To prove we're nothing if not persistent, we again tried breakfast in our nice hotel. Persistence doesn't always pay as we found when our rank start to the day meal was delivered to our room.
Good news? We were able to break open our secret emergency CAKE supply to compensate for the lack of hotel provided calories. A good start to any cycling day.
Our plan today had us cycling South West along the A5-E67. Initially to Kaunas, Lithuania's second city then on to Marijampole, our destination for the day. About 60 miles and followed by a rest day. Yippeee!
Made a swift exit of both hotel and Kedainiai, stopping for a bottle of pop and packet of (local) Jaffa CAKES at the first services we came to. We must be getting soft as this was only 15 minutes into the riding day!
Refuelled, we blasted the 'A' road, pummelling it beneath our Amazonian thighs (ahem).
What we mean to say, is we got a fair lick on to dispatch this traffic infested bit of the road before joining Route 222, a delightful secondary road.
This completely avoided the hustle and bustle (not to mention the HGV's) of the main road and was a repeat performance of the pleasures we enjoyed yesterday.
All too soon, we arrived at the outskirts of Kaunas. Now we've seen our share of cities in the past couple of weeks so we elected to take the very busy 14 mile by-pass instead of going slowly through the middle of town.
Again, we got the hammer down, and dispatched this section not only with alacrity but also in a highly Billy Whiz fashion.
The by-pass was mainly OK for cycling, however part was under re-construction and we had the pleasure of 6' HGV wheels passing our noses inches away...
The upside to all this, is we had a 'free' 35mph descent for what seemed like miles and miles. All without the usual sinew popping and lung bursting 5mph endless ascent as pre-payment.
Shortly after Kaunas, we again had the option of a smaller secondary road vs. the Big Bertha 'A' road.
Predictably, we chose the former, AKA Route 230 (which apparently is also the time to see a Chinese dentist....).
Imagine our dismay when what seemed like all road traffic in Western Lithuania did likewise.
We concluded, the main road must have been shut or word was out that two loonies on a big bike were putting on a show on Route 230!
What followed was probably the worst couple of hours cycling imaginable. The downside of the secondary road was a complete lack of shoulder and it was just wide enough for two vehicles i.e. not two vehicles plus one tandem.
We lost count of the number of times the kamikaze HGV drivers came bowling up behind us at their maximum speed, overtaking in the face of oncoming traffic and then pulling back in at the last possible moment.
We know the 'might is right' rule of the road but this was taking the pi$$.
All this activity 'encouraged' us to redouble our efforts and turbo charge Disharmony II which had the beneficial side effect of an early arrival in Marijampole though with somewhat shredded nerves.
On closer inspection, it seems Marijampole is not kitted up for the tourist trade as it appeared devoid of any visitor resources whatsoever.
In the absence of information, we slow cycled through the town centre until we came upon a likely hotel.
We stopped, booked in and zoned out. Additional Valium supplies are now on order...
Rest tomorrow. Formula 1, Moto GP and Tour de France, ahhhhh bliss.....
Total today a nerve wracking and downright dangerous 67 miles and 185m of ascent. Total trip 1538 miles.
More Southerly ramblings to follow.
Back soon. Miles & Tracey.
