2003.07.04 G. Kaczawskie i Sudety

This route is one of the longest and toughest I have ridden. It is the fourth of five sections I have completed to explore the beauty of the Sudetes.

I set off from the PKP station in Jelenia Góra and headed north into the Kaczawskie Mountains. After Dziwiszów, a steep climb begins to the Kapela Pass (600 m above sea level). At the top, I turned left towards Janówek and Czernica. Then I headed towards the Pilchowicki Reservoir on the Bóbr River. Beautiful surroundings and stunning views. I was here in my childhood and wanted to return. After crossing the dam, it turned out that the asphalt had also ended. Now I circled the reservoir on forest paths. I returned to asphalt in the village of Barcinek, then Wrzeszczyn, and through Jeżów Sudecki, I returned to Jelenia Góra. I took a short break here for a meal and to replenish my drinks. The next stage of this trip was the climb through Wojcieszów to Szklarska Poręba (700 m above sea level, Karkonosze). This is part of the international road, so there is heavy traffic and it is dangerous. Now I turned around and descended through Piechowice, Podgórzyn, Miłków for another climb to Karpacz (800 m above sea level). I took a break next to the wooden Wang temple. Then, through the Skalne housing estate, Ściegny to Kowary and another ascent to the Kowary Pass (727 m above sea level, mountains Rudawy Janowickie). Along the way, there is a beautiful view of Kowary. As a reward for the effort, I enjoyed several kilometers of descent to Kamienna Góra and Czarny Bór (Kamienne Mountains). Here I turned right off the main route and reached Boguszów-Gorce. Now for another break, I feel the efforts of the route. Behind the village begins a gentle, long climb to Unisław Śląski. Along the way, I passed the ruins of an evangelical church. Then Rybnica Leśna and a steep descent to Głuszyca. Here the Sowie mountains begin. In Głuszyca, I turned left and around the Jawornik I reached Walim with another ascent, where I finished my excursion exhausted. The route was difficult and heavy, but satisfying. You can visit interesting places and see wonderful views. I reached home in Wrocław the next day. Additionally, I encountered an unpleasant surprise on this route. Somewhere on the outskirts of the Kaczawskie Mountains, between the 24th and 26th kilometers of my excursion, I came across freshly laid asphalt. An empty road. I let go of the bike on the descent. At a speed of 50 km/h, I entered a tree-lined, gentle right-hand curve (this place is only visible on very detailed maps). On the map, on this portal, this road does not exist. Suddenly a surprise. About 50 m ahead, the road sharply turns left onto a small bridge with a stone railing. Quick assessment of the situation. If I don't slow down, I won't fit on the bridge and I will fly about 2 meters over the railing into the rocky, mountain river. I pressed the brakes and felt the back wheel of the bike passing me and at that speed, I landed on the asphalt. I felt my spine drive into my skull. A merciless pain. At the place where I am, the only way out is nonetheless to continue the journey. First stop in Jelenia Góra. The pain allows me to sit only on the saddle. A bruise where my back ends its noble name excludes resting on anything else. The next pause before Karpacz. I turned onto a side road. I laid the bike by the roadside. I myself lay down in the grass. The effect was that drivers stopped and checked if there had been an accident. Upon returning home, it turned out that I had a large hematoma on the back part of my body.