Monday 30 March 2009

Day 16 (14 of cycling) Narva-Saint Petersburg

Good evening, sorry for the late post, had some late arrival and many stuff of mine to clean!
The day started cloudy, then strong snow and rain between the km 30 and 100 and most part of the road were completely full of holes and road in bad shape, however the road is very good on the latest 50km to arrive to Saint Petersburg, and of course the wind from east!
Crossing the border was quite fast for what I thought! But still had to fill out the Visa form which was the only delay (and of course, the many people who wanted to cross on foot or bike).
Had a very nice welcome on the Russian side! Really no inspection, just showed my passport with Visa included, then I insisted in show the consulate receipt (to proof that was more than legal way), and everything's fine! So, they liked my arrival and saluted me!
Now that i am inside Russia, i have to register my visa, which will take me more extra days in Saint Petersbug.
And according to what my host and friends in Saint Petersburg, they recommended me to avoid Bologoye and Tver' due to very unsafe situations and possible life risk, so it made me "cheat" on my cycling, which will make me get the train to Moscow, so more days to explore both cities.
The stat of the day was 165.01km in 8h35m53s total:2478.8km AVG:19.2km/h
And the pic of the day, to confirm the weather I had:



Music of the day was the recorded MQ3 and Bons Rapazes from Antena 3 Portugal.
You can listen on streaming on
http://ww1.rtp.pt/multimedia/index.php?prog=1080 (MQ3)
http://ww1.rtp.pt/multimedia/index.php?prog=1086 (Bons Rapazes! what a great company!)

Saturday 28 March 2009

Day 15 (13 of cycling) Tallin-Narva

Ok... the worst day so far!
Usually the wind blows from west, but unfortunately decided to blow from east right on the moment that I am making complete east side! So.. today and tomorrow!
So.. just have the stats today... Tomorrow have to add 2 hours on the clock (summer time and entering Russia)
Route: 211.30 km in 12h15m43s, total 2313.7km AVG: 17.2km/h
By the way, snow and rain most of the time, only made one photo, I am really angry with this wind! Seriously, but I have my mission, so.. have to face the obstacles.
I apologize for this heavy post.

Thursday 26 March 2009

Day 14 (12 of cycling) Parnu-Tallin

Ok... Finally arrived to Tallin! And hopefully my last day with wind against me!
Today was a very happy and funny day to me!
My host Katrin is a professional massagist and offered me massages on my legs, and really worth it! I was able to face the snow storm quite after my departure from Parnu! Really thank You for that! But is not allowed to say after the session! But I am really thankful!
Then after few kilometers I was stopped by the Estonian police, asked him if he spoke English, he said no, then I explained about my trip and showed him my route plan called me crazy, saluted me, wished me luck and offered me a souvenir! So the Police is a good friend of the citizen and travellers! It deserved the pic of the day:


Song of the day: The Foals - Big big love

Wednesday 25 March 2009

Day 13 (11 of cycling) Riga-Parnu

Good evening, as today i arrived quite late, this will be a quick post again.
The north wind was again not my friend, temperature was negative most of the time, but was a beautiful day in general.
Tomorrow will be the last day heading north, so I hope I will have good wind most of my way!
Photo of the day:


Song of the day: Mando Diao - Dance with somebody

Monday 23 March 2009

Day 11 (10 of cycling) Panevezys-Riga

Good evening once again, now live from beautiful Riga!
Weather was great today, no wind, but I had to be protected against the freezing temperatures.
Road was mostly ok, with expection of some damaged roads on the populated area and on the last 20km arriving to Riga.
Tomorrow will be my resting day for remember a bit more of this sweet city.
Here are the sats of the day: 158.69km in 7h22m06s total:1770.8km AVG:21.5km/h

Photo of the day: (Yes, Martini is in Latvia)



The song of the day: Philip Glass - Runaway Horses (Mishima soundtrack)

Sunday 22 March 2009

Day 10 (9 of cycling) Kaunas-Panevezys

Today as a nice resting day in A1 (highway) and A8. In Lithuania ia quite allowed to cycle in the highways, which is nice! I don't mind at all!
However the north wind was not my friend (as I expected) but the weather was great to enjoy the landscape!
And the daily stats are: 106.22km in 6h28m47 Total:1612.1km AVG:16.4km/h
And the photo of the day: ( a good joke if You understand Portuguese)


And the song of the day: The Killers - Spaceman

By the way I would like to thank Aura and her partner for hosting me in Kaunas and made a delicious vegetarian dinner/breakfast! And still kind enough to wash my dirty clothes! Thank You!

And also thanks for the motivation SMS which I had got during my way as well!
You can send me free sms from www.airbalticcard.com. feel free to use the service! nd tell me your name on the sms! It's free for both of us :)

Saturday 21 March 2009

Days 8 and 9 (7 and 8 of cycling) Olsztyn-Olecko-Kaunas (Lithuania)

Good evening!
As I had no internet in Olecko, the previous post was not updated (as well the photos) so here is a 2 in 1 post.
About Olecko-Kaunas (Lithuania) was very very easy day, also with lot's of snow on most of the trip (snowing right after had entered Lithuania) but was a really fast trip. The wind this time was a good friend and adding that to the many trucks who passed by me and gave me a great help by giving some wind for me!
Was a trip sooo easy that I only ate half sandwich and drinked only one can (200ml) of one energy drink (or that or beer, no other drinks to choose on that Polish service area), just to get rid of some polish coins (drinks and food are extremly cheap compared to Germany).
Arrived to Kaunas quite early than expected, but was around 1 hour to find my host's place (numbering issue!)
About road conditons N8 and A5 are perfect for cycling! Good and wide roads
Here is the stats: 167.19km in 7h34m37s total: 1505.9 AVG: 22.1km/h

The picture (N8 going to Lithuania):

Don't worry about the temperature! Worry about the wind!

