Sunday June 24, 2007

DATE: Sunday June 24, 2007
ROUTE: Klaipeda, Lithuania to Nida, Lithuania
DISTANCE: Ferry then 30 miles
TIME: 2.5 hours
CEG: 200’
WEATHER: Perfect

A downpour with thunder and lightning woke me at 4am. I slipped out of the room at 5:30am to work on my blog in the lobby where wi-fi was available. I was not the only early riser. We listened and watched it rain while working on our computers. We had time to dawdle since we had such a short distance to ride. By the time we left at 10am, the skies had cleared and the sun was out. A short ferry ride took us to the north end of the Curonian Spit. This land formation is 60 miles long, over half of which belongs to Lithuania and the other half to Russia. At it’s widest point it is only 2.4 miles wide. To the east is the Curonian Lagoon and to the west lies the Baltic Sea. A road and a bike path run the length of the spit. It has been declared a “World Heritage Landscape in Danger” and is quite spectacular.

I was the last cyclist off the ferry and savored the solo cycling in the balmy weather. The road was nearly deserted until 4 or 5 cars would zoom by --- just off the ferry. I found most of the group 10 miles down the road at an outdoor café in Juodkrante. Margie and I decided to try and find the bike path by turning west on a gravel road. We dodged potholes and big rocks for about a mile until we were stopped by the Baltic Sea. The paved bike path paralleled the water and we were delighted to join other the Sunday cyclists out enjoying the sea air and sunshine. We came upon Jane, Dan and Reed waiting for assistance. Dan had just sprained his ankle and could not continue on his bicycle. Michele arrived quickly, phoned the van, and sent us on our way. We soon arrived at Nida, a lovely resort town right on the Lithuanian/Russian border. After checking in to the hotel, we joined in the solstice celebration. Music, folk dancing, food, and shopping were all at our disposal. This part of Lithuania, and south in to Kaliningrad, is famous for its amber. 90% of the world’s amber is found here. We are told that it is common to find it on the beaches --- just like agates on the Oregon Coast. Dan rented a 2 place cycling cart and Monica, with a little assistance from me, took him the few blocks to a restaurant where many in the group had gathered. Rick Myerberg (hollering "mush, mush!") did the honors on the return trip --- but needed both Jane and me to make it up the first hill.

By the way, last night I saw darkness, and this evening I saw the moon.

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