Day 17

 Day 17.  Thursday August 28.

Ostroleka to Warsaw (Poland)

132km.

Weather: Pleasant all day. No rain. Calm in early morning, a bit breezy towatds the end. Also very hot (30 deg) as I entered Warsaw.

Road conditions: 8km of gravel and also an unexpected bit. Road surfaces deteriorated as I neared Warsaw.

Up early catching the Polish sunrise and I hit the road early at 6am as I had the longest day ahead of me. It was the inverse of yesterday for the first 2 hours....less sunshine but less chilly.

Plenty of agricultural again today early on. One crop I had noticed over the last number of days (not as common as the maize) was red expanses of buckwheat, more common in Asia than in Europe.

And the one and only windmill that I encountered over the total trip (1342km)

But there were, of course, plenty of roadside shrines.

One 6km section of today's route had been described as 'paved' but in the meantime the Council have graded/planed the surface leaving a sandy mess. However I managed to cycle along the untouched right hand side margin.

I had 4 major breaks today at 36km, 63km, 90km and 110km. The varied between bus shelters, petrol stations and river banks. Each one was badly needed.

At 90km I crossed over the Narew river, a 500km river the joins the Vistula just downsteam from Warsaw. It's a braided river, seperating and joining many times, and also very shallow.

As I crossed the Vistula on a pedestrian/cyclist bridge, central Warsaw presented an impressive skyline.

The last 20km today was draining because of heat, much street cycling, street crossings and traffic lights.

Still, at 3:15 I pulled up at my final destination and just had the energy left to take a selfie in the window.

I'm very much in the centre of town which is showing a widespread police presence.  There is a European Conference soccer match here tonight between local Leiga Warsaw and Hibernians (of Scotland). I saw lots of Hibs fans down the street at the Shamrock bar and Best British Bulldog bar with many police units in that vicinity. Hope there's no trouble.

Just now to secure a box to transport the bike home. I walked to a nearby location of a bike-shop (from my previous research) but found that the area is being re-developed now. No luck.

Procuring a box is my primary task for tomorrow morning.

So  that's it as regards cycling, folks. Another adventure comes to a conclusion.

Thank you all.

Thank God for the health and thank God for the energy.

Day 16.

 Day 16.  Wednesday August 27.

Goniadz to Ostroleka ( Poland).

127km

Weather: Lovely all day once the sun rose in the sky. No wind till a slight breeze blew up near the end. 

Road conditions: 18km of friendly gravel . Other surfaces very smooth.

Made an early start, up at 5:20 and off at a very chilly 6:15am although the sun was casting shadows. No heat for the first 2 hours. Goniadz is small but still a cyclepath available for the 5km out of town.

I was then directed onto a 35km stretch on a perfect surface through noble woodland looking resplendent in the slanting sunshine.

 I was on the watchout for wildlife especially where there was a break in the woodland . No luck. Plenty of roadsigns warning motorists of  their presence. Later on in an agricultural area a fawn leaped across the road just in front of me and into a field of tall maize.

A fair share of dogs reacted to my passing but not too seriously. Two brutes in particular snapped hungrily at me but thankfully there was a stout security railing between us. At my break (45km) an Alsatian ambled my way from a farmyard nearby but once he had a gawk he wandered back again.

Countryside is daily becoming more and more like at home (except no ditches/hedgerows between fields). Maize is widespread and generally planted in long narrow strips. Harvesting had started in some places. The monotony of maize was broken by an odd patch of colourful rapeseed or rows of cabbage.

A town sign caught my eye as I sped by. 'Oh, this is Robyn's town' says I. I had to do a second take. Generally place names are difficult to even attempt to pronounce.....too many consonants together.

Busy farmyards along the route and I spotted where they have been hiding the cows!  I drafted behind a tractor as he made his way out to spread fertilizer. All very helpful till we came to a hill (the only serious rise of the day). He put his foot down, a blast of exhaust and off he flies up the hill.

Took my main break at 92km (10:50am) at a bus shelter. The only one I've come across with no seat. Unwilling to push on further I made do with sitting on the ground. The one at 112km was properly furnished.

At 120km I entered busy Ostroleka and soon gladly checked into my accommodation (a 1950's type motel) at a sunny 2:20pm.

Later I walked downtown for dinner in a restaurant that was actually Chinese. Liked it.

Another long one tomorrow (my final day) as I approach journey's end in Warsaw.

Day 15.

 Day 15. Tuesday August 26 

(Happy 1st Birthday to grandaughter Lauren. Today is for you.)

Suwalki to Goniadz (Poland)

96km

Weather: Stayed dry all day although a thunder storm crossed my route...ahead of me. Wind calm for most but headwind for last 20km into destination. So much nicer than yesterday.

