Midday Express - Istanbul on the hoof

[Guru Gora]

Day 21

Kodice Slovakia to Szczyrk Ski Resort Poland

202 Miles

Fabulous roads out of town then onto the mountain pass that tracks west to the north of the main route. It’s a bit misty in places and
thus the roads are a bit damp, I can see it will dry up though so crack on routing generally towards where I can see blue skies.

I’ll put map up.

50 miles of amazing scenery and roads. It’s an outdoor region , like the Lake District but without the traffic , or indeed the abundance of tourists you get in the UK.

Picked a suitable spot on map for lunch, that worked out well.

Found a heliport in middle of nowhere, complete with plane and upside down house, top random entertainment.

The great roads continue, following the rivers generally, until I hit the border.

Not been this far east in Poland before, it’s lovely, a bit like the new forest type of thing.

Into ski resort and hotel is spotless and typical ski place, big lockers etc.

Has a pool which I use immediately on arrival. Sit in sun to dry out.

It’s cooler tonight. 24 as I type.

Walk into town and despite being out of season most places are open. Mandatory tat shop time.

A bit of food and a look at the map to ball park tomorrow.

I recon through the hills a bit then Czech Republic tomorrow towards NE of Prague.

I want to go again to see the spots of interest in Operation Anthropoid. (Google). They were housed in Leamington Spa while training
and awaiting orders don’t you know . There’s a memorial to them in the park there. Be nice to see both ends of the op as it were.

Be safe all.

 

[Guru Gora]

Couple of waypoints in, that’ll work, failing that, head generally north west

At a coffee stop I have a look at the maps on google. There’s a nice looking valley running parallel to the main road …..

So I go to Vysoke Tatry and head west, this turns out to be a great move.

It’s stunning 50 mph bends for about 40 miles, not only that but the nearby town has a decathlon so I have fresh pants for tomorrow

 

[Guru Gora]

Bit of a rough spot for lunch, but I need my Bel Vita upload, so can put up with the lack of a view…

It’s all blue skies from here ….. it’s bloody hot still, a pool would be nice tonight.

 

[Guru Gora]

Random entertainment. Good coffee though.

I think this is an AN whatever……. It’s very scabby close up, whatever it is I’m glad I don’t fly it.

 

[Guru Gora]

Into Poland crossing near the ski resort of Plisko

The road running NW from here is amazing too.

The RT deserves a few Zloty thrown at her … it’s been a brilliant companion so far.

 

[Guru Gora]

The town is very pleasant , get some steps in then I grab some food and hatch a plan …

That’s photo is taken with a iPhone….. with an idiot at the controls. Amazing.

Bed at the chalet and have a quick read up on Operation Anthrapoid again.

I’ll put a bit of a heads up below, I visited the place they took their revenge Lidice years ago.

Looking forward to this very much.

So, a damp start, sensational middle, and pleasant ending to the day. See you tomorrow

 

[Guru Gora]

 

[Khulu]

Couple of waypoints in, that’ll work, failing that, head generally north west

At a coffee stop I have a look at the maps on google. There’s a nice looking valley running parallel to the main road …..

So I go to Vysoke Tatry and head west, this turns out to be a great move.

It’s stunning 50 mph bends for about 40 miles, not only that but the nearby town has a decathlon so I have fresh pants for tomorrow

I did similar to you but I stayed in Zakopane - very touristy!

Great brakfast though.

 

[Guru Gora]

Great area eh

I must pop back and re read yours again……..

 

[g00ner]

Feeling a bit inspired reading this

 

[Guru Gora]

As a lifelong spurs fan, I’ve inspired a gooner.

Shame our football doesn’t do likewise

 

[Guru Gora]

Day 22

Sczcyrk to Jelenia Gora SW Poland

256 Miles. (212 Wet)

Well I wake up to the sound of water streaming , someone’s up for an early swim I recon.

Wrong answer, it’s pissing it down, and will continue to do so.

Options:

1. Take day off and mince around.

2. Man up and get on with it.

I take some tablets…..2 wins, just.

