Day 6 - another country beginning with "L"

Sorry about the title - it's a little disrespectful to Lietuvos Raspublika or Lithuania but all these countires are beginning to get a big confusing. We have now had Euros, roubles. Estonian Krone, Lats and, now, Litas.

Anyway, today, Monday 21 July, we cycle down the Latvian Baltic coast into Lithuania. The weather is glorious - sunshine and occasional clouds, and a light, warm wind on our backs. The road surface is good, vehicles are few and we achieve our highest average daily speed so far of 16.4km/hr.

The only problem is the behaviour of Latvian drivers. We are defensive cyclists, meaning we cycle in a fashion so as to minimise objective dangers and make our presence clear and unambiguous to other road users. On roads with more than minimal traffic, Isla cycles first, about 5ocm out from the edge. I follow behind about 1 - 1.5m out and Cathy follows behind the same distance out as Isla with her dynamo lights on. We cycle about 2m apart. We are a tight group and Andy's role is to keep an eye in his mirror to m onitor oncoming traffic and report anything unusual.

The biggest problem is traffic coming from behind meeting traffic coming the other way. Will they attempt to overtake or will they wait? until the road is clear. Ifthey show any signs of doing anything silly, Andy moves oot to make it clear that they should not attempt to pass until it is safe to do so. This strategy has worked well and we have always felt safe as a result.

Today, however, in Latvia, despite the clear road, a few drivers, are so annoyed by being held up that the draw up next to use shouting and gesticulating. The first is a man in a huge Mecedes. I give him a rude sign. He slows down as if to argue then pulls away in a cloud of exhaust smoke. This happens a few more times. We adopt a dual tactic of Andy giving ruide signs and Cathy and Isla waving and smiling! We remain safe but take a dim view of Latvian driving.

We stop for lunch in a lovely little village where there is a rather moving monument to the 400 poor souls deported from the region by the occupying Soviets in 1940.

In early afternoon, we cross the border into Lithuania. All the Baltic States have signed the Schengen Agreement which means no border controls to deal with.

We arrive in Palanga, Lithuiania at 1900 hours and after failing to find a campsite check into a nice small, modern hotel for the night.

Cycled 76.41 km
Busking earnings - 0
No punctures