I woke early, but lounged about until mandatory check out time. The 14 km ride back to the train station was a lot more relaxing without the rain.
I had an almost a 3-hour wait for the train to arrive. I bundled up from wind in the cold and read until the train rolled in. I met a couple from Australia as they loaded their bicycles and gear, and we talked for the first part of the train ride. They had started in France (?) but has chosen to use rail to explore Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. Like seemingly all Australians they’re on a multi-month adventure returning home only in November.
The train made an extended stop about halfway to Warsaw. I ventured forth from the train to get food from a nearby restaurant. The only calories I had left with me were peanut butter in a jar. Even without being jittery from the cold meds, leaving my bike and all of my gear on a train that could leave was nerve-racking, but at least I finally had a decent meal.
I lost an hour when we crossed into Poland. That meant that the 8:00 pm arrival was a 9:00 pm arrival from a daylight perspective – dark in Warsaw. However, there were decent bicycle lanes and decent lighting, and I arrived at the hostel without incident.
I’ve now heard from four different bike shops that they have a box available. They’re scattered all over Warsaw, hopefully the closest one will have a box and I can tell the others they’re off the hook.
I’m still jittery from the cold meds, but I’m settled into the hostel. The hostel has a place for the theoretical box, and for me to pack up the bicycle. Hopefully by mid-afternoon tomorrow I’ll have nothing left to do but explore.