Concubines

What a breakfast! Actually, I was already prepared for it, I was told that a breakfast in Poland is very rich. However, I guess I had no idea about it. It goes towards Schlachteplatte. Sausage and meat, stuffed potato dumplings, pierogies filled with offal, toast with fried eggs and cheese, fresh, hard-cut quark, a lot of it homemade. Not to forget the good bread, fresh tomatoes, milk soup with grains and delicious strawberry jam. I don't need anything else for the rest of the day.

Strengthened, I leave the guesthouse in the Polish-Lithuanian border region. The paths here are sometimes still very natural. Hildegard tries out sandy paths for the first time. It's a bit heavy and winds its way through. However, thanks to the EU and its road construction projects, there are also many good roads here in eastern Poland. One of them takes us to Beržniki. Here the large wooden church immediately catches the eye. Inside I have to get used to the darkness, almost like in a Russian banya. This is an impressive building for the comparatively small town.

I often come across churches now, the country is strongly influenced by Catholics. The area is sparsely populated, small farms alternate with villages, there are a few towns and even less industry here. Beautifully hilly landscape and lots of tree-lined avenues, next to which fields and pastures nestle in the hills.

I notice a sign for 'Zamek Reszel' in time, I want to take a break there and dry my clothes, which are now wet with rain. The town around the old Rößel castle complex is picturesque, but lacks life. The castle is large, the foundation stone was laid about 800 years ago by the Teutonic Order of Knights. Today it houses a hotel, a café and two exhibitions on medieval fighting and torture instruments. From the castle tower I enjoy the good view over the town of Reszel. In the meantime, my rain gear has become dry again and can be stowed away.

We continue on the somewhat bumpy and winding roads of Masuria. About 50 km later a car overtakes me and someone waves at me with my blue dry bag. Well, that's a surprise! I gratefully receive my luggage again. Something went wrong during the last lashing after the rain.

We continue over unrestricted railway crossings, through winding inner towns, past dogs running loose and also past a police blood alcohol check.

After another sandy forest path, I have now happily arrived at Lake Narie.