28-29 May.
28 May. 6th day of traveling and the last to travel by bike. Maybe for that reason I woke up sad. It was hard to know, that this is the end and that day I had to cycle the longest one day distance I ever did. I didn't want to go out from the bed (also because it was big and comfortable bed :)) ) But even then, I had a nice surprise. Since I woke up, I heard some noise. Firstly I thought that it's my neighborhood using the warmer because the night wasn't very warm, but when it did not stop, I decided to look maybe it's something outside. When I opened the door,
I realized that this sounds was of the sea. It changed my mood - how I can be sad, when I woke up with sounds of the sea? :) No way! I took my food out and ate breakfast on the table outside when listening to the sea. Then I packed my things, put on the bike and went on the road. More optimistic already, but with some doubts about that day cycling distance. That day I had to cycle from Šventoji to Mažeikiai, more than 100 km, so I planned to stop longer only in one place - Plateliai lake (the biggest lake in West Lithuania), to arrive not late at my aunt home in Mažeikiai and to have time to spend with her and her family. What I saw around my way:
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Windmill |
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Old cinema |
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Flowers :) |
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Spring colors |
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The way to the sky |
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Plateliai lake |
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Lunch stop in front of Plateliai lake |
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Lithuania map :) |
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Short stop in Žemaičių Kalvarija |
When I planed my route
where to go, I decided to take the shortest way from Plateliai lake to
Žemaičių Kalvarija, despite the gravel road. But when I was there, I saw
the sign "Žemaičių Kalvarija 15 km" and perfect road through the
forest. I couldn't resist. After I thought
"sometimes is better longer road than worse road" and went on it. It
was great choice, as the road was up and down, left and right. I enjoyed
it so much, that selected this road the best I cycled on this trip :)
From Žemaičių Kalvarija until Mažeikiai there was only straight road to go. And more close to the city, more cars on it. It was not the most pleasant road, I was already tired and used bus stops for short rests. Finally, close to Mažeikiai, I saw bike path and then I started to feel - this day is done :) From there it was easy to reach Mažeikiai and my uncle already waited for me at the beginning of the city. We cycled together until their home where my aunt waited already with good dinner, cakes and vitamins :)) Later arrived my cousin with his family. We all had nice chats till late evening, despite that I felt very sleepy at the end.
Sixth day distance (114 km) |
Next morning I woke
up not early, but somehow happy that I don't need to cycle. Also, the
sky was cloudy and I was sure that it will rain that day. In days like
this it is better to travel by bus ;) So, in the middle of the day my
uncle accompanied me to the bus station where I took the bus to go home. It was quite long way (about 4 hours and half) to go to Kaunas from Mažeikiai, but probably I slept more than half way, so it was not too boring :) When I get out of the bus in Kaunas, I needed to cycle about 9 km to home, but it was nothing comparing with distances I cycled last days. And when I came home, nice surprise was waiting for me - my sister left a smile for me:
To finish my story about this trip - it was my first longer than one day trip by bike and not perfect organized, but it was great to know that I was able to do it, to learn about myself and what to do not forget for the next time. Okay, I want to believe it was not the last one :) Totally in this trip I cycled about 440 km. It is not much, if I compare with cycled distances of some people who I know, but I will not stop there. Tanks for these cyclists for inspiration and for all people who helped for me!
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Approximate map of my trip by bike (Kaunas-Vilkyškiai and Mažeikiai-Kaunas was done by bus) |