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Day +2 - Hannover (D) to Swindon (UK)

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Monday 17/08/2020 ------------------------------ After a bumb-numbing final push, I made it back to the UK in good time. If I hadn't camped and my ass could take the pain, I would have ridden door to door in 18hrs. It was a very warm night and I struggled to get to sleep initially. Woke-up to heavy thunder, but thankfully no rain. Didn't rush as I had plenty of time to get to the channel tunnel for my crossing.... I took some scenic roads toward the motorway which was nice but the clouds ahead looked ominous so I put-on my waterproofs and packed all the water sensitive stuff away. Rode straight into a massive storm - couldn't see a lot so had to pull-over for a bit. After a few miles the sun was out again so when I tanked-up, I removed the waterproofs. About 50km down the road an even more menacing cloud loomed and by the time I hit Holland, the wind and rain really picked-up. I stopped under a motorway bridge to put my waterproofs back on, but the location flooded within a

Day +1 - Rolbik (PL) to Hannover (D)

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Sunday 16/08/2020 ------------------------------ So the transit return leg, back to reality and back to the obligations of life (including a new job in my case).... I had an enjoyable last day in Poland, where I spent the evening with 2 or my brother-in-laws and their families. We recalled some of the funny events that happened. So many that didn't make it into the blog and that I had forgotten. Today was another boiling day and was even hotter as I wore my 'proper' bike gear. I left about 09.30 and luckily there was minimal traffic in Poland so I kept moving and took in the lovely lakes and forests for probably the last time this year. Poland is a lovely country but I can't help feeling that it's being over developed and is quickly losing it's charm. After a quick stop for petrol and my last Polish petrol station kabanos hot-dog, I was in Germany. The roads here were grid-locked. Lots of accidents on top of the roadworks. There was no wa

Day 8 - Ciechocinek - Rolbik

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Friday 14/08/2020 ------------------------------- .... And so the end of our week- long circumnavigation of Eastern Poland. Not the world's greatest motorcycle ride, but it was great to see some new (and old) places and to spend time riding and drinking with such great company. We had an early start and followed the road through Torun along the Vistula river. We all stopped somewhere before Czersk for a coffee and to go our separate ways. Marian shot off home via Chojnice, Grzegorz went into Czersk to meet a friend whilst the rest of us did some great roads back to Leśno through Tuchola and Wiele. Met-up with the wives atvTomek's house where we had some food and I then shot-off back to Rolbik to unpack my dirty clothes, grab a shower and get some rest. Caught-up with my wife's family and shared a couple of beers and told them about the trip. Tomorrow I need to re-pack and prepare for the long journey home on Sunday/Monday. With the Corona situation changing, it sounds like

Day 7 - Kazimierz Dolny - Ciechocinek

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Thursday 13/08/2020 ------------------------------- Hot as hell today. We had a great night - Kazimierz is a special place. Lots of drinks and lots of chat with some fellow bikers. Lots of riding, lots of lost Marian, Marian lost luggage, Marian got stung by a wasp, etc.  We missed Sandomierz and just headed for Ciechocinek. Amazing place but getting here was hard work. Lots of riding very slowly - very hot but a great fun ride up. Amazing day. Love Ciechocinek. Lost this blog once already so not writing it all again. Look at the pictures and Google.the Ciechocinek salt towers. Unique and very impressive. Many beers and a fun last night. Mileage: 2365 Country count: 6 (GB, France, Belgium, Netherlands,

Day 6 - Solina - Kazimierz Dolny

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Wednesday 12/08/2020 --------------------------------------- After another day / evening spent in the wonderful Bieszczady mountains, it was with great regret that we had to leave and start heading back Northwards. Really - this is where we should have rushed too 10 years ago. Unfortunately it has become over-developed now and far too busy. A nice cabin - day rides out and some mountain walking would be a nice alternative journey..... but not this time. We left the Bieszczady toward Sandomierz and hit some of the best roads and views of the trip. We didn't bother going to Sandomierz despite it beiing a great city but it was a real pleasure and a fun ride all the way until Kazimierz Dolny. On the way we rode through the biggest orchard region I have ever seen. Apples, pears, cherrys

Day 5 - Solina - Solina

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Tuesday 11/08/2020 ---------------------------------- We decided to stay a 2nd night in Solina to do the 'big mountain loop' and to enjoy what are probably the best roads the country has to over. Had a few more beers last night so lost track of things and didn't feel 100% this morning. A good evening chatting though but we couldn't leave first thing as I was over the limit when I did a breath test on Grzegorz's alcometer.... Marian didn't bother putting-up his tent and decided to sleep outside on a blanket. He woke-up covered in slugs but said it was his best night of sleep on the trip so far.... Marian went his own way and got lost. We were meant to meet-up later on but we didn't see him for much of the day as he went to some village film location to meet some reality tv show peasant superstars.... We started today's ride by going to Ustrzyki Doln