September 15, 2024
Day 76: Aukstadvaris to Alytus
Rocky Start then Great Roads
“Even with the rocky start, these roads are good,” Patrick says as we are negotiating different roads today. We had to backtrack the 3.5km on the unsealed corrugated road and back to Aukstadvaris. Just after we set out sprinkles of rain begin, but they don’t last long.
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Just on the outskirts of Onuskis is a Jewish cemetery. “In the nineteenth century the Jews were the majority in the town. Before World War I about 80 to 90 Jewish families lived in there, but during the war years their number decreased to about 50 to 60 families. On September 30, 1941, 1,446 Jews from Aukštadvaris, Lentavris, Onuškis, Rudziszki, Troki, Žydkaimis, and the surrounding areas were shot, after being abused, in the Varninkai Forest by Lithuanians from Aukštadvaris, Onuškis, and Lentvaris.”
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When entered the town there was this interesting monument “That looks Pagan to me,” Rachel says, and very different from the catholic crucifix monuments at most intersections. We stop at an Aibe for a pastry break and there’s no hot coffee, but Patrick finds a cold coffee drink.
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We continue on through different landscapes of farms, and colorful towns. The traffic is decent with the road having no shoulder and few climbs. We stop later at a bus stop (because there’s a bench to sit upon) for a food break. A cycle tourists going in the opposite direction of us, waves and continues on.
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Before we reach our hotel for tonight, we stop at an IKI grocery store for supplies for tomorrow. It’s a straight shot through town to the hotel. It’s an old Soviet hotel that has been renovated. The room is nice and quiet, we think we might be the only guests, but we do hear traffic noise.
After cleanup and a rest, we walk back toward the river to a restaurant that we saw coming in. We order a chicken and a pork schnitzels…they are huge! Rachel takes her leftover chicken to make a sandwich tomorrow.
Today's ride: 61 km (38 miles)
Total: 3,819 km (2,372 miles)
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