Posts on lukasz-skalski.com

Seven Months Later: Nordkapp, Memories, and Hope for Franek

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 18:00:00 +0100

There are journeys you return from slowly, and there are those from which - mentally - you never truly return at all.

That is exactly how it is with my cycling expedition to Nordkapp. Even though seven months have passed since it ended, it remains vividly alive in my mind. Sometimes it comes back as short stories shared with friends, sometimes as a fleeting glance on my way out to work at the large wooden map of Scandinavia that Monika gave me after my return, and sometimes simply as quiet moments drifting back to the very best and very hardest days on the road.

Safely Back Home: The Nordkapp Journey's End

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 18:00:00 +0200

I am back home!

Truth be told, I have been back since Saturday, but returning to real life has completely knocked the energy out of me. As luck would have it, this afternoon Monika and I grabbed our bikes and rode out to watch the ships sailing out of the harbor. There was really no better moment than this to sit down and record a brief recap of the return journey.

We Made It! Nordkapp: The End of the Road

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 16:30:00 +0200

We made it! There is no road beyond this point!

After covering over 2100 kilometers, we have finally reached Nordkapp! Done for ourselves, and done for Franek!

We did it!

Looking like 19th-century explorers after weeks on the road, I just wanted to share this spontaneous video to thank everyone from the bottom of my heart.

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I will prepare a final video edit and a full expedition summary once the dust settles, but for now - it’s time to head back home.

The Edge of the Continent: The Final 47 km to the North Cape

Thu, 10 Jul 2025 09:00:00 +0200

It feels like a strange morning—the very last one riding forward with the mindset of reaching the destination, rather than heading back home.

The final morning on the way to the destination - a chance to sleep in a little longer.

We have only 47 km left to the North Cape. That is where the land ends and the road stops - you simply cannot ride any further. Today we are lounging in our sleeping bags a bit longer than usual; there is no need to rush.

The Final Stretch: Only 240 km to Nordkapp

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 10:00:00 +0200

After covering 135 km yesterday, we are now just 240 km away from Nordkapp!

This is likely the last “talking” update from the road before reaching the finish line. The recording turned out the way it did - plenty of raw emotions and tears, but I honestly didn’t have the energy to do a second take. Besides, this entire journey has been an emotional rollercoaster, so let that honesty stay in the video.

Beyond the Arctic Circle: A Dream and a Promise Kept

Thu, 03 Jul 2025 20:00:00 +0200

I have officially crossed the Arctic Circle!

There is still a huge distance ahead of us, but right now, part of my dream and the promise made for this fundraiser has come true. I am beyond happy, so I wanted to share this moment of pure joy with all of you!

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👉 Support Franek on Siepomaga

Over 1000 km Behind Us: Heading Towards the Arctic Circle

Mon, 30 Jun 2025 21:30:00 +0200

We already have over 1000 kilometers of this cycling adventure behind us.

We are slowly leaving the Gulf of Bothnia behind and turning directly north to begin the most demanding stage of this journey - pushing toward the Arctic Circle and onwards to the North Cape.

The past few days have been mostly relentless rain and mud (last night spent in muddy bushes was definitely not the highlight of the trip). But today, as if on cue, the day ended with an actual campsite and warm sunshine - so I recorded another quick update.

The Journey Begins: Rolling Out for Franek and Nordkapp

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 08:00:00 +0200

I’m off! For Franek and for myself!

Thank you for every kind word and gesture before my departure. Now, there is only the long open road ahead. Keep your fingers crossed!

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Thank you so much for every contribution to the fundraiser:
👉 Support Franek on Siepomaga

Beyond the Arctic Circle: Cycling to the North Cape

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 10:00:00 +0200

Dear Friends,

This will be a long post about dreams, helping others, illness, the good people on my path, physical challenges, fears, and things we don’t usually share on social media. But since I’ve decided to reveal a bit of my vulnerability, let it be without holding back… This is a post about how, in just over 2 weeks, I will set off on a multi-thousand-kilometer bicycle journey beyond the Arctic Circle, not only to fulfill my own dreams, but (and more importantly!) to also help 6-year-old Franek in his fight against an incurable disease. You too can help me/us in this fight! I will be very grateful for taking a moment of your time to read and share this post, and for supporting the money box set up for the fundraiser (jump straight to the How to Support section at the bottom)!

Kaszuby Microadventure: Gravel, Silence, and Slow Pace

Fri, 14 Mar 2025 10:00:00 +0100

The plan for last weekend was as straightforward as it gets: pack a couple of light layers, load up the bikes, and head out toward Kaszuby. Leave Saturday morning, roll back by Sunday evening.

