Green Velo: definitely the way to go
The Green Velo is a system of bike trails that runs from the south of Poland, up the eastern side of the country, and across the north of the Mazurian lakes. If you’ve never heard of it, it really is worth clicking on this link and having a look around at how extensive it is.
Last Monday, Eldest Daughter and I set off from Warsaw, taking regional trains to the town of Ostroleka. On Tuesday, we picked up the Green Velo at Wizna, south of the Biebrzanski National Park. The route north through the park was outstanding: this is an area of forest that takes your breath away no matter how slowly you peddle to enjoy the scenery. On Wednesday, we got an early start and cycled nearly 150km up to the town of Suwalki. Again, the scenery was unendingly beautiful; a mix of small, one-farm villages, fields and forests. Thursday transpired to be the toughest day. From essentially flat terrain before Suwalki, we were plunged into countryside full of hills and valleys. Again, these were outstandingly attractive, but the leg-aching uphill climbs seldom made up for the breathless downhill sprints. After spending Thursday night in the town of Goldap, on Friday we cycled south to Ketrzyn, where Eldest Daughter managed to chat the very nice lady at the train station ticket office into getting us back to Warsaw at 11.00pm on Friday evening.
In total, we covered more than 500km in the five days, and I maintain that there is no better way to see the real Poland in all its glory than from the saddle of a bike. Here are some pics from the week:
On Monday at the start of the week.
A church in Lomza
“Yeah, I think we’re going in the right direction.”
Maps of the national park
We cycled past forest like this for hours…
One of a few locks on the way.
And another.
After covering 146km in a day to reach Suwalki.
From an observation tower west of Suwalki.
From the same tower.
No internal combustion engines required!
The southern tip of “Black Lake”.
A tower in Goldap.
Day 2 map and distance.
Day 3 map and distance.
Day 4 map and distance.
Day 5 map and distance.
What can’t speak can’t lie 
