One man in a boat (to say nothing of the dog)

A bouncy canoe, the dog on board, contact radio and the goal- crossing the Gliwice Canal and then Oder River. Krzysiek Czoba, the IT Director, in the long May weekend defeated by canoe about 60 km in order to prepare for the trip by water to Amsterdam. Meet our next man with passion!
Krzysiek’s idea was to use and check the equipment and devices available in popular sports stores during the lonely trip, as well as verify his own physical condition. Krzysiek chose the kind of activity in which his three-legged dog called Łatek could participate without any problems. On the way back he wanted to check using public means of transport with the dog and quite a lot of luggage.

The radio caused an absolute sensation

The plan was to get to Wroclaw by waterway. However, Krzysiek ran out of time, and it turned out that a lot of sun deformed the canoe and it was impossible to continue the journey.
From the planned 180 km, Krzysiek beat 1/3 of the route, which took him four days. Launching the canoe took place in Dzierżno. The cans for the dog took up the most space. There was also basic luggage in the canoe, a small tent and food for two days.
Howerver, the biggest sensation (apart from the dog on board!) aroused the radio, through which Krzysiek communicated with the locks service. On the Gliwice Channel route there are only six of them, and on the Oder Channel- over 20. Each lock takes about 20 minutes and costs just over 4 zlotys. An interesting fact is also the need to overcome the so-called Kłodnica siphon, which is its intersection with the Gliwice Channel.

A solar powered canoe- construction continues!

From the technical point of view, the Gliwice Channel is not difficult to cross. The only drawback is pollution of the banks in some places. Fortunately, it also has very beautiful places, almost resembling Masurian climate. There is even Cormorant Peninsula next to Dzierżno.
Birds nesting here are not afraid of people and allow to swim very close. On the other hand, the Oder River is poor in water, practically there is no current in it. That is why within an hour, I was able to barely cover about 4 kilometers against the wind. Winds usually blow from the south-west. I slept in a tent in the bosom of nature which ended with visits of a herd of bulls. It was a little scary. The route ended twenty kilometers before Opole, from where I returned to Gliwice by train – says Krzysiek.

Having gone through this experience Krzysiek is already planning another lonely canoe trips. Of course, I will be trying to introduce technological innovations. This summer he intends to reach Wroclaw by canoe as he originally planned. This time the canoe will be equipped with solar batteries! The plan for next year is canoeing to Amsterdam through Germany – less than 1500 km. Another destination is … Marseille on the Mediterranean Sea that is 4 thousand km route!

Bon voyage Krzysiek!

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