They say a change is as good as holiday – and they’re not wrong!  Having Julia, Jim, Tim & B join us for the ride from Budapest to Warsaw, was a great reviver and a lot of fun!

There was no slacking though.  In just under two weeks, our bikie gang, crossed three countries – Hungary, Slovakia & Poland – and covered 936kms in total.  The ride had it all, heat, cold, wind, rain, mozzies, nowhere to sleep, trucks and some of the worst roads we’ve ever seen.  But we just got on with it… helped along by a meal or two out, plenty of Polish beer and a lot of laughter.

It was cycle touring at its very best.  Great work folks!  Champion effort and you should be very proud.

For the highlights – we took in the historic cities of Budapest, Krakow and Warsaw.  Cycled along the Danube, climbed through the Tatra Mountains – riding over a 1200m pass – and lastly weaved our way through stunning farmland and forests to Warsaw .  What better way to end, than to arrive just minutes before the actual Tour de Poland riders, and finish in front of the same screaming crowd!  (ok, maybe screaming at us to get off the track, but anyways…)

Eastern Europe has been a real eye opener.  Despite being more developed than we had imagined, it feels like we are back “adventuring” again.  If that makes sense?  The generosity of the people we’ve met  is simply unbelievable.  Like Filip, who led us through town in his car to make sure we didn’t get lost, then met us a day later with his girlfriend, Magda, to celebrate Jim’s birthday in true Polish style… with lots of vodka!  We thank them both, for an incredible evening and one we will never forget.

It is just the two of us again now.  We keep heading north through the Baltic states – Lithuania, Latvia & Estonia – finishing our European leg in Helsinki, before catching the train to Moscow and onto China.

Thanks again for all the support.  We are almost half way now…

Lots of love and safe travels

Jules & Jess

The Biatches - ready to roll!

We are not lost, I think?

Jess & Julia cruising

Jess & I, getting ready for the mountains !

Julia at 1200m - we cycled this far uphill !!

Slovakia - The High Tatras

Free camping in Poland

Lunch number 1

Rural Poland

Cycle touring at its best

Cycling makes you this hungry !

Only two matches !

Filip & Magda, we thank you

Happy Birthday. This vodka is goooood !

A Tour de Poland finish !

Quick get off the track, the real riders are coming !!

Warsaw - we made it !

Best Mates!

Waving goodbye... just the two of us again