September 16, 2024
Day 77: Alytus to Kalvarija
Rolling Farmlands
“I don’t know if this is just fog or pollution,” Patrick says and Rachel adds, “farmers are working their fields.” Whatever it is, even though the sun is shining and the sky is blue, the horizon is fuzzy.
We start out later than usual because we have an apartment for tonight and don’t know when we will be able to check in. As we are ready to leave we get the code for the door and instructions, so off we go.
The first 10kms are on a bike path until we reach Luksnenai.
From here it’s a straight shot to Simnas with a tailwind until the road turns to go around the lake. The road surface changes periodically, but in the curves there is a “3 inch lip” on the edge of the road that gives us nowhere to go if needed.
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We are riding through farmlands that go on and on. Some fields already harvested and farmers working the land. Other fields with green crops growing, and a few cornfields that are not yet ready to harvest.
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We reach Kalvarija around 1245 and look for the address to the apartment.
The hunt is on.
We go first to the address booking.com had given and it’s not there. Patrick walks around searching. Then looking at the instructions given there is a different address. Patrick walks around searching.
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Finally he recognizes the photos sent with the instructions of the building. After we find the entrance, which is on the back of the building, it takes some doing to figure out the code to the door. It’s a mechanical number lock and the two numbers need to be pushed at the same time.
The apartment is on the third floor, so gear and bikes are shuttled up (mostly by Patrick) and we settle in. The advantage to this place is there is a washer so we get laundry started quickly as there is no dryer. But the drying rack in front of the window is doing the trick.
Patrick works out the route for tomorrow to avoid a busy road. He’s already mapped out the next 5 days after tomorrow to Gdansk. We walk to a nearby restaurant for dinner.
Today's ride: 60 km (37 miles)
Total: 3,879 km (2,409 miles)
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