Road conditions: Lovely road surfaces; gravel sections were ridable; cycle paths approaching all  towns.

Ready to leave Suwalki at 7:30 ; could have left earlier as sun had been up for an hour...it doesn't adhere to time zones.

By 3km I was out of town, turn left at ALDI and I had the road to myself.

Passed along by a military base (on my right) and a mighty gravel mine/pit on my left.

Then I was entering into Wigry National Park. Beautiful riding here and the narrow gauge (60mm) tourist railway crossed my path often. This was originally a 45km forestry service railway built during German occupation. Since 2001 9km of it is used as a tourist attraction running 3 times  daily.

At 18km I dropped down to a jetty on mighty Wigry Lake (the growth on the 'far side' is just one of many small islands. No combustion engines allowed to users. The couple going out fishing as I was there had a small battery outboard.

No big expanses of wheat today; it was predominantly maize. More cows and chickens visible but really savored the aroma of the freshly turned sod. Delightful!

I had a 9km spin on gravel through noble stands of pine and silver birch claiming its space where light still penetrated.

Met more cyclists today than yesterday...not surprising. Some were just out for a daily spin while I came across 4 heavily laden touring cyclists as I neared Godianz.

The largest town I passed through today was Augustow, a renowned therapeutical spa town on the river Netta.

After my morning break at 50km I noticed darkening clouds ahead. By 55km it was clear that 2 thunderstorms were out there but they were moving across (west to east) in front of me. I could hear the thunder. They were well ahead of me but a few drops began to fall. I decided to rest up and monitor those moving clouds. Having swept across I proceeded and sure enough the road showed plenty of puddles. I had escaped.

With clear skies ahead, no need to rush and I pulled up by a wayside shrine for a bite and to remove the jacket.

At 94 km I pulled into my accommodation, Dom Piotra in Goniadz but cycled back to town to a skelp to provide for tomorrow's breakfast. All counter service again in both I visited.

A dry day of cycling, I suppose I deserved it after the previous days. Forecast looks good for tomorrow.

I dined in the restaurant with meat dumplings....not my favourite.

Thank God for the health and thank God for the energy.

Day 14

 Day 14.  Monday August 25.

Alytus (Lithuania)  to Suwalki ( Poland)

104km.

Weather: Rain (sometimes very heavy) nearby all day. Headwind for periods.

Road conditions: 16 km of gravel...from the sublime to the ridiculous.

LITHUANIA

Had rained heavily overnight and forecast wasn't encouraging. But all dry and calm as I pushed off at 7am meeting the Monday morning rush.

But soon the forecast kicked in and by 10km I had to take refuge in a house under construction and put on the full rain gear.

Conditions changed and by 15km the sky ahead was looking good. But, would it last?

Today's gravel was divided into four sections. First section starting at 7.5km was gloroius, almost as good as tar-mac.

 

The second section of 3km (above) was all washboard and deep gravel in places. I did a fair share of walking along here.

As I turned right onto the last section I thought it might be challenging.

 But as I got over the first brow the scene ahead shocked me. And this would go on for 4.4km. Lots of muck, deep sand and big stones. I did even more walking here. Wind and rain thankfully didn't make the situation worse. The scene ahead reminded me of some stretches across the Meseta (high plateau) on the Camino of last year.

Strangely enough later on I spotted an official scallop shell sign indicating a point on the trek to Santiago from here.

Wind and rain had eased off and I took a break at 44km...and availed of the nearby outhouse.

But after this weather conditions took a turn for the worse...wind and driving rain.

POLAND

At 60km I came to the Polish border; but no flags, no Failte. Border Patrol were checking all vehicles going through but waved me on...'Sure, he looks harmless'!!

After crossing I turned right onto a minor road (cracked surface) but it led me on to a beautiful downhill super-smooth road through woodland. Unfortunately it bucketed down along here and no shelter to be found.

At 75 km (at the end of this super road) I arrived at Sejny and hopped in to the first available shelter...the loading area of an old abandoned warehouse. I was detained here for an hour till the deluge eased off. Only 35 km to go.

It was a lovely cycle path all the way for those 30km. It was a busy road with traffic throwing up much spray from the regular showers. I availed of bus-shelters for relief.

Finally Suwalki (famous for its lakes, but I didn't/couldn't spot any of them.

Arrived at my accommodation ( a full apartment) and set about drying out.

Still windy and raining outside. Strolled around town, shopped for provisions but I'll eat in tonight.

Hopefully tomorrow will be kinder.

Thank God for the health and thank God for the energy.