“HOGS AND SAND”
Like the first night of the “Iron Side Ride 2018”, I was disturbed during these trips first camping night. Around midnight, I woke up because of a pack of wild hogs, which was rummaging around in the dry leafs around my tent.
The noises they’ve made like: grunting, sniffing and loud breathing had been very frightening to me! I haven’t had any experiences with these animals before. Horror stories of big teethed boars ripping my tent into pieces came up in my mind …
Luckily that only happened in my fantasies. As written above, the first pack of wild hogs this night made me very alerted. The second one which came nearer to the tent also. But then I recognized, that they just sniffed and dug with their snout in the dry leaves for fallen acorns. I calmed myself down a bit. Finally, I fell asleep. The third pack of hogs, which was passing my tent in the very early morning, I hardly recognized whilst sleeping. Now it was clear for me, that they won’t harm me. Phew … . ^_^’
The second day of my trip started in the north of Warsaw. The ride went on north-eastwards, near to the border of Lithuania. There my black beauty and I entered Polands eastern Section of the Tans Euro Trail and began to followed it southwards for the whole riding day.
After the “adventurous” night in my tent it took my some time to wake up completely. Pretty tired I wished my black beauty Чернотa a “Good Morning” and cursed myself for the mistake, to camp within an oak forest. After that night it was obvious to me, that camping in such a forest is associated with some wild hogs looking for the yummy acorns. -_- *yawn*
Towards a few minutes sitting in the tent enjoying the view and early mornings bird whisper, I finally got my mind sorted and went up, …
packed the stuff and settled the pony. Чернотa and I left nothing but footprints and went out of this hog-infested forest. Back on the road we followed …
the track in direction northeast. When riding through Eastern Europe you’ll see many storks. They are breeding on old chimneys, or like here on this picture: on a power pole. Because there are so many of them in Eastern Europe, people often mount special frames onto the power poles or chimneys. So the storks can breed without any danger for their own, the power companies or house residents.
Poland is like its neighbor countries well known for it huge flat plains. But riding through isn’t boring. Often something special shows up, like this …
little chapel in the middle of proverbial nothing.
Чернотa and I passed a few little creeks. The track startet to get more …
and more remote. In north east Poland the track surface changed from gravel and soil …
to compact sand. Like so often before Чернотa and I followed some …
harvesting tracks. Forests, …
grassy plains, and …
straights as far as the eye can reach alternated during our ongoing journey. We passed a …
unknown village where this impressive water-reservoir-tower was seen.
Now, near the entrance point to the Trans Euro Trail we rode through Polands Masurian Lake District. It’s surely a lovely place for spending some holidays here in the months of summer.
The ride continued …
and finally we entered, after more than 900km or 560mi the last days, …
Polands Eastern Section of the Trans Euro trail. Some …
illegally dumped rubbish aside the street welcomed us, short …
before we began to follow endless sand trails, …
leading through gigantic fields. Here I lowered the tire pressure on both of Чернотas wheels for better handling of the motorcycle. I was tired after having less sleep last night. So I decided …
to have a short power nap at this idyllic lake near the trail. Thirty minutes later, still not fully awoken, I continued to follow the route southwards.
After some …
signs of civilization, …
near another small river, I forced myself for additional stop. My tiredness hasn’t stopped, so …
it was time to fight it with some caffeine and a high caloric cereal bar. Slowly the spirits came back and we rode on. For everyone who is intending to do Polands eastern section of the TET: It has to be said, …
that the track is leading surely about one quarter of its length along asphalt or otherwise well maintained tracks. I thought it would be less. :/
Riding …
along this sand tracks is quite easy. Most of the time the sand was highly compressed so, there wasn’t much difference to the ride along fine gravel tracks.
Whilst following the trail, this tremendous …
radio antenna showed up. Those high and thin types have been unknown to me. As far as I know we don’t have these ones in Austria.
After another break for fueling up and buying some food for the evening …
Чернотa and I pushed on to make a few more miles this day.
Somewhere aside the trail …
this old garage was found. In front of it was a little ramp located. Probably for the former maintenance of cars and trucks. Whilst sniffing around in the area by foot …
this little cheeky little goat showed up.
Goat kid: “Nothing special. Just posing like a pro for the tourist. Maybe I’ll get a TET-superstar!” ^_^
After that cute little bugger (and billions of pictures of it) and a few more miles, we reached the border to Belarus. Belarus is an interesting country because it’s a close neighbor to the European Union, but most of the Europeans don’t know much about it. Maybe it would be a good idea for another incoming dualadventure? *stillthinkingabout*
The ridden TET-Route was …
passing this old abandoned railway line which connected in former Soviet times the countries Poland and Belarus. Nowadays only railway lines on the polish side of the border remained. As far as I was able to look over the border, on the side of Belarus they rails have been removed. Nowadays, only a gate made of steel was left over with the word: “Мир”:”Mir” written on top. That means something like “World” or “Freedom” and is probably a long gone slogan of the USSR and its freedom of travel within its borders. I really like to visit such remnants of former times. It reminded me decent on my trip two years ago, leading through Bulgaria and the huge communist building on top of a mountain.
With another picture of this location in my pocket the ride …
went on along some abandoned buildings. In the late afternoon …
we arrived in the village “Jalowce” where this …
impressive ruin of a Catholic Church is located. The St. Antony Church in Jalowce was destroyed …
in the year 1944. German Soldiers blow up the church tower during their retreat from the incoming Russian troops.
Later, a roof for the altar was built within the old ruin. One time in a year a mass is concelebrated within the old walls. What an interesting place!
Here you can find some further information about this ruin and also a few more pictures of it: *CLICK*. Just use Google-Translate for the transcription.
Still being in Jalowce we passed this Greek Orthodox church. I really like the curved stonewall around the main gate on the right-hand side of the picture. Dawn was slowly …
incoming, so Чернотa and I fought our way along some old, bumpy and overgrown trails, …
til we reached this days place for shelter.
Right at the edge of a forest/meadow, I built up the tent. Later, just when the …
sun began to sink faster to the horizon, the merited meals was ready. I can of polish liquid gold made the pasta perfect. Another great day of riding found …
its suitable end. The glowing globe was barely gone, when a breeze of cold wind came up. So it didn’t last long til I hid myself in the soft and cuddly sleeping bag. *zzz, zzZ, ZZZ*
Total distance of riding day number two: 570 km or 350 mi.