Richards in Poland: YSA camp at the Mazurian Lake District

Ross and I were able to go with the YSAs on a GREAT adventure to the Mazurian Lake District. It is called one of the 7 natural wonders of the world. Many, many lakes and rich farm land with huge expansive yellow Canola fields where Canola oil comes from.
Wednesday afternoon we are ready to depart with a van full of sleeping bags, and everything else that goes along with a camp.
In the picture are the YSAs and us. From left to right are...Marta Wisniewska, Solongo Unursaihan, Dominik Lyzwinski, Kimil (from Lodz), Aleks Modzelewska, Sylva (from Syria, Kasia Gorniak.
We took off after a hearty prayer that the vehicle would run safely on the famous Polish roads and that we would arrive safely. We weren't too long into the drive when we got down to the first order of business which was food. We stopped at a pizza place which actually had great pizza after which we were finally on our way.
The scenery was breath-taking, from forested areas to huge expanses of Canola fields in full bloom. About 4 plus hours we arrived and unloaded the van. Marta's grandmother has a house by one of the many lakes that she was letting us use. The guys slept out under the stars and the girls and Ross and I slept in the house. It was somewhat like Girl's camp, rustic, no heat in the house and shower was very limited. The only way you could take one was to sort of spray yourself off in semi warm water. Only one bathroom for the 9 of us.
After a quick change of clothes to bathing suits the YSAs were off to the lake for a quick swim and a cookout and, of course a bonfire.
Thursday morning, we headed for Hitler's Wolf Lair which was about 100 kilometers away over roads that you really wonder if they really classified as roads. The roads were all 2 lane maybe and some not enough for 2 vehicles at the same time. Even one cobblestone road with pot holes.
Hitler's Wolf Lair was fascinaating and we had a wonderful guide who gave us all the history. He spent 800 days there during the war and the bunkers were so well hidden in thick forests with trees planted on top of the bunkers that it was not found. The bunkers were solid cement with cement walls 6 feet thick. When the Lair was finally discovered and bombed, bunkerrs were still standing. We tried to show pictures so you could see the emmensity of the walls and the height but the pictures don't do it justice.
Friday we headed for some giant sand dunes which were a field away from the house. Some of the sand dunes were 3 storys high and they all had fun jumping off and sliding down the massive dunes. After everyone was sandy and tired, we headed for another large lake where we spent the remainder of the day, swam, barbequed and swam some more. We then went back to the house and built the best bonfire ever and had s'mores which they had never had. We spent time around the fire the first night and the last night talking about life, Church and the importance of both along with all the other things that come up around a fire.
We left early Saturday morning as Ross had a Leadership training meeting he had to be at at 11am. As we left at a little before 6am, there were a few sleepers on the way home...............
All in all it was a great trip, and we all looked forward to a clean shower, and the opportunity to do this again.