Poland 1998
Ok, so down and out of Lithuania and to the north of Poland which is very similar to that we've seen before, with many forests, lakes and long straight roads and not in the best condition either. Three days of camping out (as usual) but not bad weather.
All we wanted was another break and to get to somewhere where we could get mended.
London (then back to Poland)
OK, guess where we are! Great cycling around London however, and purchased two red and black bike bags along with four Mavic wheels and other bits and pieces like baked beans on toast, a curry and a cornish pastry.
Poland
Quite a hassle dismantling the bikes and fitting into the bags but easy to carry. Warsaws' attempt at Luner Parky, the poor buggers have no money do do it up so it's a bit like a ghost town, or perhaps that is the idea. Old mum with her bike talking to her friend who has probably spent all her money on flowers for a grave site, followed by someone brave enough to have a baby in this harsh economic climate.
Polands birth rate has dropped enormously lately. It is a worry for the future with so many older people coming up.
Cycling along by the Wista river which heads north through Warsaw. The Boss who calls his turkeys "The Mafia" and out in the back yard of his home with his family and many animals. Mary running a lunch time Kindergarten in a small town park. The kids we meet just love Mary.
Rob just loves horses and carts, wait till they join the EU and watch all these nice old things vanish. The old houses have never been painted since new, unlike the many side of road statues and monuments of you know who.
Someones' attempt at beautifying these ugly apartment blocks in Rzeszow. This cart even has the original wooden wheels. Finally up and into the Carpathian mountains as they diminsh in size towards the eastern side of Poland.
Slovakia
At the Slovakian border high up on a hill then a Soviet WW11 tank collides with a German one in a tank battle here. The Russian tank looks a bit like a Lada compared to the Mercedes version. More fields of hay stacks.
A grand old church by a lake 10kms long, is a nice break from the hills and farms, People are actually living in this house, good ventilation! First cow seen pulling a cart then observing these horn speakers on telegraph poles throughout the country towns and cities.
Mary mincing it with the vans and trucks as we head south from a bad car accident at the previous junction, then up into the hills again before the Hungarian border.
Slovakia is a small country with a nice variety of scenery but is still quite poor, that will all change. Many Gypsies. Upward & Southward to Hungary now..