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Published: September 18th 2014
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Borne Sulinowo Poland 15 September 2014
The road from Leba on the Baltic Sea (north coast of Poland) through Szczecinek to the ex Russian military base in WWll of Borne Sulinowo was of average surface and narrow. We were driving through agricultural land with many of the paddocks fallow and ready for the first winter rains. We have also started to notice a few autumn colours starting to appear on some trees.
Borne Salinowo, one of the youngest towns of Poland, was "miraculously revealed" on the maps shortly after the withdrawal of the last transport of Russian soldiers in 1992. It is a unique place with a special history surrounded by an aura of mystery.
As we walked around the town with our maps and description of the special features, we felt the modern atmosphere of the town has been formed by the military traces of the past that we were seeing. The former military training ground that neighbours Borne Sulinowo, the vast heathland, the Pomeranian Wall and the natural surrounds all combine to form one of the very interesting areas in Poland. We saw the military and civilian cemetery which opened in 1945 until the russian troops
withdrew from Poland in 1992. There are both Soviet soldiers, their family members and civil workers buried in the cemetery. The monument in the entrance of the cemetery is a hand with a machine gun aimed at the sky.
While we were walking around the town for nearly 2 hours, we saw many of the significant sites which were established during the German and Russian occupations.
We saw signs and photos which illustrated the contrast between the former military base and modern Borne Sulinowo. It was very interesting. I must admit, we felt the language barrier here as our friends the Volvex in southern Poland told us about this unique town as well as the special restaurant and Russian drinks etc, but when we visited, it was in the morning and too early for an alcoholic drink. We were also told that a great way to see the special historic features was by an ATV (quad bike) but we couldn't make ourselves understood at the Tourist Centre. Never mind. We saw all that the brochures told us about.
When the Russian withdrawal occurred, many of the Russian families in Borne Sulinovo stayed and so many of the
present people in the town are of Russian descent.
After lunch we then headed for Czaplinek which was in the lakes region and excellent for canoeing. The lakes are surrounded by the Drowski National parks which is beautiful Although there were about 4 camp sites in Czaplinek, we were finding that some of them were closed for the winter already. The 1st camp site we visited we couldn't find anyone to book in with so we filled up with water, emptied our grey and black water and then drove to the next camp site.
This next camp site was by the lake with a very friendly owner whose father was captured by the Russians and sent to Siberia where he died. Although a little over grown and all but the men's shower had hot water, we were the only ones in the camp site so it wasn't a problem. What was fantastic was that night there was the most magnificent sunset over the lake. It almost rivalled some of the sunsets we saw in Africa in 2012.....so it was good.
The next morning we drove further along the lakes and Drowski National Park area. It was beautiful
The narrow roads continued with some surfaces new and other surfaces being over-patched and therefore very bumpy. However, we took it easy. The weather continues to be magnificent. We have been soooo lucky.
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