Another move was now due and today was the day to leave Poland and make a quick 47km visit to the Czech. Rep before entering Slovakia. We had decided that we would be able to visit the Czech Rep properly at the end of our 4-year trip as this will be on our way ‘home’ but for today a quick dash in and out would have to suffice! However, our plan to make an early start was buggered from the beginning as on starting to dismantle the tent (our indestructible, very expensive expedition tent) we heard a sudden snap. One of the poles had just shattered!! We wouldn’t have minded but we hadn’t done anything other than begin to move it out of its holding caps and ‘SNAP!’ - the sheared end which was at the top of the tent went straight through the material of the tent! This was all we needed and after making a few urgent telephone calls to ‘Taunton Leisure’ we continued to pack up both now in frustrated and in bad moods. We made our way to the border and after making sure that we had had our passports stamped at the Czech border (another country to add to the total!) we headed towards Martin in Slovakia where the map showed that there was a campsite. The day so far had been uneventful with the roads being of a good standard. Both of us were excited as we approached signs indicating up coming Z-bends! Over the last few days many of the roads had been very long and very straight, riding some curves was something to look forward to and savour!!! As the miles continued Mountains rolled into view. We realised how we’d missed seeing a more rugged landscape – neither of us like to be in a very flat country or area for too long and this had been the case since leaving Norway. Arriving in Martin around 7 pm we were desperate to obtain some Slovakian cash. Heading into the centre of Martin we tried 5 ATM’s all of which had no money in them! Getting a little frustrated and annoyed (this seemed to be the trend of the day) we set off with no cash to try to find the campsite. 2 hours later after having been given directions by a variety of people we were still searching and even more frustrated and annoyed! We found signs that would just disappear and leave us stranded – thank god for the GPS and tracking which meant we could at least retrace our steps exactly and get back to where we came from! Getting to the point where we were both ready to give up and just continue on our way out of Martin, we were stopped by a local in his car and asked “Problem?” After one word “camping” from us, he was off waving for us to follow him. We ended up outside what looked to be a very nice and well-kept camping site but by this time it was pitch black and we could see nothing of the surrounding area. With a wave from our guide we quickly found our place in the site and began to put the tent up remembering that we still had to fix the broken pole! With the tent laid out but not erected we decided that the whole process would be far easier with the inclusion of beer. The bar door was locked (it closed at 9pm). Not discourage we tapped lightly; Victor (the campsite owner) appeared. Explaining our desperate need for beer and looking a bit pathetic, (we can only presume it took pity on us) Victor obliged. ‘Aaahhh you are English’, Victor remarked. ‘You must come in, I am with some of my staff and we are celebrating’. We never really found out what they were celebrating but 3 hours later and whilst all other guest were turned away, we were still in the locked bar, being plied drinks of every description by Victor, who by now was in full swing. Eventually we said our goodnights and struggled outside only then remembering that the tent was still not up and our kit was still on the bikes. We had just been ‘shanghaied’.The details of Victor’s campsite are: Autocamping TURIEC. Email: recepcia@autocampingturiec.sk

Website: www.autocampingturiec.sk GPS: North 45°48 East 09°24This site is run mainly by Victor, Marta (Victor’s sister) and Simone – they make a great team!

02-08-2003