Across Poland, on the bike
All I have left from my early years is only memories and dreams. I had to modify them, because I fully realize my handicaps. I don't want anything impossible from life. I have right-sided paresis. I'm unabled to take up job and exist normally. Thanks to intensive rehabilitation I could walk on my own again but that was not enough for me...
I decided to take up individual practice in order to improve my efficiency and self-reliance. I got back to cycling. I ride hundreds of kilometres weekly.
In 2006 I decided to ride across Poland (Zakopane-Gdansk). I made it within a week.
Darek's ride from Zakopane to Gdansk, through Warsaw 31.7-8.8 2006.
30.VII
Grzegorz, vice-president of the foundation took me to Zakopane and we stayed at "Szarotka" hostel. We got there early in the morning so we went sightseeng and eat something.
31.VII - 8 a.m I stage- Zakopane – Cracow 106 km.
The weather was changable that day. Zakopianka wasn't finished, yet. It was busy and drivers were terrible. They couldn't stand that I was riding ahead, without stopping and they had to wait (one of them was driving right behind my back, a bus driver was blocking me so I couldn't overtake him). Riding a bike on the road in this country seems to be an extreme sport. I got to Cracow, got into Grzegorz car and we started looking for a place to stay. When we finally found it, my friend Agnieszka had been already waiting for me. I got 4-bedded room. I stayed there on my own, with my bike only. Grzes helped me with the bike. Some reporters from Gazeta Wyborcza came. They took some pictures and we had an interview. I said goodbye to the vice-president and I stayed on my own. Agnieszka invited me to dinner. After that I came back to the hostel to get some sleep.
1.VIII - II stage - Cracow - Koniecpol - 101 km
I started the second stage in the rain. I was taken to Cracow by a car that was leaving the hostel. A man gave me directions how to get to Koniecpol and he also gave me a map in case I get lost. I was riding with a stop on the track. As I was getting to Koniecpol it started to rain again. There were no people around. I felt as if I was in a different world. What am I going to do now?- I thought to myself. Then I looked ahead- A mirage? No, there was a human being on the road. There are people here- I thought to myself, and they can even speak. A man told me how to get to the castle, where I was supposed to have a place to stay. I got two-bedded room, for me and for my bike.
2-3.VIII.- III stage - Koniecpol - Łodz - 147 km
As I was leaving Koniecpol in the morning I got phone calls from TVN24, Lodz radio, president Bąk and vice-president Sliwinski. I was answering the phones during my ride since I had a loudspeaker system. I felt as if I left Tour de France peloton far behind me. In Piotrkow Trybunalski I waited for TVN24 and for the president for half an hour but nobody arrived. The president called me and said that he was going to be late. Someone from TVN24 called me and asked me where I had been. So, what am I doing here? What are you doing here? I rode a few kilometres on the motorway and then I stopped to have an interview with TVN24. Then I finally met the president and we went to Lodz together. At the petrol station the police were waiting for us. They took us to the Square in the centre. Massmedia were waiting for me there. I spent two days in Lodz. I was visiting, I went sightseeng. It was time for getting some rest from the bike. On 3.VII. in the morning a policeman came for us. He led us from Lodz. It was raining that day. About 100 metres after the start I found myself on the tram rail. I lost my balance and I fell over. The policeman and the president helped me. I didn't hurt myself so I could continue my ride.
4.VIII.2006 - IV stage Lodz - Warsaw - 133 km
It was a terrible stage. I was misled on the track, I had to get back and I got a flat tyre in Skierniewice. I was nicely welcomed at a bike shop. When the owner of the shop found out who I was, she gave me a jar of homemade juice and some brake pads since mine were not good anymore. I had my tube changed. On my way to Warsaw I had a few meetings with massmedia, some newspapers and TVP1. Thanks to them the whole Poland could find out about me. Finally we got to the Old Town where I was supposed to have a place to stay. I had two interviews more. In the morning me and the president went to the Old Town. When we came back an ambulance has been already waiting for me. Their task was to escort me during the last two stages to my home town.
5.VIII.2006 - V stage - Warsaw - Sierpc - 124 km
I wasn't satisfied with the assurance (an ambulance was far ahead) and it started to rain. I wore some raincoat. Then we rode through some villages (fortunately there was an asphalt on the road). When we got to the hostel, we had dinner.
6.VIII.2006 - VI stage- Sierpc - Torun - 90 km
The rain woke me up at night. The day before I asked the owner of the hostel to dry my clothes. However, just before the start I got back even wetter clothes. I was angry and I told her off so she dried them with an iron. It was raining all the time but an ambulance escorted me so it was OK. In Torun I had an interview with Bydgoszcz TV. It was nice because I got flowers and some chocolates. The paramedics took me home. I said hello to my parents and started resting at home.
7.VIII.2006 - VII stage - Torun - Mala Karczma - 103 km
In the morning Grzegorz called me He wanted to escort me to the gates of Torun. We went together towards Lysomice. From there I rode on my own. Some people recognized me on the track since they had seen me on TV. One of them stopped his car and invited me to dinner at the petrol station. I agreed. We were talking and it turned out that we had some common friends. It was a really nice stage with nice people and moments. Although it was raining ,I had a chance to see how others rest on their way.
8.VIII.2006 - VIII stage - Mala Karczma - Gdansk - 75 km
It was the last and the shortest stage. However, the hills and the wind from the sea made it difficult. I started to get tired. In Pszczolki I was nicely welcomed by the local people. I had an interview with Gdansk TV and the radio there. There was also another interview in Gdansk. While I was picking up some reporter the police came to escort me to the hostel. When we got there someone took us a nice photo.
VIII stage- 879 km
9.VIII.2006 –a car drive from the Foundation to Torun.