It was my intention to sit here and write some more postcards but frankly I'd rather be riding my bike.
Laters potaters
Saturday, 3 July 2010
FAQ
How are your legs?
My legs are fantastic! A bit stronger and browner than a month ago but - other than some minor niggles early on and mosquito bites - they're in great shape. On the other hand, I seem to be losing dexterity - my hands are really tight so my ability to use cutlery and type is diminishing.
How's the bike?
It's okay. It's failed twice, both times quite seriously - the first the pannier rack broke, ruining the only available holes on the frame for mountaing a new one and the second issue was that I wore out the rear cassette, making the bike completey uncyclable. Each of these problems resolved itself with only minor delays and not too much expenedture. Rerospectively, the ease with which I got back on the road is moreorless empirical proof for the existence of a guardian angel of cyclists.
Are you sure you're eating enough?
If I do a full day's cycling I'm eating about 5 meals a day with inbetween-meal snacks of whole packets of biscuits. That said, I think I've lost a little weight, though not too much.
What are you eating?
Everything. I now know my way around German and Polish bakeries well enough to write a phd on them.
Where are you sleeping?
Occasionally in a hostel or campsite but for the most part I'm wild camping in forests, in farmer's fields or on the beach. I'm happiest away from civilisation but occasionally the lure of a cold beer or the need to wash my clothes (and I mean need) exerts a certain pull.
Oh yeah - and the ambassador's residence in Berlin. Obviously.
Aren't you lonely?
No. I like my own company (as Dr Leary said when they put him in solitary "Great! I have the undivided attention of the most interesting person I know") and besides I seem to constantly attract people that want to talk to me (even if we don't have a common language).
How far have you cycled?
3004 kms in the month of June.
My legs are fantastic! A bit stronger and browner than a month ago but - other than some minor niggles early on and mosquito bites - they're in great shape. On the other hand, I seem to be losing dexterity - my hands are really tight so my ability to use cutlery and type is diminishing.
How's the bike?
It's okay. It's failed twice, both times quite seriously - the first the pannier rack broke, ruining the only available holes on the frame for mountaing a new one and the second issue was that I wore out the rear cassette, making the bike completey uncyclable. Each of these problems resolved itself with only minor delays and not too much expenedture. Rerospectively, the ease with which I got back on the road is moreorless empirical proof for the existence of a guardian angel of cyclists.
Are you sure you're eating enough?
If I do a full day's cycling I'm eating about 5 meals a day with inbetween-meal snacks of whole packets of biscuits. That said, I think I've lost a little weight, though not too much.
What are you eating?
Everything. I now know my way around German and Polish bakeries well enough to write a phd on them.
Where are you sleeping?
Occasionally in a hostel or campsite but for the most part I'm wild camping in forests, in farmer's fields or on the beach. I'm happiest away from civilisation but occasionally the lure of a cold beer or the need to wash my clothes (and I mean need) exerts a certain pull.
Oh yeah - and the ambassador's residence in Berlin. Obviously.
Aren't you lonely?
No. I like my own company (as Dr Leary said when they put him in solitary "Great! I have the undivided attention of the most interesting person I know") and besides I seem to constantly attract people that want to talk to me (even if we don't have a common language).
How far have you cycled?
3004 kms in the month of June.
Postcards from Poland 2: Wild in the streets
I arrived in M_________ hungry, tired and drenched. I quickly found a campsite, showered, found and ate food and was going to bed ready to explore nearby Wollinski national park in the morning.
As I was wriggling into my sleeping bag I heard giggles outside my tent. Banter ensued. Before I knew what was going on, 3 (admittedly extremely petite) Polish girls were trying to get into my tent. Now, this was partly my fault as - when they asked if it was a tent for 1 person - I told them it slept 4. However, my tent is barely big enough for me. Turning over requires effort and getting dressed in it levels of contortion I have not yet mastered.
The following is an extract from the conversation that happened once we were all out of the tent:
- Come with us
- I'm tired
- It's early
- I'm tired
- It's Saturday
- I'm tired
- Please come with us
- I'm tired
- Please
- Alright. 1 minute while I put clothes on.
...
[1 minute later]
- Where are we going?
- We drink Wodka and we dance.
And they weren't lying. We went to a shop, bought a bottle of Wodka, a carton of juice and took 14 plastics cups. Wodka is poured into 7 of the cups and juice into the remaining 7. In unison we down the Wodka and then do whatever we like with the juice. Note that they are not mixed in the same glass. Then we went into a club and danced like maniacs. My goodness, do those girls know how to let go! When a tune comes on that the girls hate, or someone is tired or thirsty the cycle begins again. So we went to a shop...
And thus began a night I'll remember for a long time (and one that probably took years off my life). From what I gather, this is a fairly typical night out with neuvo middle-class 17-years-old Polish girls. This is Poland.
As I was wriggling into my sleeping bag I heard giggles outside my tent. Banter ensued. Before I knew what was going on, 3 (admittedly extremely petite) Polish girls were trying to get into my tent. Now, this was partly my fault as - when they asked if it was a tent for 1 person - I told them it slept 4. However, my tent is barely big enough for me. Turning over requires effort and getting dressed in it levels of contortion I have not yet mastered.
The following is an extract from the conversation that happened once we were all out of the tent:
- Come with us
- I'm tired
- It's early
- I'm tired
- It's Saturday
- I'm tired
- Please come with us
- I'm tired
- Please
- Alright. 1 minute while I put clothes on.
...
[1 minute later]
- Where are we going?
- We drink Wodka and we dance.
And they weren't lying. We went to a shop, bought a bottle of Wodka, a carton of juice and took 14 plastics cups. Wodka is poured into 7 of the cups and juice into the remaining 7. In unison we down the Wodka and then do whatever we like with the juice. Note that they are not mixed in the same glass. Then we went into a club and danced like maniacs. My goodness, do those girls know how to let go! When a tune comes on that the girls hate, or someone is tired or thirsty the cycle begins again. So we went to a shop...
And thus began a night I'll remember for a long time (and one that probably took years off my life). From what I gather, this is a fairly typical night out with neuvo middle-class 17-years-old Polish girls. This is Poland.
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