In mid-May this year I had the pleasure of having a great bike trip. In 3 days we traveled 320 km riding from Görlitz (Zgorzelec) to Zielona Góra, but not along the popular Odra-Nysa trail along the border, but going deeper into Germany. The route turned out beautiful.

We started the trip by taking a Train from Wrocław to Zgorzelec. To avoid problems with bike spaces on a popular route, we left on Friday at 6 am. I quite often ride Koleje Dolnośląskie (Lower Silesian Railways) on weekends and I have encountered unpleasant situations several times. Once, the conductor did not let me and my friends on the train, saying that there was no room for bicycles. I had to argue several times to enter with a bicycle, even at the first station. Several times I saw someone else with a bicycle not let in by the conductor. On Friday morning, however, I did not expect problems … Five friends got on at the main station, and me and two other friends were to join at the next station. Even though there was hardly anyone on the train except our friends, the conductor forbade us to board the train, saying there was no room. I ignored his words, we just walked in and while on the train we continued to discuss and arrange the bikes nicely, proving that they would all fit. In the end, he didn’t kick anyone out, but unfortunately these are the realities of traveling with a bike in Koleje Dolnośląskie. If there are already several bicycles on the train, whether or not you get on depends on which conductor you come across. It doesn’t matter if you have a ticket or not.

The further journey by train was uneventful and after 2 hours we started our journey. The first dozen or so kilometers is riding mainly on asphalt bicycle paths, which led us to the first attraction of the day – the hills in Königshain.

We had to ride up the hill on a dirt road and at the very top it turned out that this is not an area for trekking bicycles at all, so there was a bit of walking with bikes. But at the same time, it was a very nice place to take a break. I was most interested in the quarry, where I immediately spotted climbing anchors shining from a distance. After a closer look, however, I noticed that the bolting of the routes is quite weak, so I would rather not come there for climbing.

The next 35 km we rode on asphalt, gravel and forest roads, passing several ponds along the way.

Then we approached the border and took the Odra-Nysa bicycle trail to the border crossing in Łęknica.

Very interesting surrounding. On both sides of the border there is the Muskauer Park, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is worth seeing the castle on the German side (in Bad Muskau) and going up the hill on the Polish side.

Being in the area, it would be a pity not to visit the Muskau Bend Geopark. The park belongs to the Global Geoparks Network and there are several post-mining lakes in interesting colors and a high tower overlooking one of them.

From there we had about 15 km to Olszyna, where we had booked a night in a motel (Centrum Olszyna).

Although our route was mainly in Germany, due to the prices we wanted to spend the night in Poland. The conditions at the motel were not exclusive, but it had everything we needed. A grocery store open 24/7, a kitchen for those who wanted to make their own breakfast, and a bar for those who preferred having someone else prepare them. We left our bikes overnight in a room that was watched by 24-hour security. We made the reservation via Booking.com, and the cost per person was PLN 70.

The next day we started with the return to Germany, which involved about 2 km of sandy stretch.

However, it was enough to cross the border for great asphalt bicycle trails to reappear.

By the way… Passing through German villages several times I noticed something like in the photo below. It reminds me of a giant Easter palm. Anyone know what it is and why?

The first point of the trip on the second day was the lookout tower on the Felixsee lake. Quite a big.

Then several kilometers along a beautiful road…

…and another tower, but this one was not so spectacular.

Immediately afterwards, the route began to run along the lake, where we took a longer break. There is a beach by the lake and a small bar where you can buy fries, fish burgers etc.

The route continued through the larger city of Cottbus, which can be fully traveled along a nice bicycle path along the river.

After Cottbus a bit of gravel…

… and there we separated. The original plan was that before heading to Poland, we would hang around the ponds north of Cottbus. Due to the late hour and showers, only the three strongest went there. Me and the others shortened the route a bit and only rode past the ponds. According to the account of the second team, I think we have something to regret.

We had planned accommodation for that day in Gubin, in the Atena guest house, but I do not recommend this place. The reservation was arranged by a colleague over the phone and he had the impression that the lady from the service is rushed and a little unintelligible. Therefore, to be sure, he called 3 days before our arrival to confirm the reservation. He found out that we definitely have this reservation, but on the spot it turned out that the lady had apparently forgotten about us… We had a problem finding someone from the service at all, and when we did, it turned out that they only have two free places and they have to move between the rooms other guests ;) Eventually, two people from our team stayed there, and I stayed with the others in the Lech guest house located nearby. The two from Atena were not satisfied with the quality of the accommodation, but I did not complain in Lech. Admittedly PLN 80 for a room in the basement, and I remember when 10 years ago you paid PLN 30 for such a standard, but well … different times. I had a roof over my head, bathroom and kitchenette in the room, bikes safe in the rooms so enough for me.

The next day began unusually for Poland, with an even, asphalt bicycle path.

It’s very good that they are starting to be created in our country. However, there are still much fewer of them than in Germany.

Most of the route on the third day looked typical, as in Poland. Public roads, fortunately not very busy, but with asphalt of different quality and a lot of sand in the forests. In addition, some cobblestones and gravel roads, which were quite compacted then, but I guess that if it doesn’t rain for a long time, it can also be very sandy there.

The trip ended in Zielona Góra, from where we returned by train to Wrocław. This time it was a Regio train and not Koleje Dolnośląskie, in which we easily fit our bikes.

The post Görlitz – Zielona Góra: 3-day Trekking Bicycle Trip appeared first on Maja Travels.