I am so glad that we brought our bicycles with us! I love having the dexterity to get off the beaten path, to move more slowly to feel the land passing due to the strength in my legs and the ability to pause, breathe and take it all in.
We took advantage of a break in the rain clouds to explore the area around Campsite Papartis (www.campingpapartis.lt/) We were lakeside and I made an assumption that the road we took would bring us around the lake. It did not…
We saw empty vacation compounds reminiscent of Dirty Dancing. Groupings of cabins, around tennis courts, main buildings, beautifully landscapes trails and beachfront with peddle boats. They looked like they were ready to receive but the people are not there.
The paved road quickly gave way to rock and loose sand and led us through more farmland, with cows and fields of baled hay. The dwellings were varied, wooden cabins that felt almost Swiss in style (to my North American stereotypes) to colourful cottages, and big farm houses with barns.
What all of them shared were meticulously kept, landscaped yards and large gardens of vegetables which I assume would be preserved in a variety of ways to be enjoyed year round. This reminded me of my beautiful, talented, strong and resourceful Aunt Elaine and the amazing summers that I got to spend as a child at her farm, in her garden, and most powerfully in her kitchen and at her table!
The dark clouds with a visible wall of rain sweeping across the lake towards us chased us back to the comfort of Olaf where we made tea, and I curled up with a book, Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardino Evaristo (recommend for shifts in perspective) Jasper sat at the iPad and continued to write a story he is working on, Sean had a successful work call from his office with a view.
Tomorrow onward to Latvia….
The Ditzman’s European Adventure 