Horsey

Location: Horsey
Time: 1:00 GMT

Moon watching,
Star gazing, 
Ample number of shooting ones
All at my freezing  finger tips.
And I'm lovin it :-)

Breeze

Wasn't snow but rain, 
Wasn't sun but wind,  
That woke me up. 
One* was so happy to feel morning breeze...

* http://gracefulwomanwarrior.com

That day

Location: local lake
Time: 22.00 BST
Date: Tuesday

I would swear that I had posted shortly afterwards.  Never mind.  That day I wanted to do...
What I could have done to treat myself... No what?    I had wondered.  Then out of blue,  let's go swim!
It was an early night,  cycled around to keep warm and tuned into music to chill out and the same time observing.  Definitely only me around.  Found interesting  spot.  What a beauty.  Then quick and stealthy approach and I'm already in. What a fantastic feel cold water on your back.  OK lasted not for too long,  though.  Definitely,  I'll be back.  Meanwhile keep posting :-)

Another Place

Location: Crosby  Beach 

Time: afternoon 

Date:  01.11.2014 

While ago when cycled towards Lands End, I had a chance to navigate myself through The Beatles  city -  Liverpool.  Even stopped and sought that famous zebra crossing close to Abbey studios. Only to learn that  mentioned  zebra crossing is located back in the capitol. 

At that time  I was not aware of this project "Another Place"  located at the Crosby  Beach,  exactly one hundred of cast iron statues spread all over the beach and facing West. Then some time after,  I had watched criminal story,  where main character run on that beach and statues. At that given moment  I made myself a promise that I will run on that beach. 

Some time later,  an opportunity arose to drive a car.  Yes,  that's correct!  Me born cyclist  to drive.  Oh yes!  Driving skill is important.  Then of you go!  Me and close friend,  a cycling mate and personal  coach were ready to depart. 

We had managed to do Park Run,  find many geocache some of them as late as 2am. Which draw attention to a bartender from a local pub when two blokes in the middle of the night searched nearby hedge :-) 

That weekend I drove many,   many miles... 

At  the end,   somehow found myself protesting in the front of  Romanian embassy!. 

I have learned the hard way,  what it means to give someone  a finger in this case a thumb.  Ouch.... 

Simply saying one more episode from series "Just do it" 

Wild

Time: 22:05 GMT
Location: 5 star lake

Wild swiming an interesting option how to finish your day. Warmer in than out and the same time refreshingly cool. Promise I'll do it again.
Surly drizzle is my friend.

Chiltern cycleway

Date: 06.07.2014

Time: 20.00 BST

Location: Chinnor 

Maidenhead become my gateway to Chilterns,  which some time ago me and my friend Cristina visited unknowingly when cycling to Oxford.  

One of many attractions awaiting for just stone through from London is the Chinnor Railway.  Enthusiasticly run steam engines by volunteers,  the track is a only couple miles long though that's still takes you back in time when steam was a king on the track.  

Nearby is located an oldest smoked* Windmill called Lacey Green Windmill. On Sundays definitely during summer holidays the Windmill is open to the public. Saying that,  I reached it shortly before sunset and therefore stayed in a local pub where I enjoyed pint of Guinness. :-) I How to get to the he Lacey Green Windmill. 

Refreshed and rehydrated with only one pint and head on in to the night as the road to my Base was still a head of me. 

Artisan pizza

Date: 16.08.2014

Time: 17.00 BST

Location: Cookham 

I found this local pizza eatery last Sunday when I went for run and was forced to sought a shelter as heavy downpour went through Maidenhead area. 
It is a cosy and charm full local restaurant where wooden fired oven takes central place and literally warms up atmosphere.  Food as well service is good hence my post. Simply spreading good news. 
That little wood fired oven takes me back to the time when I set my first steps  on UK soil.  My first job was a pizza maker for small businesses called Basillico.  Just imagine finest quality pizza cooked in the artisan oven,  that thin and crispy base.  It was a time,  when pizza was on my menu every day.

