Borjomi

(Lesley) We managed another awesome hike!! 7 hours in the Borjomi-Kharagaudi National Park. It was a moderately difficult hike. We started on route #1 (8km) with a long steep uphill in switchbacks then we switched to route #6 (another 8km) and a very deep downhill, partly switchbacked, but often just straight down. It was listed as a 6 hour hike, and including the walk from Borjomi to the park gate start and from the exit gate near Qvabishkevi to the road to catch a marshrutka back to Borjomi, it took us 7 hours.

Most of the trail was in the forest, first coniferous, then mixed. We walked along a ridge and had some good views into the valleys on either side when the trees thinned. Later, after changing trails we began a steep descent, crossed a meadow, walked through a river valley, out the park gate and down a country road to the highway. We were tired at the end of it, but we felt we were in much better shape having got our legs back in Kazbegi.

Since northern Turkey we have often wished we were travelling with a tent and sleeping bags, especially here in Georgia. We would likely have extended our stay and done some good two or three day hikes if we were kitted up for that sort of thing. Georgia has beautiful hiking spots.

In Borjomi, we stayed 2 nights. We got beds at Marina's and her daughter, fluent in English, was very helpful. The kids got the room with the wifi source and we took advantage of this to book a flight from Toronto home for later this summer.

Borjomi is famous for its spa resort and its salty, slightly carbonated spring water. We spend a morning in the Borjomi Mineral Water Park, walking along the Borjomula River valley, and swimming in a spa pool a few km beyond the park. We tasted the spring water from the special tap in the park. Yuck! I'm not sure why anyone would drink it, good for you or not. Our visit coincided with the first day of holidays for many school children, so celebrating was the order of the day and Sam and Mhari rode the roller coaster a few times.

After Borjomi we were off to Batumi. We had planned to take a southern route to Batumi from Borjomi over the Goderdzi Pass, however we were really not given any encouragement when asking about Marshrutka times. We were told by hostel owners and the tourism officer that there is no service over the pass. The road is apparently a real washout this year. I have no doubt that had we set out in that direction we would have made it through somehow perhaps hitchhiking but that isn't always easy in a group of 4, and perhaps we would not have got to Batumi in time to get our boat tickets. So we wimped out, gave up the idea, and enjoyed a quick-ish and comfortable-ish ride to Batumi on a paved road. It was no great hardship.

Photos from our hike: Beautiful views; Mhari at a crossroads; Enduring rain for a rainbow; A walk along the ridge; Meadow Flowers; At the outskirts of the Park.

More photos: A fun bridge to cross; School kids just finished and celebrating; Borjomi's coolest teens take a warm dip; Enjoying the roller coaster; Mhari enjoys a swim in the Black Sea. (Batumi); Beach scene, Batumi