I decide early that Prague is not attainable, so Ill bimble off and see what happens.

Set off thorough mountains and it’s hideous; made worse by continually thinking, 'this would be great if it were dry'.

I have a grip on my bars like a Scotsman holding his wallet closed in a bar.

Never gets below 15 deg but it’s miserable, at least I’ve recced a military museum to go to …….

On arrival after about 190 miles it actually stops raining. The roads are still still soaked, but its some respite.

I’m joined in queue by bloke who looks like he shops exclusively at a army surplus store. Complete with dagger and patch.

Quite why you need an openly carried dagger on a bike day out I don't know, maybe he knows something about the locals I dont.

I excuse myself from Johnny Napalm and have a mooch about.

It’s a shabby place but ok. It’s been designed by the bloke who does the store layout plan at Lidl;

“Right lads, just unload it and lob it in wherever”

There are loads of vehicles, I know we have so military history fans on here so......

BTR 60
BMP 2
ZSU 23/4

Blah blah, to think we used to spend weeks learning what these were, so we knew what to shoot at , then they all became our mates

Personally, my weapon skills as a pilot were such that I probably couldn’t hit a cows arse with a banjo …..

If I was sat on the cow......

Onwards and as I clear the last Cz and Polish ski resorts, I cross the ridge and it’s dry for the last 50 miles or so, great news as I’m well pissed on, and indeed pissed off.

My kit starts to dry in the slipstream so all good.

The town looks nice. so I gas up and set off to hotel.

Hotel is a great find, few miles out of town. I have a swim, a jacuzzi and a sauna.

My bike is parked so I can literally lean out of my window and get into the top box

Into town and park up, tip the attendant 100 percent (50p) to keep eye on bike.

I get back and give him half my pizza, not a particularly benevolent act, as it was the size of a manhole cover, and slightly tougher.

Prague tomorrow for Op Anthropoid and an art exhibition Ive have my eye on for a long time, it’s all about illusions…..

Testing hard day, but very satisfying to bring it home safe.

Stay cool, over to Truprint …

 

[Von Stolberg]

I think this is an AN whatever……. It’s very scabby close up, whatever it is I’m glad I don’t fly it.

AN-148; Nato Code: Purple Cow
Note clipped wings for enhanced roll rate, VVLTOL !
Back-up tail rotor for strong sidewinds.

 

[Guru Gora]

AN-148; Nato Code: Purple Cow
Note clipped wings for enhanced roll rate, VVLTOL !

Dont be daft, the wings are so for parking on the carrier

 

[Von Stolberg]

Dont be daft, the wings are so for parking on the carrier

Ussr MOSKVA.

 

[Guru Gora]

Johnny Napalm rocks up on a lovely XT500

Having woken up to rain, I need to replan.

I’ll go for checking out, been a great stop, and a gentle ride to wherever.

As I get to my bike, soaked already and weighed down like a pack mule, I almost turn round, it’s lashing down and I’m in no hurry, but quick delve into my wash kit saves the day ….

 

[Guru Gora]

On arrival at the museum, I make the effort to de kit and get dry, 4 hours of relentless rain so far. It’s just stopped so hopefully will get a bit better.

The museum pieces.

BTR

BMP

Combat Van

This is marked in Implementation Force markings.

There were SFOR ones there too.

 

[Guru Gora]

More for the military fans …..

BFM

T80. (1880)

Fair play to the guys who operated and went to war in these things.

 

[Guru Gora]

Some brave soul got fragged on his head and still cracked on ……

Klim had a stand there too, they had been trialing their new “Badlands Super Pro” suit.

 

[Guru Gora]

A nice stop off for sure, especially when I got a chance to dry out.

The heated seat and grips were a bonus today.

One final shot of museum then it’s off towards somewhere called Jelenia Gora.

I’ll see how progress is, then jump on bookings.com and look to hunker down.

So it remains dry but wet roads, I’ll take that, like I have a choice.

Stop for coffee and book a place, town looks nice so fingers crossed.