Song of the day: Empire of the Sun - Walking on a dream

_________________________

About the route Olsztyn-Olecko, was a white day, starting the day very fresh and still thanking Anieta and Woigtek (hope to had written correctly) for the great acomodation and remembering the hosting of 3 years ago and see what had happened during all those times. During the cycling, as there were lots of snow was a perfect day to be fulfilled with mud, and the trip could had been easier if the valve of the front wheel tyre didn't got damaged (malfunction I mean) however here are the stats: 164.9km in 9h09m54s total 1338.7km avg 18km/h.
I had updated the info via twitter/facebook, so on cases I don't have internet access, the stats will be updated daily (as long i have GSM coverage as well).
I had stayed in a kind of hotel, but the room was soo tiny... well... no comments!
Paid 72PLN, for night and breakfast (the recepcionist could not speak any other language beside Polish, advantages? I used my Dutch train discount and used as student card! So there was some discount!)
And the photo of that day:


Song of the day: Franz Ferdinand - Can't stop feeling

Thursday 19 March 2009

Day 7, 6th of Cycling: Bydgoszcz-Olsztyn (March 19)

Good evening!
Today was a day full of anger! Specially because of th wind was against me all the time and never stop changing direction!
It also snowed during the way, but didnt bored with cold! I called all the possible and imaginary names to the reverse wind! Once on a while it's ok, but all the time.. come on!! What have I done? I bring love, not war! Hope the wind understands me!
Well.. now in Olsztyn I am being hosted for a wonderful couple which had hosted me 3 years ago! Great to see them again! And is nice to walk (only for a bit) on the white city! But wait a minute.... Isn't spring already?
Well... here are the stats:
205.27km in 11h32m45s total: 1173.8km AVG:18.5km/h
Some snow and wind on the way.
Had only taken one photo but I will upload them when I have some real rest!
Just came from a big dinner offered by my sweet hosts Anieta and Woigtek!
(hosted me 3 years ago! Great to see them again!)

Now the photo:
Gorzow Wielkopolski - Bydgoszcz - Share on Ovi
Pronounced Piua (not Pila)

Wednesday 18 March 2009

Day 6, 5th of Cycling: Gorzow Wielkopolski - Bydgoszcz

Good evening, as this was a long long day of cycling (13 hours) and mostly against the wind which made me arrive quite late at Zero degrees I just leave the stats:
220.88km 11h54m26s total: 968.58km AVG:18.8km/h and departed at 7.30 arrived 21:00


Tuesday 17 March 2009

Day 5, 4th of Cycling: Berlin - Gorzow Wielkopolski

Good evening,
Today was very easy in Germany, but hard on the last 10km on the arrival on the Polish side
The wind was a great friend of me when blowing from west, but after few km after entered Poland, the wind changed to North and as i trusted on the road signs, they made me make more 10km! And heading North! Well... the this is still flat area!
I will make a small change on the route and will be via Gorzow Wielkopolski - Bydgoszcz - Olsztyn - Suwalki and possibly Kaunas and Panevesys in Lithuania
Let's see how the wind blows!

Thank You Peter for a great host in Berlin once again! And Mike make sure you get better and get Your hitchhike plans to Iran as You expect! Great luck!

Here is the pic of the day (feel the wind):



And song of the day: Kings of Leon - Use Somebody

Monday 16 March 2009

Day 3, Sunday 15th March: Wolfsburg-Berlin

This route was very easy to make, despite the rain I had almost all the time, the wind gave me a great help! Had made 211.82km in 9h49m11s at average speed of 21.6km/h.
There were no mountains or ups and downs but i could say that I hadn't found any supermarket, petrol station or any other refill area for around 80km! Luckly I found a nice German old man who was watching his post mail (but on Sunday????) and asked some water and continue my journey more easily!
Thank You old man!
About the night I crashed into a private party with some drinks and met people from Colombia, Italy, Russia and Germany (of course)
So.. Monday was a relaxing day to see the city and the miniature wonderland!
Thank You Peter (for hosting me in Berlin these 2 nights!
Photo of the day trip:



Song of the day: The killers - This is Your life

Saturday 14 March 2009

Day 2, Saturday 14th March: Paderborn-Wolfsburg

Good evening, today I arrived late so I don't have much time to put a decent post, so here are the stats of today:
198.55km in 11h02m43s,AVG 18.1km/h, 2 mountains on the way and rain on the last 30km at night.

(now updated)
First of all I would like to thank Sabrina and Aljoscha for a great hosting in Paderborn on which they made me a great dinner despite my late arrival, and also a cake, which was my meal of the day! The only expense I had was a liter of Fanta from a Petrol station (1.75euro).
And of course thank Barbara for hosting me in Wolfsburg and which I loved the "Atum" as well! Very yammy!
But I still have to find much better words to describe all this experience!

The photo of the day:



Songof the day: Cut Copy - Far Away

Friday 13 March 2009

Day 1, Friday 13th March: Dusseldorf-Dortmund-Paderborn

Ok... first day is done!
Made 182.45km in 10h02m39s, despite that i had departed at 09:05 and arrived at 21:05
Complete 12 hours!
Had many many red lights on the way and I had a long way on which wasted more 10km than the expected:
Weather was great! 9 degrees (Celsius) on the departure and some light clouds and no rain!
I really didnt cycled since 2007, so I am really really rusty! But is just the begining!
Here is the photo of the day (Departure point in Dusseldorf)


And the song of the day: U2 - Magnificent (Only love can leave such a mark! And it's true!)
Tomorrow time to go to Wolfsburg