Chernobyl day twelve Krakow to Raciborz
05 September 2007
Today is another Monday, but worse!
It tipped it down ALL day and was cold to boot. Fitting if you consider the venue for todays visit was Auschwitz / Birkenau. That is one amazing place, and huge but more of that later.
I said that last night would bring forth a story and it did, sadly not all good. We had a tiff, well three of the guy's did and it has caused a ripple. It is sad that people cannot sort out issues but that is life, as friends myself and a long time buddy fell out over something silly on a trip much shorter than this so it came as no surprise when it happened this time, strong ego's, long day's and tired, cold bodies. It does not help. Sadly he people concerned seem to be willing to go there own way, such a shame for us all. Pride eh!
The main group, of which I was one, went into the town square for a meal, which as it happens was very nice. As is de-rigure we got lost (ish), “Tuckleberry” the intelligence finder, yeh!, when we found the place it was worth it, the old town center is so nice.
This morning, as I say, was still wet and we had our breakfast in the room. Actually it was very nice
and well presented................. for a packed lunch. No it was ok. It got the day of to an early start, except we didn't need an early start. Allan and Mike 'S' went into Krakow to get a gift for Natalia, she leaves us tomorrow sadly. We got her a very nice watch, they did not leave until 11:00 a.m. We set of in small groups as and when we felt like it, I was with Tim and Dave 'K'. It worked fine. On the motorway they have used a bridging compound to seal the cracks, now't new there eh?, but with the rain every time you drive over one the bike moves in a very disturbing manner, I wuz concerned I wuz!
For our first stop we went to the camp of Birkenau, Tim got talking to two English guys about KTM's, 2800 miles to see history and he gets hot about KTM's, ah well. He joined Dave and I as we checked out the long huts used for quarantine sheds for the intake. It transpired that these are not he original one's more replicas built from the remains of the originals. Moving for all that, however unlike Pripyat there is no soul here, no sounds of children, no bird song even.
6000 to 8000 people disposed of a day,70% to 75%. of those that arrived per day were murdered!
From here we went to Auschwitz it's self. We took a guided tour after watching a film, NON of us felt capable of persevering the enormity of it all. A room with seven thousand pairs of shoes, another with several tons of human hair and on it went. You can read the book's watch the film's but to see the truth........................
Still raining when we left, me, Dave and Mark 'T', Tim and Dave 'K' left together, didn't stay that way but we left together. We came into some traffic hold ups, Dave 'K' and Tim took of down the side me and the 'T's stayed put, then Mark 'T' suggest filtering down the outside, ok. He went first and I followed, all the weight on my bike makes the head lamp high, Mark was a bit put out with this so he asked me to take the lead, sorted of I go, checked my mirrors and.......... oop's, where they gone. No worries Tim and Dave 'K' are about........not! Turns out they took a two mile detour but only after Tim had picked his bike up (snerk), them with no GPS, so of I goes of allown. Then I made a wrong move and went through the center of Rybnik, got stuck in traffic and was sent down a 4 km detour what fun we have.
Chaos happens and this day was no exception, Allan and “Tuckleberry get to the hotel first, then me. They had a call to say Mike 'C' and John 'G' were in the local Mc D's (where else), then Dave 'K' and Tim appear. The 'T' pairing shortly after that and finally Andy, Nat and James. The hotel is a bitch to find, well it was for me, but it is a nice place, again. Allan did his home work with this lot.
This evening after a shower and chance to re-heat ourself we went for dinner. It took a while to arrive and the waitress was a bit grumpy, well she struggled to smile at least, but one of the nicest to date on tis trip.
Natalia was presented with her gift and received it with the grace and humility we have come to know her by. I am not sorry if I go on about her she made one huge difference in the team and it is a mutual gratitude we all have for her. Tomorrow, the 6th, she leaves us, we wish her God speed.
We, in the mean time get some sleep, for it is the Czech border we face.
2800 miles and counting we are, lets just prey for some dryer weather.
No quote but a giggle, Dave 'K' washed his smalls tonight, not before time, took them from the sink, wrung them out................and dropped them in the toilet bowl just before I flushed me wee away.
He does get emotional that boy!
Ta Ra, M x
Ps Lotte, Lotty, Lotti we got to many 'Zloty's ok!