storks and cranes from carlisle

Now in rural poland heading roughly s.e, having left the mayhem of the coast,which,whilst lovely in parts,is also in peak holiday season like blackpool in places. A polish man will always chose a beer rather than coffee first thing in the morning .....probably a lot simpler.

Some brief observations

Holland.They really are a true nation of cyclists.Its very impressive and puts britain to shame. You can cycle everywhere in holland without mixing it with cars at all,,,lots of the scenery whilst flat is very scenic in detail.

N.Germany. Also v.flat.But a lot prettier than maybe you would expect. A lot of v.old thatched cottages/and big buildings too.Also of course nearly all on cycleways,but not so many cyclists. Is the u.k the only country where cyclists have to mix with horses, Everywhere else there is no problem with putting pedestrians and cyclists together...most pavements in built up areas are also cycleways.Who has ever met a horse who is impressed by cyclists

It is strange how the ooestsea in germany was warm and somewhere along exactly the same bit of coast it suddenly went true to its name ...baltic ,truly !

The counrty side here is fantastic...like nowhere quite else.Lovely rolling ground,wooded with pine forests and mixed trees,lakes very tranquil and secluded,farmland arable but in open swathes amongst the forests,sometimes very big .Deer, storks,and yesterday for the first time cranes...what a wildish creaky sort of whooping they make. Villages very small and sparse,low pop density,and economically way behind germany,holland e.t.c but of course all the nicer for that.All the houses have ducks,chickens,its run down and ramshackle...with more modern buidings going up here and there. No wonder the polish have been earning a bit of dosh in the u.k .Even a crap job would be worth it if you could come home and build your new house somewhere gorgeous.

Its going to take us ages to get through poland,;especially if we keep following [though it sometimes feels like we are pioneering ]rural bike routes. We are off road half the time going we are not quite sure where but it is so gorgeous we'd be fools not to.

Beer is only 1pound so Jon is quite impressed too.

We have seen a crane made in carlisle by cowan and sheldon!! also lots of ursus tractors (good russian tractor!!)

Beef is fantastic.