Yummy 

PS I'm enjoying while exploring a local area 

Midsummer sunset

Date: 05.08.2014

Time: 20.00 BST

Location: Bridge

Well,  the summer in full swing,  good time for bbq and camping all together as I enjoyed recent visit to  N11.  Never been to that side of the city.
Now enjoying sunset somewhere locally along a cycling path.

Star gazing

24/07/2014
location : field
Time : 02.04BST

I felt like camping out this night,  like that out of blue.  Interesting feeling to do something instantly.  Then of you go I'm somewhere in the field,  covered with my favourite, as I have only one,  woolen blanket.  Trying to capture the moment of star gazing for many days to come...

The road

Just wonder where I'm bound... Where I'm bound...  (Johnny  Cash) 
As I head on in the darkness.  Half moon on my right.  Empty Road and Surly me.

The egg poem

The finest egg poem.
_when the best and brightest years have passed,  live each day as if it were your last.
Treasure them,  as miners treasure gold,  see the world before you too old.
Let is beauty sink into your mind,  day by day more wonders you will find.
Learn to look,  a new joy can be found,  once you pause and start to look around.
Spare the time to gaze at lovely things,  hardens,  sunsets,  blossom, waves and wings.  Patience Strong. In loving memory of Beryl Ridgley -  a lovely lady.

My project: Surly

Surly disc trucker

I promised myself to publish a post depicting time when my companion  was "born" out of carton.  My previous  bike,  Gary Fisher mtam* was a 29er, a mountain bike build on an aluminium  frame.  On New year's day while cleaning my machine I had discovered worring  signs of metal fatigue. I spotted 4 different cracks,  hair size by the head tube on welding lines.  This wasn't  a laughing matter and instantly I had reached a conclusion.  New frame is need it! From the beginning I planned to salvage some of the parts as they were recently fitted.  It was then when,  an idea of having my bike self-build,  according to my specification.

For this trip decided to opt for a touring frame,  preferably  a steel.  Then I came along Surly's frames available online,  ideal solution for my project.  Though for my height, only 26"wheel frame was a right move.  

Then next,  wheels - I wanted to build my own set, therefore I would learned principles of wheel truing while on the road.  Then some serious calculations what length do I need.  Rims where the same only dimensions of hubs changed slightly length of spokes. As a result, in total four lengths of spokes been used.  Regarding  spokes all of them made by DT Swiss,  Interestingly those used as rear wheel ones were triple swagged and slightly reinforced than the front ones for an obvious reason. 

Brakes,  well as the expected terrain to be hilly and shear weight of Surly and loaded gear I opted for disc brakes. Mechanical ones made by Avid like, model BB7 are  well tested examples. 

Tires,  Schwalbe with huge range,  starting with Marathon sets an excellent benchmark for a touring tire. Though I have tried Continental Top Contact which was too heavy.  Hence my choice,  foldable Schwalbe Dureme. 

Miscellaneous items would be Tubus  racks, SKS mudguards and last but least awesome Brooks saddle. 

Camping out

Camping season for me is open all year round.  This summer I'm testing  this little  one -  DD travel hammock.  Very interesting solution.  

I do enjoy  it,  as you  can see.:-) 

Colin and his passion

    When on the road, locally or further away I do enjoy meeting new people,  people with passion.
    Last Saturday of June,  I met Colin who shared with me about his passion for Enfield motorcycles.
Though this example was only 20 years old,  as production model originated some 60* years ago.  Rear suspension was an interesting future and most importantly,  for the first time accommodated within this model.  

Thank you,  Colin for you time. :-) 

*as a layman, as much I do recall *

WNBR London 2014

Saturday  14/06/2014  location: central London 

This afternoon  through city of London  bunch of velo enthusiast managed   to cycle naked.  Though I was almost one hour late,  I met the peleton  nearby London Eye and without hesitation  I joined the party.  Simply following this slogan seen many times: 

                              "Just do it!" 

