Stefan Mikes
Gravel e-biker
- Region
- Europe
- City
- Mazovia, PL
Just To Drink Good IPA in Puławy (Saturday, 14th of May 2022)
There are several locations by name of Stoczek in Poland. I got curious which Stoczek was the scene of the 1831 Battle of Stoczek, known from a revolutionary song: "While the cannons of Stoczek were being captured by the folk with their hands black from the plough; the lords in Warsaw were debating..." That would be Stoczek Łukowski. Upon reading my related post on Facebook, a friend of mine wrote to me: 'Hey, there's an interesting way from Stoczek to Puławy... Interested?' And it made me motivated to ride to Puławy, a picturesque city on the Vistula that I love so much! NB: The direct route from my place to Puławy is 100 miles.
It took me two trains and two hour ride to get to Pilawa. a large railroad junction 60 km southeast of Warsaw. The first part of the trip was easy: I was driven with a solid tailwind. Occasionally, the route as "invented" by RideWithGPS led me through Mazovian gravel and sands...
(Oh yes, Mazovia is full of sand!)
"The Cannons of Stoczek". The 1831 battle against the Russian (during the November Uprising) was commanded by a talented General by name of Józef Dwernicki and it was won. The Uprising was a failure anyway (as any insurrection we Poles had ever tried).
Left: At the trip midpoint (as I thought at that time). Centre: I eventually understood the value of proper nutrition on the long ride Right: A Milk Cooperative (est. 1926) in Ryki. Ryki means "Uproar"
The River Wieprz (literally: Hog). Necessary to mention, all my ride from Stoczek was inside the western part of the Land of Lublin, another province (I was travelling from Mazovia). The Land of Lublin is a very important farming region of Poland with fertile soil.
Top: Starting from a magically looking location of Gołąb ("Pigeon"), I was moving along the railroad.
Centre: A huge chemical plant Azoty in Puławy. The plant is a fertilizer manufacturer (important for the farming country!), and one of my customers.
Bottom: a funny place! There are two cycling trails there; any cyclist needs to get off their bike and walk under the pipelines with their head down!
As soon as I reached my hotel, I left my baggage there, took a backpack and rode for several kilometres to the Hotel & Brewery "Trzy Korony" ("Three Crowns") by the Vistula. There was a kind of madness in the city. It is the season of the First Communion for kids, and their parents (wanting to show off) buy posh parties in restaurants. There are weddings, too. As the outcome, it was hard to find a place to eat on that Saturday! Here, a big wedding. It was a weight-lifter having his wedding party there. As I rode in, someone shouted: "It looks the referee has come!", and the folk burst with laughter! Inside the hotel, a charming female receptionist (who knew very well a Stefan was expected to come) sold me several bottles of good IPAs, including one poured right from the tank!
Fortunately for me, the best pizzeria in the city had a bar section in addition to their restaurant (the latter occupied by the First Communion party guests...) I was as lucky as to get my pizza in 15 minutes!
The hotel I stayed in had as many as five First Communion parties on that day. The personnel was very helpful: a waiter got my big Vado down to the basement with a lift, and the e-bike had to be transported vertically, as the lift was small! (Late in the evening, I and the friend of mine met, and had the ales together).
Because Puławy is a wide spread city, I made more kilometres than expected on that day. The temperature was 16-20 C (60s F) but the wind felt very cold. I'm glad I took warm cycling clothes with me!
There are several locations by name of Stoczek in Poland. I got curious which Stoczek was the scene of the 1831 Battle of Stoczek, known from a revolutionary song: "While the cannons of Stoczek were being captured by the folk with their hands black from the plough; the lords in Warsaw were debating..." That would be Stoczek Łukowski. Upon reading my related post on Facebook, a friend of mine wrote to me: 'Hey, there's an interesting way from Stoczek to Puławy... Interested?' And it made me motivated to ride to Puławy, a picturesque city on the Vistula that I love so much! NB: The direct route from my place to Puławy is 100 miles.
It took me two trains and two hour ride to get to Pilawa. a large railroad junction 60 km southeast of Warsaw. The first part of the trip was easy: I was driven with a solid tailwind. Occasionally, the route as "invented" by RideWithGPS led me through Mazovian gravel and sands...
(Oh yes, Mazovia is full of sand!)"The Cannons of Stoczek". The 1831 battle against the Russian (during the November Uprising) was commanded by a talented General by name of Józef Dwernicki and it was won. The Uprising was a failure anyway (as any insurrection we Poles had ever tried).
Left: At the trip midpoint (as I thought at that time). Centre: I eventually understood the value of proper nutrition on the long ride
Right: A Milk Cooperative (est. 1926) in Ryki. Ryki means "Uproar" The River Wieprz (literally: Hog). Necessary to mention, all my ride from Stoczek was inside the western part of the Land of Lublin, another province (I was travelling from Mazovia). The Land of Lublin is a very important farming region of Poland with fertile soil.
Top: Starting from a magically looking location of Gołąb ("Pigeon"), I was moving along the railroad.
Centre: A huge chemical plant Azoty in Puławy. The plant is a fertilizer manufacturer (important for the farming country!), and one of my customers.
Bottom: a funny place! There are two cycling trails there; any cyclist needs to get off their bike and walk under the pipelines with their head down!
As soon as I reached my hotel, I left my baggage there, took a backpack and rode for several kilometres to the Hotel & Brewery "Trzy Korony" ("Three Crowns") by the Vistula. There was a kind of madness in the city. It is the season of the First Communion for kids, and their parents (wanting to show off) buy posh parties in restaurants. There are weddings, too. As the outcome, it was hard to find a place to eat on that Saturday! Here, a big wedding. It was a weight-lifter having his wedding party there. As I rode in, someone shouted: "It looks the referee has come!", and the folk burst with laughter!
Inside the hotel, a charming female receptionist (who knew very well a Stefan was expected to come) sold me several bottles of good IPAs, including one poured right from the tank!Fortunately for me, the best pizzeria in the city had a bar section in addition to their restaurant (the latter occupied by the First Communion party guests...) I was as lucky as to get my pizza in 15 minutes!
The hotel I stayed in had as many as five First Communion parties on that day. The personnel was very helpful: a waiter got my big Vado down to the basement with a lift, and the e-bike had to be transported vertically, as the lift was small!
(Late in the evening, I and the friend of mine met, and had the ales together).Because Puławy is a wide spread city, I made more kilometres than expected on that day. The temperature was 16-20 C (60s F) but the wind felt very cold. I'm glad I took warm cycling clothes with me!
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Shame about the headwind, I know how you feel too well!
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