Algeti National Park, Wednesday, 26 May 2010

The EKLESIA church in the outskirts of Manglisi








We cycled on the blue trail - it was not very well marked, and often so step that we had to walk dragging our bicycles




When we reached the upper part of the trail the landscape changed from woodland to on open area with meadows


Vlado found a lot of nice Stinging nettles around a church ruin, and started collecting them for soup. A very friend and open-minded Georgian from one of the few farms left in the area approached us.


The farm of our new friend. He had two daughters who were studying in Tbilisi.


The farm had 30 cows and some pigs






We had to cross some streams, and Vlado took the opportunity to clean his bike.


Manglisi, south of the park - previously many Russians lived here


Some locals invited us for beer


On the Georgian Independence day, 26 May, Vlado and I decided to do some cycling in the Algeti National Park.

The Park is at distance of 60 km from Tbilisi city. It covers the southern slopes of eastern part of the Trialeti range in the gorge of the Algeti River and is situated within 1100 - 1950 m above sea level. The Park was established in 1965.

Dima drove us and our bikes to the reserve. We had perfect weather for cycling, sunny, clear and with little wind.

The Algeti National Park is characterized by a mountainous relief rugged with great number of small rivers and ravines. The Algeti River with its great number of tributaries and ravines flows through the territory of Algeti National Park.

The trail went up to a plateau with an old village, and was very steep and not marked but we managed to get both up and down without major injuries.

After visiting the park we cycled the 60 kilometres back to Tbilisi. We started at 7 in the morning and were back at 20.30 in the evening, and after the long day with very much cycling I was so tired that I went directly to bed.