Subject: Back from Poland
Author: John Boettcher
Date: Oct 4, 2002, 11:44 AM
Post ID: 1711145078
First the pictures for those who don't want to read this boring account.
http://groups.msn.com/JohnBoettcher/junakphotos.msnw
I got back Monday afternoon from 10 days in Poland. Quite the trip.
I flew in on the 20th and my lady friend/tourguide picked me up at the
airport. Sylvia drove me for 6 hours over to the company I was to speak
at who had my Junak motorcycle rig. Bad sign #1 was on arrival to see
the sidecover off and a broken shifter mechanism. Zenek had it under
control because he had taken the parts from a Junak he had that he was
slowly restoring. They hoped it would be ready by morning. Zenek let me
ride his Jawa around a bit and that was pretty cool.
The next morning it was running but it seemed to have some electrical
problems and I knew in my gut I would not be riding this all over Poland
as first planned.
They wanted me to ride it around but kept warning me about how difficult
a rig can be. I went around the big parking lot and got the feel of it.
Felt similar to my Eldo rig so I figured I'd have some fun. I did a nice
long powerslide in the gravel part of the lot then turned and lifted the
chair, kept the chair flying around the lot and back to where the small
crowd was and then dropped it in front of them when I stopped. There was
a small applause and I was immediately everyone's friend.
We went to a local bike shop to pick up a few things and that they would
go through the electrical in the next day or so.
We went back to Warsaw where I wanted to rent a car but her and her
father insisted we use his car. Bad thing was I couldn't drive it
without insurance which I couldn't get unless I rented a car.
I try not to depend on anyone and am used to doing things any way I want
and I found myself in a situation where I knew no language and couldn't
drive myself around. Plus I now had to listen, obey, be nice and
understanding to this woman for 10 days! I don't know how you married
guys do it!! It was very hard for me to be dependant upon another
person.
It was 80% fun to be honest and we did see a lot but the 20% was
stressful. I'm used to having a good couple of hundred miles of riding
in before breakfast which she wasn't up and finished with until after
10am! Hard country, 25% unemployment and 8 year degreed engineers that
make $4.50/hr. Plus filling a small car was $45 USD. People walking
everywhere.
We got back to the Junak the following Wednesday after she almost dumped
me off in the middle of nowhere. That's when I saw that there were major
complications in the purchasing deal. The US company man told me a
different story than these guys had and I was being caught up in the
middle. The dust still hasn't settled and the US guy says he will get it
here but it looks like a 50/50 chance to me.
I flew in to O'Hare and my rear brake line popped on my car a few miles
later.
40 miles later I pulled in the driveway, opened the garage and hugged
my Ambo!!!! Rode it around the block then came back and unloaded the
car.
Back on the Ambo to my favorite steak joint for my first bloody rare
steak in almost two weeks! I added a lobster tail on as well.
Good to be back home!
JB