Biking Poland
28 June 2023, Opole, 76.64km
Event Hostel 124.20zł [R557]
Before departing Gliwice this morning, we detoured to see the old radio tower. Constructed by the Germans in 1934 when this part of Poland was German territory, and measuring 111m, just over one third the height of the Eiffel Tower, the radio tower is the tallest wood structure in Europe. The framework is impregnated siberian larch linked by brass connectors. "A ladder with 365 steps provides access to the top."
"The tower was originally designed to carry aerials for medium wave broadcasting... Today [it] carries multiple transceiver antennas for mobile phone services..."
"On 31 August 1939 [one day before the invasion of Poland], the German SS staged a 'Polish' attack on [the] radio station, which was used as justification for the invasion... " [The 'attack' was part of a series of manufactured incidents along the German/Polish border intended to 'prove' Polish aggression.]
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A well-run hostel is a pleasure. The Event Hostel in Opole has no visible staff, manager or owner. We were emailed a self-check-in code valid only for the duration of our stay. This grants access to the locked street door, the locked stairwell door and our room door. The bunk beds are comfortable with clean cosy bedding; the bathroom and kitchen are well-appointed; the posted rules and suggestions simple and clear. Someone comes in once a day to clean. Cameras in the public spaces presumably contain unruly behaviour.
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Both the 109 and the 94 which we rode today sported a shoulder except for a brief few kms, making for stress-free cycling on this 76km day. On the downside, an increasingly powerful headwind and a puncture reduced somewhat our hoped-for average speed. According to a digital display above the road, the wind was gusting at 19kph. The puncture in Charl's back tyre was caused by a drawing pin!
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Thought we should learn to pronounce Wrocław before we get there tomorrow: w is pronounced v; c is pronounced ts as in cats; ł is pronounced w as in water. So Wrocław is pronounced Vrotswav (or something like that).