Sat Okh

Impressive! When I heard the story for the first time from Andrzej z Banino regarding Sat Okh. In an essence what stroke about him that he managed to escape from a transport /cattle wagon/ to concentration camp during World War 2 - WW2
True survivor!
To begin with, his mother Stanislawa was rescued by a Canadian native tribe as she was left abounded by a group of runaways from tzar's russia. Then she became a wife of atribal chief and gaved birth to 3 children. One of them was Sat-Okh.  In 1937, Sat Okh as a teenage son returns with mum to Poland. Break up of WW2 met them in Radom, where he is tortured by Gestapo then sent to Auschwitz. He managed to escape from a transport. Badly injured sought a shelter in the forest. As part of partizante movement bravely fought Nazi occupant. By his fellow brothers of arm called "kozak". After the war joined Polish Merchant Navy which allowed him to travel abroad. Once, in the Canadian city was even an object of brutal attack. This might be linked with murder of his sister. Meanwhile wrote books with collection of Indian stories. Shortly before his departure set an Indian museum in hamlet  Wymyslowo, close to the town Tuchola

All but one photos taken in the Indian Museum located in Wymyslowo

1. Sat-Okh wearing full tribal uniform

2. One items on display in the museum

3. An Indian motto

4. Statue in front of  former Gestapo quarter in Radom, ul. Kosciuszki 6

Interesting links
1. http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sat-Okh
2. http://www.biblionetka.pl/author.aspx?id=2107
3. http://wieszwal.republika.pl/Wigwam08/PLIKI/SAT-OKH.HTM
4. http://www.huuskaluta.com.pl/sat_okh/

Train ride

When did you last time board a train into unknown?
Me when on a bicycle ride /to my surprise/ from time to time I do like an idea of traveling by a train.
This time I reached Chojnice :-) 
Photo 1. Me and Antony, exceptionally friendly conductor
Photo 2. Me and Agnieszka with family
Photo 3. Even a train leaves the station, then only me at the platform, first time at Chojnice.

Andrzej from Banino

While discovering docks of Gdansk, Northern Port area ma attention was directed to the bicycle lining against a lorry. My first thought was,  what kind of a driver uses bicycle? This way I met Andrzej from Banino,  who worked for a laboratory and bicycle was a helpful mean of transport, simply  to move around while taking grain's samples destined for export.
Hey Andrzej it was great pleasure to met you. Your story about Sat Okh inspired me to pedal through that night to Wymyslowo as advised.

Photo 1. Me and Andrzej from Banino

Happy

What would you like for your birthday?
Beautiful sunrise to start with, then pleasure of meeting new people. That day I met at least 10 new people, then an interesting train journey. At the end a night ride into unknown with the rain as my only companion, guided by a thin light from my head torch. What a ride!
Luckily I had found a shelter for me and my buddy at Paradizo:-)

Photo 1. My treat for my birthday :-) 

Photo 2. The sun is rising above Northern Port /Gdansk, PL/

Photo 3. Me by the monument of Fallen shipyard workers 1970, Gdansk

Photo 4. Me and Agnieszka, amber merchant, Mariacka, Gdansk 

Photo 5. Famous gate of the shipyard Gdansk, birthplace of "Solidarnosc"

Photo 6. Me and Mirek, souvenir merchant, Westerplatte

Operation Geo

Well, for some time as I travelled through Northern Europe, they were my companions and still are. I haven't forgotten about them. Only my date of departure have  changed.
Ideally, I should leave them in Bleik/Norway - Andoya/ though my goal was to take them to the Nordkapp. Only forbidding  weather  made focus on my wellbeing hence geo dropped on my agenda.The last attempt to leave geotags behind, on the Swedish soil  became unsuccessful as the container  was to small:O  Very soon then I boarded a ferry and headed on to Poland. Where a limited access to WiFi and a small number of geocache locations made me once more to adjust my agenda.
In fact,  my close friend was keeping an eye on my geocache profile. It was him who text me new coordinates for the next geo hunt. Hence a whole operation run so smoothly. Unfortunately, at some moment even him had to focus on his personal life and whole geo operation stalled for some time. 
To those interested with "operation geo" my sincere apology that geo tags stayed with for some time. That's life.

Photo 1. Me and my friend Sylwek , who just learnt about geocache fun. Location Bleik, Andoy / Norway
Photo 2. Breave heart geotag enjoying the sun. Location ISLEWORTH, west London, mid August'13
Photo 3 and 4. Geo tags in the Germany, end of August'13
Photo 5 and 6. Geo tags in the Netherlands, 22/08/2013 Vliethoven
Photo 7. Superb geo container - beginning of September'13,  Denmark

Agroturystyka Paradizo

Well arrived at the manor very late and a host was patient with my timing. In addition payment was done at the time of my departure.  I managed to cycle the last stage from Chojnice train station through the night and pouring rain, what a ride!
To my surprise we /me and my Surly/ could easily find a shelter at the manor. Morning, good breakfast at 9am supplied much wanted energy  to enjoy local town Tuchola. Which is only about 4km away
Then a dinner around 2pm. Worth mention pumpkin soup delicious one of the best which I tested so far. Then polish speciality "bigos" so delicate, wonderful. You should give it ago!
Though I visited this place out of the season still worth of staying in. For those who like to spend their time active, horse riding, kayaking, bike riding and then running through the forest "bory tucholskie". Simply, plenty to do!
Last but not least, there is a museum dedicated to Stanislaw Suplatowicz aka Sat Okh. Google it to find what a colourful character he was.

Photo 1. Me and my host, Joanna

Photo 2. The road to Paradizo

Photo 3. Traditional Polish dish - bigos

Sunday in Gdansk

Left 3City Hostel after breakfast and rolled Surly in to old town of city Gdansk. My first stop, local confectionery where very friendly Ms Danusia served me tea and cakes. Time to rolled again as the dlicate rain did not stop to pour from dark sky. I pedalled cobbled streets upon and down couple times. Chatted with street merchants at Mariacka street, this way met Agnieszka who was selling scarfes and hats during weekends, then met yet another Agnieszka who was selling amber. As the rain continue to fall I started to look for a place to refuel,

... gimmy shelter otherwise I fade away.....

Then I spotted parked bike on the patio of a local reasturant. Jacobsen. This way I met Kristina who also is a keen cyclist. As a word of mouth, I do recommend this restaurant where you can eat well and service is warm and friendly. 

Left the old town and directed Surly towards docks, namely place called Westerplatte. At the end of October, days were getting shorter and shorter and my time to find a shelter too. This way  I met Basia who had such a soft voice and her friend. Thank you for your advice girls and "paluszki".

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http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g274725-d1988489-Reviews-Bar_Jacobsen-Gdansk_Pomerania_Province_Northern_Poland.html

Photo 1 Me and Ms Kristina at the entrance to Bar Jacobsen.

Photo 2 Me and Agnieszka, Mariacka in Gdańsk where I purchased a scarf.

Photo 3 View from Most Siennicki, Gdansk.

Photo 4 Basia and her friend Agnieszka an her friend.

Photo 5 Me and Agnieszka, Mariacka in Gdansk, amber merchant.

"Jacobsen" S.C.Warzywnicza 10 a
80-838 Gdańsk
Tel. +48600720152

Westerplatte - to wipe out Poland

At this location, Westerplatte, you can learn in essence about Polish struggle to defend its independence. This place is deeply engraved in to my conscience and I wanted to visit this place. I couldn't not choose better location for my camp close to the bunker with the same* view as defenders of September 1939.

Photo 1, 3. Remains of the "new baracks " 

Photo 2. Memory board "To wipe out Poland"

Photo 4. Me having breakfast after rough camping nearby

Right now when googled I have found ....geocache located by the ruins of "new barracks" :O 

http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/GC47B6R_koszary-na-westerplatte-westerplatte-barracks?guid=2c70a74c-2873-4ec1-95a8-b7c4fc85976a

* this location slightly changed, hence it is only your own imagination which helps to travel in time

3cityHostel

My first afternoon back home, riding streets of Gdansk up and down time to find a shelter for a night. As I liked the idea of spending night in a hostel regards to hostel in Honningsvag, I rolled my biked in to the lounge of the first hostel found on my way.  I spent a night in 3city-hostel, where my Surly found safe and sound location. Whereas me, l lodged my body in to a JAPANESE CAPSULES which was a new  experience.  I met Ali, an Iraqi traveller who shared with me his interesting point of view. All the best Ali.

****
3city hostel is located in the city centre, very close to the train station.

Targ Drzewny 12/14,
80-886 Gdańsk, Poland
e-mail: info@3city-hostel.pl
mobile: +48 601 674 675
tel. +48 58 354 54 54

Home land

With ease I managed to board a ferry, though my Surly needed extra ticket as I purchased my ticket with 24hours advance. Then wham!!! At the ferry terminal first printed sign: " watch out for pick pocketers" no more comments as I felt homely. Mind you I left my bike lock attached to someone's bike with explanation note at the beginning of my trip.
The ferry crossing was alright. I opted for a budget option and spent a night on the deck mingled with Russian speaking lorry drivers. As my neighbours I stretched my bones between seats on the floor and slept like a log. Even without shower facilities on the deck I managed to take care of myself, simply a wash basin become my dear friend.
Saturday 1pm the ferry reached Gdansk. Welcome home! What a strange feeling when  you are able to hear a mother language.

Left ferry terminal and pedaled south towards city centre. Soon afterwards I found a tranquil cycling lane running through city park. Then to my surprise I had a glimpse of the beach and Baltic Sea. The sandy path lead to the beach. Left Surly at the beginning of this path and I went to explore on foot. There was a cyclist getting ready for a swim and two young man next to bike stand. I cycled away only to do U-turn a minute later as I wanted to swim in Baltic as a fellow cyclist.
This way I met Jerzy who enjoys cycling and occasional swim in the sea.
While I went for a swim Jerzy, was looking after my bike. What a swim, water refreshingly cold, the sun came out strong. What a fond memories!

Swedish country side

Wow, it was so long ago when I worked on this project. Sincere apologies for those a few who followed my writing on this blog.

Late October, surprisingly warm as for this time of the year, ca.12+ °C
Left Sodertajle and Scania marvellous canteen into the morning and cycled trough Swedish countryside. Those rolling hills soaked in the autumn sun, simply magnificent view. Mainly I followed the road 257. However when opportunity arrived I opted for a quiet country road. Direction Nynashamn from where apparently ferry service operates between Sweden and Poland, Gdansk ferry terminal.
While heading to board a ferry, I was overtaken by this massive 60 ton Scania road train with magnificent noise of  its V8 engine. What a sound!