Trip Bistrița – Bârgău – Colibița

Two Days of Rain, Mountains and Adventure: Bârgău – Colibița

On August 18, 10 children and 3 adults set off on another Dumbrava adventure, this time towards Bistrița, Bârgău and Colibița.

After a long and very hot period, the two days we had chosen for our trip turned out to be much cooler and rainier. Rainy enough to turn our plans upside down, but fortunately not enough to ruin the trip.

Day 1 – Bistrița, rain and Plan B

Our first stop was Bistrița, where we had planned more than just a walk around the city. The children had a few specific missions: find the most interesting things, take the best photos, discover the oldest year inscribed on a building, and spot as many different foreign languages as possible.

We started in the park. And that was exactly where the rain found us.

Luckily, it was heavy but short-lived, so once it passed, we continued exploring the city and completing our challenges.

For the second part of the day, we were supposed to go to the adventure park in Colibița. But after the rain, everything was wet and the obstacle courses were no longer such a good idea.

So we switched to Plan B: Tihuța Cross and a short hike in the area.

We ended the evening simply: with games, food and a lot of laughter. Sometimes, those are exactly the moments that stay with you longest after a trip.

Day 2 – Maybe we'll get lucky after all...

We woke up to... more rain.

At that point, both the hike and the adventure park were beginning to look more like plans for some future trip than things we would actually get to do.

But by the time we were properly awake, had eaten breakfast and gathered enough courage to start packing our bags, the rain had stopped.

So off we went.

We hiked Căsaru Mountain and visited Sărita Waterfall, with rocks, water, nature and enough walking to make it very clear that yes, we had definitely been to the mountains.

And because the weather finally decided to cooperate with us, we also made it to the adventure park in Colibița.

For some of the children, it was their first experience of this kind. There were obstacle courses and zip lines, but most importantly, there was the chance to try something new – and to discover that some things that look easy from the ground aren't quite so easy once you're up there.

Before heading home, we also tried balmoș, a traditional shepherd's dish, for some of us for the very first time. Then, tired, occasionally still a little wet, but with two very full days behind us, we started our journey home.

But perhaps the children can tell the story better than we can

“What I liked most was the adventure park and the waterfall, because I could go on the zip line, make a little frog out of stones and do the obstacle course.”

“I liked the waterfall the most because it gave me the chance to enjoy nature and spend quality time with the others. It was one of the most beautiful experiences of this trip.”

“I liked the adventure park the most because I tried something new.”

“I liked the trail because I enjoy doing trails like this. And I learned that not everything that looks easy actually is.”

Perhaps that last sentence sums up the two days best.

Not everything that looks easy actually is. Not the trails, not the zip lines and, sometimes, not organising a trip with 10 children, three adults and a weather forecast that keeps changing its mind.

But this is also part of what we try to give children at Dumbrava: the opportunity to discover new places, try things they haven't done before, spend time together and learn that a change of plans doesn't necessarily mean a wasted day.

Sometimes it simply means the adventure will look a little different from the one we imagined.

And our Bârgău–Colibița trip had a little bit of everything: rain, mountains, a waterfall, zip lines, games, food, changed plans and plenty of laughter.

Exactly the kind of two days we hope the children will remember for a long time.

Special thanks to Somesan family who offered us accommodation and were our guides, to Cristina Laba who paid for our tree adventure and to the adventure park from Colibita who had patience with us: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094549144809