We were fairly keen to leave our overnight stop, and leave all the flies behind. But not before we had the entertainment of a police car pulling into the rest stop and hauling one of the drivers out of his truck. He was obviously trying to make a joke of the whole thing, but they were equally intent on issuing a citation to him for some infraction or other. But the policewoman kept her cool, and even waved a friendly goodbye to him as he left — but they spent another 15 minutes in their car writing up and processing the citation.
Little roadside shrines are everywhere!
We're sure the birds welcome the fine perches men make specially for them!
Little roadside shrines are everywhere!
We're sure the birds welcome the fine perches men make specially for them!
We left, and continued northwards towards Lithuania and Vilnius. We directed our path towards Suwałki, where there was a Macca's at which we could get some reliable internet time. Opposite the Maccas was a huge retail complex, Suwałki Plaza. We didn't go over to it, but we noted that in Poland there is no dearth of such complexes!
From here, we tried to get to the Lithuanian border, but the road-workers of Poland had other ideas. Every direct route was in the process of massive roadworks, so we had an afternoon of detours. Not that this is a bad thing — we saw more of the Polish countryside than we would have otherwise (although, in a couple of cases, we saw little of anything, as it was a case of eating the dust of the car ahead!).
They were surfacing a bike path ...
... that was obviously well-used
Eat my dust!
They were surfacing a bike path ...
... that was obviously well-used
Eat my dust!
We travelled through the Wigierski National Park, and took advantage of this to pause for lunch in the forest. Then we carried on, and were detoured even more — the direct highway into Lithuania (the A18) was totally closed, and we had to go round back roads (from Poćkuny via Berźniki and back to the A1 at Ogrodniki) which was interesting to say the least, but picturesque.
Lunch stop!
The highway to Lithuania!(?)
The back road was characterised by bumps and pot-holes!
Lunch stop!
The highway to Lithuania!(?)
The back road was characterised by bumps and pot-holes!
But we finally made it into Lithuania, and found the countryside much the same. The border crossing was a non-event, as we have come to expect.
The country bus stops are all like this
The country bus stops are all like this
We drove to where we found a secluded little spot about 14 kilometers short of Alytus (and about 100km short of Vilnius) where we decided to hide ourselves for the night. It turned out to be a popular meeting place for the locals, and we had a lot of short-term company during the night! And someone decided to let off fireworks in the middle of the traffic island nearby! But we had a quiet and comfortable night!
Distance driven — today, 133 miles ( 214 km ); to date, 25,279 miles ( 40,683 km )
Breakfast with the Hams in Lithuania! Well it is for me anyway. Had a great deal to think about after meeting with the Supervisors yesterday. They actually liked some of my written work and said so!! Have decided the Cotutelle will be too hazardous for me in lots of ways. However my supervisors had bothered to learn about the thing and were willing now to foster it!! It's worth insisting that your own ideas are actually OK even if it does shake people out of their comfort zones! Am still tracking down stuff for AHPRA but I am on first name and joking terms with my case manager now. The last of what they've asked for so far should be in by next week! .Keep your rego up Suzie. You may like to work again awhile after the gypsying is over. Your trip looked lovely. That was a beautiful horse! David loved the Lippinzaners and said that Austria took them away while the Hitler regime was in power and some went to America , which is how the American bit got going. Apart from dust and flies the countryside looks lovely and I love the animal and bird shots everywhere. Starlingss are like that. They sit in long lines on our electricity lines here too and mI often wonder if we'll have long lines of spit roasted starling! Love ya, Cathy
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