Graham’s trip to Daugavpils
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Well, I got here safely on Monday after a gruelling trip. The plane left at 7 in the morning, so I travelled all night and was pretty jet-lagged when I arrived. Early days yet, but impressions will change.
Daugavpils is in the SE corner of Latvia and has a population of about 100,000 people. It is the second largest city outside Riga, so Latvia is really quite a small country.
The area to the north-west has numerous lakes, so my first major foray was yesterday (Friday). I used the satnav, so that was fun, but I took a map in case. Just as well! The two main roads out of D-Pils would seem to be the A13and the A6. They carry relatively little traffic, but they are quite narrow for arterial roads with just enough room for two lorries to pass. It was quite hairy cycling back yesterday afternoon and in the end I kept on the sandy cycle path alongside the road.
I was surprised to discover that almost all roads except for the main ones are unmetalled. Cars and lorries can negotiate them quite well, but the surface consists of an inch or two of sand, so there was a constant risk of skidding and I kept my speed to the minimum.
The countryside is quite flat with long gentle slopes. The main roads are straight for miles and can be rather monotonous. Unless you’re really into off-road cycling it is hardly a country I would recommend (at this stage) for cycling. 40 miles really does mean 40 miles of pedalling, unlike Devon where I am either walking up steep hills or free-wheeling down the other side. I seem to remember Sue finding Norfolk rather strenuous for the same reason.
I’m paying a total of about 100 GBP for accommodation – all four and a half weeks, which is good value. I also have plenty of time during the day to spend learning Russian.
More posts to come when and as occasion arises. Otherwise I’ll see you on the first Sunday I’m back for the Kingsbridge ride.