Well, scratch what I said in the last post about 'tomorrow we go again.'.. We may not go again for a day or two because we have the pesky little problem of hitching a ride back to Krakow, about 120 miles to the west. This van is going nowhere except via tow truck. I was able to hitch a ride with an elderly farmer named Kristof about 3/4's of the way back, stopping in his little town of Hebdow for the night. He and his wife, 'Anna', invited me to overnight with them in their farm house and treated me like royalty. Their hospitality was much appreciated. When we arrived late into the night, Anna excitedly prepared a meal for the two of us after which, we crashed. Long day.
Not knowing how I would get the final part of the way to Krakow, I got up early the next morning and got ready to go. But Kristof had other plans. He said the Pastor from Krakow, whom he knew, would come pick me up. So, we had time for a nice breakfast and a tour of the farm. After generations of farming, Kristof had to sell the place 3 years ago in part to retire, but in the majority part to cover the debt he had acquired on all the equipment.- the plight of the American family farm. Kristof and Anna still live on the place, but a bigger farmer now runs it.
The farm is a beautiful 1,250 acres of crop land, set in the rolling hills of southern Poland, not too far from the Carpathian Mountains. They grow corn, peas, wheat, buckwheat and other grains in a strictly rotated methodology. Here are some pictures of the place, the drying kilns and bins they use to dry corn and peas, and a general view from our 15 minute tour.
Then the Pastor appeared unannounced and we all went in for Anna's home-cooked breakfast. There I learned that on Feb 24th, they had also taken in a family of Ukrainian refugees who they treated with the same generosity as they did me.
Heartwarmin, miss ya and prayin for y’all!