What a difference a border makes.

When I woke this morning, as predicted, it was raining, however as check in time from the hotel was midday I was in no rush to get on the bike. During breakfast I noticed that the rain had stopped and the ground was drying fast, so at 1030 I decided to make my move. By now there wer actually one or two blue patches up there. First stop was to re-fuel in order to use up my local currency, well I used up some of it at least. I decided to stop again just before the polish border and top up the fuel again so I could go out of the country skint. That was the plan anyhow, however, after riding only about 30 km I felt really tired and started to yawn, so I was forced to stop early in order to wake up. A can of red bull later I was once agin on the road.
I did manage to stop again at what I later found was the last petrol station before the border, and used up all my currency, almost, I was left with equivalent of about 60 pence. By now the sun was also out and it was nice and pleasently warm....for a change.
I crossed the border and almost as soon as I drove past the abandoned customs post the scenery and roads changed, how can this be, I only drove over an imaginary line on the map.
The roads in Lithuania were staright and went through and past open farm land but as soon as I crossed the border the road started to twist and turn, going inbetween small hills and through heavy, broadleaf woodland.
One sight I did see before I left Lithuania was a farmer ploughing his field with a horse (does that work better than a plough I wonder), in the UK you would expect the farmer to be followed by a hoard of seagulls, not here, about 30 storks were patiently walking along behind him picking at whatever he was turning up. A sight to behold.
Another feature of the roads in Poland, and they started to appear straight after the border, were shrines at the side of the road, I presume to honour people killed in car accidents, no doubt someone will correct that. I have seen them before when I have driven through Poland, but on this occasion they all seemed to have been dressed. There were also loads of people about in their Sunday best walking along with flowers or branches from trees. I know that the Latvians had a "longest day" celebration and I wondered if this was the same for Poland. In fact, as I pulled into Elk the Police had the road closed and as I found an alternative route I came across a large outdoor gathering with people all dressed up and a priest conducting some sort of service and blessing. At the end of it all the poeople rushed to the podium and started to tear braches of two small trees that were alonside the podium. Again perhaps some on will enlighten me. I arrived at the apartment I had booked yesterday, and as I was alone I was moved from a 3 person apartment to a 2 person one, it meant I lost my kitchenette but the plus side was that I gained a room overlooking the lake, nice view eh!

Blackie looking resplendant outside the aprtment/bar. The 2 windows for my room are the ones over the words "& Pub"

Jed enjoys the view over the lake and catches a few rays of sunshine. He hopes that the forecast for the next few days is good.

My reward for the day, a nice long, cold local beer. What could be better, a cold beer, blackie in the background and the sun shining.

Tomorrow is going to be a chill out day. There is a bench on the side of the lake with my name on it!