Starting the 2nd #TETPoland adventure
After the first trip we took in June, I was eagerly waiting for our second vacation. I knew we will be back on #TETPoland and was just counting days to start it. We download the GPX track to Garmin Montana 610 which Daniel is using for navigation. Friday was just 3 days ahead and adventure spirit was on a high level, so we started packing.
The weather unfortunately changed a little and we were to expect lower temperatures and rain. So this time we packed more warm clothes and decided to travel in #BMWEnduroguard outfits.
This is our full track:
Day 1 – Warsaw to Bondary
Again we started at Bondary Beach. We left Warsaw around 4 pm. Managed through heavy traffic for almost 100 km. Summer school holidays have already finished, so we had to struggle a bit during the first half of the trip that day. Fortunately for us, the weather was windless with beautiful moonlight. It was the end of August so sunset was fast and it was getting cold down to 13 degrees in the early evening. We reached Bondary in the dark, tired and I struggled a bit with my bike at the finish falling on parking at the end. The camping was surprisingly crowded, so after the fast setting of the tent, in a most silent place, we just had a quick late supper, something hot to drink, and fall asleep. A new day was to come and a new adventure was there.
Day 2 – Bondary to Łuków
The second day started as only a little sunny, but in good moods, we entered the #TETPoland track. Visited the old railway station, again traveled through Poldlachia wilderness, nature reserves, and fast gravel roads. As we reached #Mielnik for a dinner break there was a weather breakdown. We ate delicious dinner, traditional Podlachia kitchen (solyanka soup, special dumplings – kartacze and potato cake) waiting for any weather change. I did not improve. We had no other choice but to go further in the rain. We reached #Łuków late afternoon, took a hot shower in Daniel’s parent’s house, went for an evening walk to stretch legs after the day, and at 10 pm we were sleeping like kids 😉
Day 3 – Łuków to Kazimierz Dolny
As expected by weather forecasters the day woke us up with the full sun, temperature over 25 degrees, and rising. We had a fastpacking in the morning, no need to pack the tent :), and just before 10 am we were on track. It led us that day through muds, fields of corn and grain, and wet sands. No more nature reserves today but some challenging tracks for me, as you know I am fresh on off-road so do not go easy on sand and mud yet. A discovery from that day was laying back while standing on my bike with straight legs gives me much better control on the sand and less fear while crossing mud and puddles together with gas control. That was quite inspiring for me as fear is still traveling on my shoulder.
As by lunchtime we were somewhere in the middle of nowhere, we just sat at a petrol station and had instant Chinese soup to get some rest before going further to #KazimierzDolny. We arrived at #KazimierzDolny early afternoon, had some trouble finding a camping spot, but we made it and the weather was still very good. Our camping spot #Campingpielaka was located not far away from the Old Town, green, with a grill spot, roof topped kitchen, and nice sanitary facilities. We set our tent, unpacked, and refreshed went for a walk and tasty pizza and beer supper.
Kazimierz Dolny
Kazimierz Dolny is a small historic town in east-central Poland on the right (eastern) bank of the Vistula river in Puławy County. In the past, it used to be one of the most important cities of the province.
It is a considerable tourist attraction as one of the most beautifully situated little towns in Poland. It enjoyed its greatest prosperity in the 16th and the first half of the 17th century, due to the trade-in grain conducted along the Vistula.
Still, lots of tourists, although it was Sunday afternoon, nice small city buzz still letting you rest there. We just wondered for 2h without rush, to feel the charm of this small city. It was a nice stop, worth visiting again. Evening came too fast and the temperature of the day put us asleep before 11 pm.
Day 4 – Kazimierz Dolny to Zamość
A nice sunny morning gave us a warm welcome in #KazimierzDolny. We packed camping gear and headed towards #Zamość. Beautiful weather trough the whole trip while crossing fields and forests guided us. Unfortunately early afternoon I fell crossing the field and beaten my right hand. After some 45 min, we headed towards #Krasnik looking for pharmacy and ice spray. It helped right away. We went for a nice burger lunch and rode to #Zamość. Landed there late afternoon so had a chance to see the beautiful Old Town in the evening and the adjacent city park. Staying at #Królewska Kwatera was a good idea for the night as heavy rain and storms were expected. It started just after 5 am the next day and did not stop until we were leaving #Zamość.
Day 5 – Zamość to Bieszczadzka Przystań Motocyklowa
Due to significant, but expected, weather changes, we shifted our plans and decided to use this rainy day for a transfer to #BieszczadzkaPrzystańMotocyklowa. On the way, in #Sanok we met with Daniel’s old university friend for a dinner, dried a little, and safely rode to our destination. We rode 5h in heavy rain today, so came to #BieszczadzkaPrzystańMotocyklowa wet all over. It stopped raining close to Sanok, so the last part of the day was pretty nice. Fortunately, a warm, heated room with a bathroom waited for us and a nice bonfire in the evening with new friends at the spot.
Day 6 – Around Bieszczady
We woke up with the hope of better weather. You know in the mountains everything is possible 🙂 Unfortunately the drizzle was accompanying our the whole day. But we spent a few hours riding along Wielka Pętla Bieszczadzka. Small villages, tourist cities, visiting the Solina Dam. Luckily the weather started to clear late afternoon. So the evening was warm, new bikers came in and there was guitar playing and singing by the bonfire. I was sad we need to leave the next morning but knew we will be back there soon.
Day 7 – From Bieszczady to…
The morning was foggy but the sky cleared before we packed our bikes and started the next journey day. The plan was to go back on #TetPoland in Narol. We admired the beauty of Bieszczady for some more time and I had a chance to practiced sharp mountain turns…loved it. We stopped in Oleszyce at #szamanko for a quick dinner and to rest a little. While leaving unfortunately I fall with my bike again and again on the right hand. That was too much. I knew riding on #TET was over for me this time. I just sat down and cried. My hand was really hurting so it took me some time to ease the pain. Daniel decided we ride home after it turned out that somehow I still can ride. The adventure ended suddenly. We rode 320 km back home. The day after I visited orthopedic and happily nothing was broken. I just needed to wear a wrist stabilizer for 2 weeks.
So the day ended at home, 2 days earlier than we planned.
Happily for me after a week in stabilizer the hand recovered so I can go riding again.
Trip in numbers:
- 7 days on the road from Friday afternoon to Thursday evening a week later
- transfer from Warsaw to Bondary: 268 km
- 563 km on #TETPoland
- transfer from Zamosc to #BieszczadzkaPrzystanMotocyklowa (all in rain): 282
- Great Bieszczady Loop Road: 168km
- transfer to home: 512
- total 1787 km
- 6 nights in different places – 2 camping stays, 4 room stays
- 1 double night stay
- two 240 gr gas canisters for cooking (used half of one)
- 5 visits on gas station
What was missing this time?
Only two things 😉 Waterproof coating we did not take, thinking our BMW Enduroguard is enough – it was not. Now we will always pack the waterproof coating.
The second was a frying pan as we love scrambled eggs 🙂 so a light small one camping edition from Robens is bought already, tested, and will travel with us the next time for sure.
Stay tuned for a movie that is to come soon 🙂
If you want to see more photos here is the gallery: