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

Kruszyna Lager

On that snowy and chilly Sunday, beginning of December'13 I decided to take my winter boots for a hike.
I mentioned here before that I heard a story from Kuba, regarding Kruszyna Lager. I packed my rack sack with my "essentials" and drop by the first bunker in the woods close to place called Sowie Gory.
In the end I marched for more than 6hours and covered 16+ km and discovered twelve military object, bunkers a like. Though they where reinforced shelters for an artillery crew as this area during WW2 was a huge artillery shooting range. Many of the soviet's POW died during construction of this infrastructure lost their lives. Many Jews lost their lives and many more. Local villagers where forced to abandon their farms and homes

Stop and search

Early morning, Radom 26/02/2014 Wednesday. I became an object of "Stop and search" policy. Leading officer /Mr Artur/* got crossed with me for talking to him, how to say it ... without title Mr etc .
Officer hesitated to show me his ID that I could record it and sent as txt message. Although an officer started this way , eventually they soften their approach and then gave up on me. Even wished me a good night, hence my opinion moved from negative to neutral and lack of any form of formal complaints.
Yet another experience worth to mention through this media.

* ID taken before my ID been handed

Katowice now

What a pitty my fantastic Nokia 100 run out of juice, although I left my spare batteries at home. Somehow  managed to clear history on my device altogether with FB, which sends security code to my ... mobile . what a pitty.
Just a second to use free WiFi hotspot at Katowice train station and I'm ready to board another train , this time to Sędziszów
See you then

Syrynia

I only heard from stories told by my parents that I, we have a family located on the South.

At the end of February, I decided to pay them a visit.

This way I met cousins and unties who lived in Syrynia for more than two decades.

I stayed overnight with family of my auntie Bogusia and her husband Witek and two sons David and Mateusz. While we chatted till late night I missed the opportunity to take a group photo, silly me as the camera was within my reach all the time.

Thank you guys for your warm welcome

Photo 1 and 2. Auntie Stenka and uncle Ervin, then garden. Syrynia.

Photo 3. My auntie Bogusia and her well behaved dog.

Rybnik

Very intersting weekend, thank you guys:-) 

U Pawła

Well, as mentioned before I head on to Przybyszew, to trim my beard.  The barber was located at the end of the town. 

I felt good hence my post as a recommendation. When passing by you might be interested.

Photo 1 and 2. The barber, Pawel. Przybyszew.

Photo 3. Road sign with Radom as my destination in sight.

Bartodzieje

Nearby Lisów is located another vilage called Bartodzieje. I do follow an intersting website www.bartodzieje.pl where I do find something about local area.

One of an Intersting thing to know is a derelict manor house, Bartodzieje.

Then there is something Intersting regarding Lager Kryszyna mentioned here previously.

Photo 1. Bartodzieje,  derelict manor house.

Photo 2. Me at Lisów, photo credit Rumun.

Nowe Miasto

We said goodbye and I left Niemgłowy, my next place to visit or go through was Nowe Miasto. Where in local county hall I tried to ask for a map of local area. The steps led my to the first room on the first floor where to my surprise worked Teresa also Gie. Unfortunately, despite helpfulness of Teresa there was no sign of a map.
I followed my GPS and my map. Soon I met Mirek who was brought up in the same city Radom as me. Sadly Mirek was mourning his father.

Rawa Mazowiecka

Well,  left Skierniewice and directed my Surly towards Rawa Mazowiecka. Already in November worried only about the weather and my lodging.
At some moment I stopped to marvel at a patient job of Grzegorz who was busy nearby cladding a wall with sandstone tiles.

Niemgłowy

The dusk came eventually and I started to think about my lodging. Planned to sleep somewhere in the forest. Then on my GPS I noticed a hamlet called Niemgłowy. Once upon time my old friend Staszek, mentioned about this place and relatives still leaving there. Quick decision and I am already following quiet road going through this hamlet. It was not so easy to find the right family. I knocked to many houses to find right one . The fifth attempt was successful. I was welcome by a brother Grzegorz and his family.
I am very thankful for your hospitality. Special thanks to Grzegorz who tighten my Brook's saddle:-)
Photo Me and Kucharski family

Gregory and Zodiak

When I received my haircut my mumbling stomach informed me that was a right time for a pit stop.  Cycled through Białobrzegi with warm atmosphere of a local restaurant or inn on my mind. Then I found, located along and with access to route S7 a local called Zodiak . Where I could refuel my body with "żurek" and a schnitzel for a second meal. The medal, I meant a meal was served by very friendly staff, namely Gregory. Hence my post as gratitude for his effort.

Photo 1. Me and Gregory/Grzes/ Zodiak (Inn).Białobrzegi

Dorota, Pilica, Przybyszew

Kuba recommended a local barber located on the other bank of river Pilica. Therefore I left Kozuchow and head on to Przybyszew.

What a magnificent ride across open fields and meadows. Then in the middle of nowhere I met Dorota, a local cyclist. We cycled together for some time and even ride across shaby bridge over Pilica.

Photo 1. Me and Dorota. 

Photo2. On the way to Przybyszew, a derelict bridge over Pilica river.

Kozuchow

When I crossed river Pilica, me and Surly pedalled towards a local town called Wyśmierzyce, from where only couple of kilometres as crow flies, is located a village called Kożuchów. 

I have a fond memories of this place, as stayed there a decade ago with family of my college close friend, named Łukasz L. That time I cycled from Radom and helped in the orchard for a day or two. It was an adventure for me as I started to tour around my town, though without a tent. Yet.

Mt friend Lukasz, nad been leaving in Warszawa for some time, this did not stop me from visiting his family. When arrived, to my surprise one of Luke's brothers called me by my old nickname: Grzywka. :-)  Kuba even later on, mentioned to me about Kruszyna Lager, when he heard that my next rest stop was Jeziorno, nearby Kruszyna, a village with railway station where during WW2, Nazi soldiers had their logistic hub for a huge military camp.

I did stay overnight, could talk with brothers of Luke, Kuba and Bartek.

I'm very thankful for your welcome hospitality:-) 

In addition, though this time kozuchow was full of apples, I do connect Kożuchów with red pepper and golden tomatoes. Which my friend managed to grow at the top of a building. Which building... head quarter of major TV station. LOL :-) :-) :-) 

Photo 1. Crates full of produce, this time - apples. Kożuchów.

Photo 2. Where biking takes a different form.

Photo 3. Lipec clan, family of my friend though only a male side.

Photo 4. Echo dnia, a local newspaper found in the kitchen 

"Na przedmiesciu" Wałowice

Early November, days are very short and relatively cold. No much time to cook. The best option to stop somewhere  and have a proper meal for decent price. I opted to stop at local inn, called "Na przedmiesciu" /suburbs/ located in Wałowice,  close to Rawa Mazowiecka. The meal was delicuous , hence my post. I started with warm tomato soup served with rice, one of my favourite. Then my second dish seen below :-)  yummy:-) 

Cmk

Year ago or so a news came across that railway route no 8 between Radom and Warka would receive major upgrade. This lane was opened in November 1934 as single track. Connecting Warszawa with south of Poland, including Radom, then Kielce and Krakow. The journey on board steam train used to take less than 2hours covering distance of ca.100km.

Today however, the same journey might take even 3hours as result of low capacity on the single track between Warka and Radom. Hence a plan of major upgrade surface from time to time. This happened to me as I was so exited when heard the news. Last autumn /'13/ I  even walked to my grandma who leaves along this track, as the news heralded that major revamp of this route would happened soon...

Nothing happened as such, plans for upgrade been postponed once again. This was unclear for till a moment when I found a post on the net,where someone explained to the wider pubnlic why "upgrade of route no 8" will not happened any time soon.

CMK - centralna magistrala kolejowa, built in 70's last century as a cargo route, already connects Warszawa with Krakow. Then there is short link connecting Kielce and CMK. 

Hence, people of "my" town Radom would have commute to Warsaw by a train 3 hours one way!

Marsz jedlnia

My hiking afternoon, this time Thursday. Decided to walk through a dense woodland Puszcza Kozienicka.

My destination Jedlnia Letnisko, where my relatives have been living for some time.

http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=2663202Hhf

Skierniewice

By a train, old fashioned EN57, via Kutno I reached Skierniewice. Weather wise, sunny no rain though relatively cold. When I cycled away from the platform and was told not to do it. Met grandpa Marian with grandson Rafal. Who was so cute, that I let myself to take a handful number of photos. 

It was a pleasure to met you boys on my way:-) 

Photo 1. My and Rafal. Monument - Wokulski at Skierniewice train station.

Photo 2 and 3. Grandpa Marian and Rafal on my Surly.

Photo 3.Statuę of Prof. Sz. Pieniążek. Skierniewice old town.

Photo 4. Surly on board EN57 on the way to Kutno

My hiking Sunday, Cerekiew

My Sunday,  adventurous afternoon. Decided to pay a visit to my aunty, who leaves in the village Kacprowice, some 8km away from Radom following main road. Though, my hikie took ca. 3hours through frozen fields.

Temperature -10°C whereas in the open field a wind factor played an important role.

http://www.everytrail.com/view_trip.php?trip_id=2650104

Photo 1 and 2. Open filed when I passed Cerekiew, towards Kacprowice.

Photo 3. Cerekiew.

Photo 4.  A lorry from Czech Rep. heading South. Radom route S7