Zielona Gora --- Glogow

Next morning, another banquet to get us on the road and a packed lunch so we don't starve on our 68km ride.
Jacek wants to ride through the city with us and show us the quieter roads to Glogow.
Excited about the prospect of seeing his bicycle: 25 years old,18 speed, old-style arm brakes, standard old tyres, loose bottom bracket ("I tighten it but after 100km it comes loose again: it's the way with old things" - always a hidden message in his words). Offer him a spare pair of cycling shorts, but he insists that he needs to be suitably attired for church right after a long day's cycle. Now we see why he has been so amused at our fully laden bikes - he cycles with sandals, jeans and a smart short-sleeved shirt.
After a final fond farewell and invitations to meet again, we are unterwegs to Glogow.
After Nowa Sol we alternate between eating and throwing apples (jap-ko) with some local kids. It's how they get their kicks in these parts.

Notice the fully laden table of food... not for long

Meet Krzysztof in Glogow. When Andrew asks "Do we lock our bikes outside?", he laughs "das ist einer guten Witz!". Drop our bags and off we go on a journey through the nightscape of Glogow. First stop is a tour of the sports facilities of which he is suitably proud, despite the sports hall taking 20 years to build. Then onto the cathedral that was destroyed during Krystalnacht in November 1938. Then onto a church which had bronze doors depicting the story of the sacrificed children in 1109. To show their resolve against the Russian attack, the villagers killed some of their own children and impaled them on the gates to the city. We saw the pink bridge if tolerance, Pope John II monument (he's everywhere here) and a physical therapy spa, founded by Italians. Krzysztof treated us to a beer in a really chilled out but impressive restaurant. Then at home, we ate his potato gratin mix and baked cheesecake - worthy of note. He was absolutely startled that we ate everything especially as it was after midnight. G