Mixing It With The Hell's Angels.

STARY FOLWARK.

The parkrun is a quiet affair, only a dozen runners turn up. An oral surgeon from the town introduced himself to me. It is his first parkrun. He explains that there is another run in a local village attracting runners today. It's 25 degrees Centigrade as we run around so I struggle. I think that I'm doing well until I realise that he is the tail runner and keeps slowing to avoid passing me! I finish in 10th, effectively last.

We move on east and stop in Suwalki, the guide book has little praise for it. Today, however, it is hosting a motorbike rally with participants from Poland and Lithuania. Plus the chocolate ice cream is fabulous.

I know that it looks like I have a bicycle chain in my right hand but I can assure you that they are Mark's on the road.

Our final destination is at Stary Folwark on Lake Wigry. We cycle to the monastery 5 kilometres along the lake. Views are stunning.

On the way back, we stop at a restaurant on the lakeside. The waitress wants to use her English to translate the menu but we only want a drink disappointing her. The table next to us has two middle aged men, a middle aged woman a d a adolescent boy. The woman orders pannacotta and strawberries. The males watch her, no drinks no food, bizarre.

The prices never cease to amaze, a holiday bar chargex us £10 for 3 pints, vodka and tonic, coffee and two portions of chips.