We deliberately mapped the route to favor slow, unhurried riding. Whenever possible, we chose quiet forest tracks and gravel paths over paved roads - wide enough to ride side by side and talk without shouting over traffic. That shared headspace and effortless conversation has always been my favorite part of our microadventures.

Autumn by the Lake: Fire, Stillness, and Golden Kaszuby

Sun, 03 Nov 2024 18:00:00 +0100

The weather forecast for the final weekend of October looked far too promising to ignore. Almost automatically, our plan of paddling, sitting around a campfire, and spending the night by the lake became set in stone.

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Picking the spot took no deliberation: Pole Campingowe Kitowscy. It is one of those rare sites where you immediately feel at home, always greeted with a warm smile and genuine hospitality.

Velo Baltica: 320 Kilometers of Coastlines, Sand, and Memories

Sun, 11 Aug 2024 19:00:00 +0200

Ever since returning from Iceland, I felt that while my body was back home, my head was still wandering somewhere far away. So when Monika suggested taking a short five-day getaway in early August, I didn’t hesitate for a second. With almost no prep time, ideas bounced from paddling the Åland Islands to driving down to warm Slovenia. Eventually, after changing our minds a dozen times, the decision settled on loaded bikes, a lightweight tent, and… the Polish coastline.

Iceland: Kayaks on the Roof and the Road to Freedom

Mon, 24 Jun 2024 20:00:00 +0200

When we drove onto the return ferry two weeks ago, I was certain that 48 hours offline in a cramped cabin would be enough to process everything from our three weeks on Iceland. I didn’t manage a single sentence. Sensory overload had caught up with me days before leaving the island - that strange cognitive burnout where your eyes register everything around you, but your mind has simply stopped absorbing the scale of it.

Pieniny & Dunajec Gorge: Legs, Arms, Legs

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 18:00:00 +0200

There are countless places on the map of Poland worth exploring from the seat of a kayak, a bicycle saddle, or on foot. But if you woke me up in the middle of the night and asked for the absolute must-sees, two would instantly come to mind: Gdańsk and the Dunajec River Gorge.

Naturally, we chose the Pieniny Mountains for this brief, intensely packed four-day getaway. The plan was as beautifully simple as always: throw the kayak into the car, rent bikes locally, and hike wherever the trails pulled us. Our only real rule was the sequence of operations: “legs” - “arms” - “legs”.

Scandinavia & Nordkapp: Two Kayaks to the Edge of Europe

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 20:00:00 +0200

“Let all the wise be wise in their wits, and let me, with my love, be a fool”

It was with this very quote from Edward Stachura’s Siekierezada that one of the books Monika and I took on this year’s expedition began. And no quote could better capture how we must have looked in the eyes of our neighbors over the past few weeks, as almost daily - spending countless hours in the underground garage - we crawled into our car’s trunk through the half-open tailgate or side doors.

Kaszuby: Raduńskie Lakes, Campfire, and Eurovision Stars

Sun, 14 May 2023 19:00:00 +0200

Our debate with Monika about what to do over the upcoming weekend stretched late into Friday evening. On the table were our well-worn, time-tested favorites: Kąty Rybackie, Rewa, or Kaszuby. And since this weekend was likely our last opportunity in May to get the kayaks on the water in Kaszuby, we went with that exact direction.

Saturday morning was all about quick packing: tossing the kayaks onto the roof rack, and before noon we had already arrived at Lake Raduńskie Dolne - one of the many lakes along the scenic Raduńskie Circle route.

Sumino Lake & Lipusz Forests: Swan Battles

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 18:00:00 +0200

We stumbled upon the beautiful stars of our weekend getaway - the forests of Nadleśnictwo Lipusz and Lake Sumino - completely by chance through a randomly suggested YouTube video. Even though we visited areas within a few kilometers of Lake Sumino quite regularly, it took this Saturday-Sunday trip for us to truly uncover the magic of the place.

We expected clean water and good weather. As a bonus, we got a starry night sky and a magnificent forest still tenaciously regenerating after the severe storms of 2017.

Rewa in January: Winter Paddling and Sea Birds

Sun, 29 Jan 2023 18:00:00 +0100

The previous summer season hadn’t been particularly generous to me when it came to kayaking, so this time we made a preemptive strike: we kicked off the season before it even started.

Over recent months, I spent quiet evenings studying maps and drafting trips both small and large. Rewa - “the meeting point” between the Puck Bay and the Gdańsk Bay - was near the top of that list. So, while most people were driving around with skis or snowboards on their roofs, we were up at dawn, cutting through the Tri-City with a five-meter-long sea kayak strapped overhead (the second one packed neatly into the trunk). Catching the bemused stares of passersby, we felt a bit like a walking billboard for global warming.