortunately we reached the stadium with the last signal of the judge, the game was over, otherwise we had planned to stay and watch awhile.

Back in the Groove - Two Colour T-Shirt

It's been almost half a year since I last sewed a garment. I love sewing for the warm weather and I had so many ideas for sundresses and light blouses, but I just lacked the motivation this summer. One of the reasons - I painted by numbers, I must have spent dozens of hours or more painting a picture yet to be framed and hung.

And then I studied German, went for hikes and walks and cooked - I really got into cooking this year.

In other words, as always, life got in the way and I stopped sewing. Until the other day, when I took out my huge bag of knit fabric remnants and came up with this combination of dark grey and dark green for a two-colour T-shirt.

Pattern: Burda 6820

Size: 36, raised neckline

Fabric: grey lycra cotton knit, dark green viscose knit

Time to make: 3 days

The idea is nothing revolutionary, such T-shirts were very popular a decade ago and I find them a cute way to whip a project, when you have big chunks of remnant fabric.

I am especially proud of my double color neckline, I find that it really brings the whole T-shirt together, deepening the illusion of a short sleeved T-shirt over a long-sleeved one.

The pattern is a true-and tried Burda T-shirt 6820, based on which I've made plenty of blouses in all sorts of variations, lengths and mesh-ups. My mods for this particular T-shirt - I added some width to the front and the back of the 36 size, as I didn't want the T-shirt too fit, I shortened the body above and below the waist line and I raised the neckline significantly, using the mod I did for Gaby last year.

I hope this quick T-shirt will blow some steam into my sewing mojo and there will not be another six months pause before my next sewing project.

When You're Sick But Still Want a Hike - Pancharevo

I caught a bug last week and I've been still fighting it off, together with the other members of our family, who quickly got it from me. Unfortunately, though a garden-variety rhinovirus, it is persistent and very virulent. It was really bad luck, as we had our Indian summer last week and husband and i were planning our last big hike - Strashnoto ezero on Rila.

Given my state (congested nasopharynx, mild fever), a seven hour heavy duty climb was out of the question, but staying indoors on the last warm and sunny days of the year was simply unacceptable to me, so we chose a nearby short easy trail - and we had a wonderful time! For me a walk in nature is always the best medicine!

Hike info:

Date: 8 October 2026

Destination: lake Pancharevo

Mountain: Lozen

Total length: 8.5 km

Elevation gain: 130 m

Total duration (plus picnic): 3 hours

Average difficulty: 2 / 10

Me-made items, worn on this hike:

 

Husband: men's boxers, Burda cargo pants, Burda hoodie

I:  lingerie, Sinclair Journey zippered sweater

 

Early October autumn in the mountains is at its best - so colorful and warm.

Despite the perfect weather, the day was a work day and the atmosphere around the lake was very laid back and quiet - not your weekend usual hustling and bustling with people, athletes and fishermen.

This time we decided to skip our usual picnic place around the lake and continued along the river Iskar to a few less frequented gems of the area. 

We had our picnic on a meadow on the other side of the lake, enjoying the warm sun and the peaceful views. And yeah, no beer for me this time - herbal tea with tortilla and home-made muffins with fig jam, which I baked in the morning.

On our return to the car we explored the opposite bank of the river, until we got back to the road by Kokalyane water power station. I am always amazed, when we find new places in regions we've hiked dozens of times.

Himalayan balsam - we hadn't seen that plant before. It is native to the Himalayas, but was introduced to Europe in the 19th century and has aggressively spread throughout European countries, thriving in damp, nutrient-rich soils right along riverbanks, lakeshores, and wetland edges. An interesting fact - its ripe seed pods build up internal tension and explode upon touch, shooting the seeds far away. I tried it and it is fun and a bit startling to experience.