Ahh, what a magical start of the trip. The four seasons and their elements greeted us all the way to Kaunas. Within minutes the woods around Kazlu Ruda turned from green to a white fairy land. Gusts of snow under a clear sky and sunny intervals in between cloud covers. By the time it warmed up, another snow shower passed by.
The pleasure of cycling has been probably been described a thousands of times, but every time you get on, it gets you by surprise. Kilometre after kilometre in total silence gets you into a meditating state. It’s only when a car passes by at high speed you snap out of it.
A new feel of the bike, a heavy load, a different way of cruising. The bikes behave more like a truck, turns are wider and breaks take longer.
The road cuts through endless open space, like the Dutch polder, but without the traffic. We find ourselves passing Alex Warmerdam’s movie The Northerners. Carpenters are hammering nails into beams and contractor flags mark the border between field and the new housing.
Parts are put to the test and you still accept everything with an open mind in a surprise. Five-hundred metres before the 50 km point the plastic holder breaks off the front bag and falls off the dropbar.
Good things get lost and no name parts brake very quickly. It is up to you what to choose.
We are still smiling after a day with the elements. No tiredness, in bed at 9 pm. Getting used to the early morning, early evening rhythm a 100 km/a day distance.
Day 1 Wed, Mar 26, 2008
Kisiniskiai – Kaunas
departure 10.00 – arrival 17.30
average speed 18 km/h
distance 80 km
