Gypsy Biker

The ride down to the Slovakian border of Chyzne was certainly made on one of the better roads in Poland… It twisted its way through the southern outskirts of Krakow, plunging down into little valleys and through villages, before climbing again through thickly wooded forests towards the Jelesna River, which forms part of the border [...]

Wojciech arrived at my hotel aboard his BMW F800S and a short while later we were riding our bikes through the gathering gloom of Krakow… I had intended to sit down and write the post detailing my visit to Auschwitz and Birkenau, while the experience was still fresh in my mind, but decided against it, [...]

It was raining as we started our walk around the massive Birkenau Concentration Camp… Running directly down its centre, through the mouth of the administration block, was the railway line that brought Jews and other prisoners from the four corners of Europe, The vast majority, to their eventual deaths… At times, over 100 000 prisoners [...]

I did not intend to visit the concentration camps of Auschwitz and Birkenau… In fact, I planned to avoid them, knowing that they would have an emotional effect on me that I did not want to experience at this stage of my life… I did not need to be reminded of what we are capable [...]

Riding on your own for months on end can be a lonely experience, often only made bearable by the amazing people you briefly meet along the way… Sometimes a simple request for directions from a complete stranger, can lead to a two day stay with a family who become an integral part of your life [...]

Before going down for an early breakfast, I checked my mail and website, and saw that the guy on the yellow BMW from the night before, had managed to track me down, and had left a message offering to “show me around Krakow”… I was delighted that I was now able to put a name, [...]