Between Pitești and Slatina, in the south of Romania, the land falls away from the Carpathian foothills towards the great Danube plain in a series of long, low ridges cut by streams. It is farming country, with fields of maize and sunflowers, orchards, vineyards and small villages strung along the valleys. Izbășești and the valley called Valea Albă, the White Valley, lie in this landscape near the small town of Stolnici, and the site recorded here is one of the many archaeological traces in the area, though there is probably little to see on the ground.
The region has a deep history. In the hills to the west, near the Olt river, lie the remains of Buridava, a Dacian settlement and later a Roman camp, and the Olt valley itself was a major route for the Roman armies crossing the Carpathians into Dacia. The rides passing through here link several of these sites, and the earthwork redoubts and fortifications scattered across the landscape tell of centuries of conflict, from the Romans to the Ottomans.
What you will notice as a rider is the rural life: horse-drawn carts, storks nesting on telegraph poles, old women sitting on benches outside their gates, and roadside stalls selling watermelons, honey and plum brandy in summer and autumn. The villages are a mix of old and new, with traditional houses alongside modern ones built with money earned abroad.
The riding is easy and pleasant. The roads are mostly flat or gently rolling, with long straights and occasional bends as they cross the ridges. Surfaces vary from good to poor, with potholes on minor roads. Traffic is light, but watch for slow tractors, carts and dogs, which often chase motorcycles. In summer, the heat on the plain can be intense, and there is little shade.
Stolnici is a small town with basic services; for reliable fuel, supermarkets and restaurants, Pitești or Slatina are better bets. Pitești is also close to the Ștefănești vineyards and to the Argeș valley, which leads north into the mountains and to the Transfăgărășan, one of the most famous roads in the world. If you have time, the ride north from here to the Carpathians is well worth it. Spring and autumn are the best seasons; winters are cold, with snow and fog on the plain.