Today marks the end of the first week on the road. We have covered 2,500 kms and ridden in 8 countries. The week has been relatively easy apart from having to keep moving to make our Russian visa deadline. As we have travelled only within the European Union (EU), we have had no border crossings to slow us down. It was interesting to note that as we crossed borders further east and newer EU members the border post buildings still exist, except the grass is now growing up in the roads. In Western Europe only a sign indicates where the border is. We also saw in the east people at the side of the roads selling fruit and other foods from cars or just a small box next to a bicycle. No doubt we will see this more as we venture into Russia and beyond. We get used to our way of life and forget how most of the world lives

Apart from the boots, all equipment is working well, but with all the modern technology we seem to spend a great deal of time co-ordinating recharging at night. In 1982 in our trip through Africa, we had a short wave radio with two AA batteries. It would also be useful if electrical equipment manufacturers could produce standardised cables to reduce our rats nest of cabling!

Riga has turned out to be a beautiful city with a lovely old quarter and a number of art deco and art nouveau buildings that attracted Anne’s interest and camera. See some photos below. We had a relaxing lunch at a street cafe and then back to the room to prepare for tomorrow’s ride into Russia.

We had planned to leave early but a small problem with my bike was discovered while doing our daily checks The right hand lock nut had come loose and I now have a 1.5mm difference between each side of my wheel alignment. While I have a good toolkit, it lacks the a spanner large enough for the quick release nut, so off to BMW Riga this morning to fix and then look for a 17mm spanner for next time, which will probably never happen.

Russia and the open road are ahead of us…

– Anthony

Dedicated to the children who were deported to Siberia 1941-1949

Park and river running through Riga

The Freedom Monument honouring soldiers during the Latvian war of Independence 1919-20

Honour guards at the Freedom Monument

The Blackheads House

City Hall Square

Alberta Street

Building on Alberta Street

We started the day in Kaunas with a walk through the town, having a very late breakfast at a coffee shop which turned out to be a pizza place, that had Illy coffee!! What a brilliant idea they had of providing live basil plants on every table!

We left Kaunas at noon and went through 3 police check points today including the one at the Lithunia/Latvia border, with the police letting us drive through each time, totally uninterested in us. That won’t last, we know…!

Today was the most enjoyable day’s ride so far. Weather was kinder than the last couple of days, the scenery was gorgeous and the drivers, both trucks and cars were the most courteous, pulling over to let us through, or thanking us when we pulled over for them. And they didn’t sit right up against our back tyre when they wanted to overtake (like in Germany), but waited patiently a safe distance behind us.

The temperature has been very pleasant too – from a low of 14.5 to a high of 21 degrees celcius.

Lots of walking around Riga tomorrow 😊

Kaunas monument to Vytautas Magnus

Monument to Vytautas Magnus

Kaunas restaurant with live basil plants

Our b&b in Kaunas – the owner got us to leave our bikes in the patio area overnight

Lituania/Latvia border

Riga train station – another storm coming

– Anne

We’ve made good progress despite the heavy rain. We are now in Kaunas in Lithuania and have travelled 1375 miles – 2200 kms. The journey from Berlin to Warsaw was our longest day and had the worst weather. We’d been lucky so far, dodging the weather front sweeping across Europe, but we’ve now had our fair share.

The bikes have performed beautifully, the tyres too, and panniers and top box. Our bluetooth Sena S20 headsets are wonderful too – so clear and easy to use (more on those in a separate equipment post). We’ve had one major disappointment: our TCX boots leak like sieves!!! Changing up or down a gear, we could feel the water sloshing around in our boots. Horrible!!! Both of us, and in both boots… We’ve contacted the manufacturer – no satisfactory response yet so it is not looking good. So disappointing as we had been so happy with them. They were comfortable riding and in light rain and even walking in, but the amount of rain we’ve had has really tested them, and they have failed miserably…

Riding through Poland was long and hard work. So many trucks, single lanes, no overtaking lanes of course, and windy roads through endless forests. The scenery got really lovely towards the north, as we got closer to Lithuania.

We’ll be leaving Kaunas later today and get to Riga, Latvia where we’ll spend 2 nights. I am so looking forward to visiting Riga, culturally and architecturally – I know I will have a real feast with all their art nouveau!!!

– Anne

Outside Augustow, Poland, time to put the waterproof trousers on again.

Enjoying the stunning lighting and countryside in southern Lithuania

Storm over Marijampolé, Lithuania

Kaunas with St Michael the Archangel church

St Michael the Archangel church in Kaunas, Lithuania

Anthony found the most amazing motorcycle store in Berlin that opened at 1pm this Sunday – http://www.louis.de – so we decided not to head out of Berlin just for a few hours and make the most of today to rest up and repack, and hopefully let the weather move away from our route for tomorrow. We have been extremely lucky with the weather so far, with literally just a few minutes of rain only.

Why repack already? The last few days before our departure saw too many items still outside panniers as we still needed them and ended up in our top box on the morning of our departure because we fitted and closed the panniers the day before for a final test run: we want to keep the top boxes as empty as possible so that we can store our helmets in them with a few daily essentials.

We got Anne’s new gloves of course at Louis, together with a couple of other small items such as Loctite. I am compiling a list of lessons & tips and, checking whether old trusted equipment such as favourite gloves will last the journey, will be included!

By the way, apologies if you have been bombarded with email updates (every time I spot a spelling mistake or tweek something) as we are still coming to grips with WordPress – I’ll be more carefull from now on and use the iPad instead of my thumbs on my phone!!!…

It is wonderful to know all those who are following us but we are aware that if you have not made the confirmation at the bottom of the email you received when you first registered, we do not know who you are. Thank you confirming if you have not done so. Thank you!

We’ll be off to Poland tomorrow, heading off early – not sure if we’ll make it all the way to Warsaw though and of course no idea where we’ll spend the night or what communication we’ll have. So remember, no news is good news 😊

– Anne

Streak & Storm ready for their 1st night out

Fantastic motorcycle Louis store in Berlin

Shoei wind tunnel where you can try helmets for wind noise at the Louis store

We left Padderborn and Anne’s niece (in-law?) and first great-nephew late this morning. How special to have met little Samuel before heading off on our travels!

Riding on German autobahns isn’t the most pleasant but we have to make sure we keep to our Russian deadline so no time to take country roads at this stage. We kept out of the fast lane as much as possible as cars come up to you from nowhere so fast! Luckily we’re used to driving in Germany or it could be quite spooky.

We got to the southern outskirts of Berlin by 5.30pm and found ourselves a great hotel next to an Aldi. It’s very strange to be in Berlin and not see our dear friends as they are currently away in Siberia – we met Antonia in February 1983 in Rwanda and although we don’t often see each other, we have remained very close. This is one of the greatest experiences about travel – the people you meet and connections you make.

We have to go shopping for gloves tomorrow!! Anne’s summer gloves suddenly gave up the ghost – they are 5 years old and it never occurred to me to make sure they would last a year on the road…

Attached is a photo of Anne getting on her bike 😃. We are sure it will get easier over time!!

– Anne

Hole in Anne’s old favourite glove

Up and over – not very elegantly!!