I have to admit that this time I did enjoy it!  No helmet,  no shades  this time,  to hide behind.  Just me,  in full monty. 

What  a ride!  No handlebars... No handlebars... 

***on personal  note,  apparently every cyclist fall* once every half a year ***

Strangely enough I do fall once every month :-o this might have something together with no handlebars policy :-) 

*quotation needed it as I overheard it from my cycling buddy ;-) 

The sea and fish&chips

What would you like to do by the sea at this time?
You might like to swim,  to stroll along the beach or to just listen to crushing waves while you read a book.

*** Thanks to Faya from local Tesco who was so kind and charged my phone.  ***

Biker

Two wheels have not been betrayed :-) 

Pery się żeni

In fact, my ultimate destination of my trip was a wedding.  This time my brother had tightened the knot.  The ceremony took place in the cathedral in Radom,  central Poland at the beginning of November. 

«««««Well done you two,  Michael and  Kamila Gie;-) »»»»» 

Otherwise I would spent Christmas somewhere in Lapland with other beardy fella;-) 

I did wonder at some point. Why I have not met my maternal and parental side of my family before at the same wedding?  Conclusion.  I did skip an option of my wedding... 

Well, well  "I just wonder where I'm bound..." by Johnny Cash plays from time to time... Who knows. 

Jeziorno

With full stomach I started to pedal towards Jeziorno, where my dad was brought up. My grandma was unaware of my plans. I cycled through muddy dirt roads leading my through a local woods, then through open fields. Where only a dot on my GPS was shown as I was completely out of bitten track.

Stayed over night in Jeziorno with my grandma. It was my last night spent somewhere else than my bed by the attic.

Tomorrow Radom, Kaptur and my room:-)  Home sweat home! LOL

English is my second language, a proof above:-) 

***HOME SWEET HOME***

Photo 1 and 3. Jeziorno, a village where my father was brought up.

Photo 2. Me and my grandma. Jeziorno.

Photo 4. An old tractor , Ursus C-330 in action. Bierwiecki las.

A few last stops...

On that Thursday despite rain, I visited many of my relatives. By doing this, I wanted them to be part of journey too.
My first stop was, Zawady Stare where me aunty Teresa and family  leaved there. I have fond memories of this place where as kid and then teenager spent many interesting summer holidays. Me and brother during daylight we  used to help on the farm and at then with cousins we stayed over the barn and slept in the hey.

While I chatted with my aunty, I heard a story about her grandpa who travelled from Far Asia for at least half a year. As conscript in tzar's Russian army he had taken active part in the Russian and Japan conflict dated 1905*

Second stop, was at Lisów where my other aunty Hanna and her family  leaves for some time. This was place where durinng a summer months and not only I spent time exploring local woods, streams and fields and even river Radomka.

Then I cycled to a nearby "wedding house" where soon my brother wood through his wedding party.
Then to Wsola, where I met my aunty Irena and uncle Marian. We chatted for some time during też time.
Last but least my stop was Wielogora, where my other aunty Janina leaved. Yet another tea and hot served "red borsht" I meant "czerwony barszcz" I was ready to enter my home town, Radom.

Photo 1. Me and my aunty, Teresa. Zawady Stare.

Photo 2. Me and my aunty, Hanna. Lisów.

Photo 3. Me and my cousin, Ela. Lisów.

Photo 4. Me and Marcin, shop owner. Bierwce.

Radom in the end...

Left London on Wednesday, drizzly night of 14/08/2013 and reached my destination, my home town, Radom on Thursday 07/11/2013 drizzly early evening.
Cycled on my Surly just 4000+km, travelled on board many trains and ferries and last but not least met on my way many interesting people.

“It is good to have an end to journey toward;

 but it is the journey that matters, in the end.”Ernest Hemigway