The campground was really quiet last night, so I slept well and got going on time. As I was packing the bike, the lovely German couple that I had spoken to a number of times yesterday afternoon brought over a mug of coffee. That was so nice of them. With our limited conversation, I found out that their daughter had worked in Aus as a nanny and travelled from Karratha to Perth. Very nice people.
That was the start of a continually surprising day. I wasn’t expecting much but I was continually surprised today.
Next job was breakfast and there was only one place open in town at 9am, so no decision was necessary. More nice people here too. The chef came out and explained the menu. I suspect he was the only english speaker. He got to Szakszuka and I made him stop. It sounded perfect. I thought I’d live it up a little for breakfast. Besides, I was out of muesli.
Out onto the bike path and it was much nicer than the previous two days fewer tourists and fewer fast food places. The first town of note was Darlowo which looked like a nice town. I rode to the main pedestrian area and sat outside in a coffee shop for a quick second breakfast. These types of places are few and far between around here. I had a call with the kids, then headed to the coastal part of town which looked to be a nice beach resort.
The path hugged the beach for quite a few kms. It was nice, but was often slow going over the concrete blocks. As usual, I was in no rush. It’s daylight until about 10pm these days, so I’ve got plenty of time to arrive anywhere.
I picked out an interesting campsite that was at about the 85km mark.
After plenty of coastal and rural riding, I went through the town of Ustka and bumped into the American guys that I saw yesterday. This was about the fourth or fifth time I’d said hi, so I rode with them to the town of Rowy, where we decided we should all have a beer.
These two, Hans and Chuck are simply amazing. They’re aged 86 and 78 and they’re touring on bikes along the Baltic coast as well as other parts of Czechia and Germany. Rowy was their destination and by the time I got there, I was happy to stop too. There was a campground near their hotel, so I quickly went there and put the tent up before meeting up with Hans and Chuck.
We went to a place with outside tables that looked like a bar / restaurant but they actually sold fish but they gave us some beer and we shared a fillet each of salmon and halibut. Absolutely beautiful fish, and the guys were so interesting to talk to. I think I was in awe of their attitudes. I sincerely hope that I can do what they’re doing when I’m their age.
I thought I was pushing the age limit a bit, but these two have proven that age is no limit. I’m so pleased to have met them and I’m sure I’ll continue to see them along the way.
I went back to the campsite for the daily cores of showering and washing my riding gear then walked around town looking for a small meal that wasn’t a kebab, pizza or burger. Sounds easier than it is in Rowy.
Eventually I got a vegetarian pasta and went back to the tent well fed.