Pine Forests and Train Tracks

About Time!! Good on ya boys

When one thinks back to the long days at work some 7 months ago and the day dreaming that took place I never imagined for a moment that I would be camped in so many pine forests and for that matter I never thought that this late in the year I would still be able to bike in the relative comfort of shorts and a light wind jacket. But there you have it. The riding has been for the most part very straight forward with the exception of a couple of insignificient rises it has been fast and flat, which is great because the landscape has not really changed for the last couple of weeks. There have been some fields that have been left to weed for the winter and there are those that have been turned over ready for next seasons planting then repeat as necessary and you get the idea.

Who hasn't ridden a tank??

I am in the capital of Lithuania at this current juncture in a town called Vilnius which has a lovely old and cobblestoned Old Town and a new and up market new town like many of the cities in Europe that I have wandered through. Getting in wasn't the easiest task and I am sure when I go to take my leave in the morning I will find it equally frustrating in the opposite direction. People here seem aloof but once we crack the outside of the nut they seem to be nice enough folks although as yet no one has gone out of their way to be particually helpful or generous, Perhaps I am becoming needy as I am nearing the potential end of the trip.

Camping in the trees. Poland

A week or so ago we were diligantly following the map to cross one of the larger rivers that snakes its way across the planes of Northern Poland heading for the chilly waters of the Baltic when we were stopped in our tracks. That is to say that the road stopped on the waters edge and as we viewed the expanse of the slow moving water we could make out the partially submerged bridge embuttments and imagine what the construction my once have looked like but in reality had to make 100km detour to make the correct heading on the opposite side.

Learning Early. Northern Poland

I had the great pleasure of watching the final of the rugby world cup again with Andy and I need not say more than good on the boys and I am proudly waving the Nz flag off the back of Doris. So obviously in fact that I was approached by a polish gentleman at the Lathuania Poland boarder restaurant who gave me a congragulations for winning the cup. He went on to quickly mention the efforet he needed to go through to make sure he caught the game. The week before was successfully unsuccessful??? I was in a small town trying to catch the Aussie game and making my way through a few of the open stores trying to find a tv and the game. Needless to say I did not see the game but came out of the bakery with a couple donuts some muffins and a hot cup of coffee for my worries. All that and not a word of understanding was spoken. Love it!!

Fall beauty, Poland

Fall, Poland

Welcome to Lithuania

                                               


No real problems to talk about. Doris has broken her peddle so it remains to be seen if that will be a big issue. It still works but something is very wrong. Otherwise she is running ok with the winter weight she has taken on. Apart from the Police waking me up in the middle of the night and a couple of curious locals sleeping through the long nights has not been a problem at all.  Thanks again for the comments.

Warsaw Saw War

Its been a few days back on the saddle since leaving the wonderfully wet and historic city of Berlin and into the German countryside and I feel remarkably good and ready for action after the long break. Leaving the German capital was one of the easiest riding experiences of the entire trip. Take for instance the pain in the ass Auckland was to ride into and the epic I had when I left Istanbul to start the Europe leg of the adventure and this really was a breeze. Not long thereafter I found my way to the open fields and pasture lands dividing Poland from Germany. So continue we did and have now arrived in the interesting city of Warsaw where we took in a museum of the uprising in the second world war and went for a tiki tour around the old town. I must admit, this is a city like many other cities I have been in and add to that the grey drab overcast day and the temperature hovering around 8deg C and its not really writing its own story. Never mind, tomorrow I head south in an effort to make sure I am in a position to catch the All Blacks playing in the World Cup final sunday morning Polish time.

I met with Joy in Berlin and she has been riding with me since then. The riding has been easy and we have been finding some great campsites along the way so it has been a good introduction for her. We have even been invited into a couple of homes for coffee and showers so it has been a very pleasant experience for everyone.We have been pushed along by a strong breese which has helped put some good kms on the clock although when we turn north in a couple of days there is potential that it will be very challenging with this very same wind. Not to worry.

Fortunately the riding temperature is excellent although after the sun sets and the frosts greet us in the morning I am happy for the gloves that I crochet for myself, just as any worm blooded nz male would in the same situation.

Thanks for all the comments, Pip, I am coming to see you in Dunedin atsome point so you will get a chance to see how Pimped out Doris has become. Take care Gina, didnt have a drink there but I am sure it was a lovely bar, and Liza, you're gross. Lots of love to you all.

No photos Im sorry, the internet is not the best.

Go the all Blacks, stick it up the french

Czech Mate

Misha, Overlooking Prague

It must be said the Prague is one of the most fantastic cities in the whole of Europe. Certainly not the easiest to ride into with all the tram tracks, cars and people everywhere but friendly, beautiful and old as can be. From the hill top where I was staying we can look out over the towers and spires of this thriving city while throwing a disk around among this somewhat eclectic but brilliant group of fashion stylists, musicians and students to whom I have been befriended.

John Lennon Memorial wall

As I rode into Prague I was attending to my map when a lad of 20 some years rode over and asked if I needed some help finding my way. I had the address for Misha but no clue at all how to get there, and as it happens Michael did not either. What he did though was take me to his student residence where he produced a map and showed me where I needed to go.  It was not as straight forward as one would like so he insisted on biking with me to her house. Not only this but as we biked he gave me a quick overview of the areas I was in, stopping to point out things of interest and giving me a low down on some of the more interesting historical happenings in the past couple of hundred years.

Locks of Love! Lovers pad lock the iron grate and throw the key into the river for the key keeper to look after. Gross!! 

Prague

I know Misha from my days in England's south west and very soon upon arriving we were in the car and racing off to her home town of Chomutov, close to the Czech/Germany border. As seems to be the trend with meeting old friends, their friends are keen to meet me and find out what makes me tick, or at least what kind of a person bikes through Europe. And of course this is done over some great Czech renditions of well known American pop music. Take for example Grease Lightening in Czech.

A beautiful fall day full of daisys

Biking into the Cz Rep from Poland I was instantly greeted with quiet smooth roads that simply meandered through the most picturesque of vividly green rolling hills adorned with the vibrant reds, yellows and oranges of the fall that would rival the beauty found in Canada's east as the seasons change. Leaves floated to the ground as a breeze rusted through the trees and acorns fell in alarming numbers with strong gusts, making the going somewhat hazardous for young Doris and her fortunately helmeted rider. None the less, through such trying riding we made the destination in good time.

Andy's kid in Poland

As the seasons change and the snow begins to fall in the mountains it is now an unfortunate reality that I will no longer be able to acquire vast amounts of fresh fruits from the trees lining the sides of the road. A staple diet for most of the past 5 months I will now indulge in the hearty soups and stews that are designed to keep one warm and cozy. People are certainly surprised to find out my journey is continuing north and while I shrug away the suggestions that it may be too cold to bike I am looking forward to the challenge of such a eventuality. 

Found you Gina!! Trying to hide in Poland couldn't fool me

Currently I am sheltering from the drizzly rain here in the south west of Germany at my good friend Annette's flat. Annette also put me up for the night in Wellingtion on night one of the trip before moving back to her native Germany to follow an offer of work so we have come half a circle if you will. Off to Berlin in a couple of days before I head back into the east and into Poland tending north towards Estonia over the next month.

Love, sunshine and happiness.