A RADSTOCK man is already planning his next challenge after completing a gruelling 1,300 mile cycle journey back to his hometown in Poland.
Karol Kwiatkowski, 40, has lived in the UK for 14 years after moving from Poland. When lockdown hit, he started cycling long distances in preparation to ride to Pawlow in Poland - an idea that had been brewing with Karol for around two years.
The 1,300 mile trip saw Karol (pictured) cycle through the Netherlands and Germany braving soaring temperatures, heavy storms and even an encounter with aggressive dogs.
After completing his homecoming ride, active Karol is now planning to continue pushing himself by taking part in triathlons and Iron Man competitions as well as furthering his love of travel, although maybe not by bike.
Karol said: “The idea to go by bike from England to my hometown has been germinating for a long time. I have lived in the UK for 14 years and have always flown by plane. The idea to travel by bike was born about two years ago.
“Since then, I started to prepare myself thoroughly. I covered longer and longer distances, strengthened my muscles in the gym, and finally I bought a new bike because the old one was not suitable for such a long distance.”
Karol’s preparation paid off, as he completed the journey in around two weeks, often covering 200 kilometres a day in good conditions.
Karol said: “There was no moment of doubt, but it was sometimes hard.
“For example, when I got a punctured inner tube in Germany during a heavy downpour, or when riding through villages in Poland I was almost bitten by aggressive loose dogs.”
While Karol, who has been working as a machine operator in Welton Bibby Barron, was determined to push himself, he made sure to make some pitstops along the way enjoying time in the Netherlands and Germany.
He said: “I travelled through the Netherlands in two days, then I travelled through Germany for the next four.
“I went a bit off the track and visited the Olympic Stadium and the famous Berlin Wall.
“Also, I couldn’t miss the Brandenburg Gate and took a nice photo of myself in front of it.”
Karol completed his, sometimes gruelling, journey across Poland to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather.
He added: “The culmination of all this was my performance on the stage during the Pottery Fair for which my town is famous.
“For years my grandfather, the doyen of Pawlow’s potters, presented himself there.”
Karol is now planning his next challenge.
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