The Simple Things

Krakow to Budapest Stage 1 – Krakow to Oświęcim 65 Km (Tue 18 Sep 2018)

Weather: 11⁰C min – 27⁰C max, mostly sunny

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“I don’t ride a bike to add days to my life. I ride a bike to add life to my days!” ~ Unknown

Sad though it might be to leave Kraków, it is good to be on my bike heading towards Budapest 720 Km away. There is always a feeling of excitement at the start of a tour, not knowing what adventure lies ahead.

My ride to Oświęcim today was the first of twelve stages, which works out at an average of 60 Km per day. Although there were few “wow” moments, pleasure was derived from the simple things … interesting old buildings, modest dwellings, log cabins, ramshackle barns, free-range chooks and ducks, autumn trees starting to turn yellow.

It just felt good rolling along under a clear blue sky, temperature in the mid-20s, and a gently breeze blowing the sweat from my brow. But it was not all smooth riding. There was more gravel track than I like, with some sections so rough that I had to dismount and walk. It was walking along that I startled a big brown snake that slithered away at a great rate, seemingly as afraid as I was.

Towns were few so I stopped at the first shop I came to buy a couple of bananas and a chocolate bar to eat along the way. But they were never consumed because the bananas were rotten inside and the chocolate bar had melted in my pocket. For lunch I had to be content with the stale bread and cheese left over from breakfast. Oh well, at least it sustained me.

The last 15 Km into Oświęcim was a dream, cruising along on a magnificent elevated cycleway that was as good as you would find anywhere.

The Polish place name Oświęcim (pronounced osh-fyen-cheem) may be unfamiliar to most foreigners, but the German version, Auschwitz, is not. But more about that after I visit the
Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial tomorrow.