bikejournal.com journal

2007/9/1
(Sat)

114.09

04:55:32

23.16

771

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Sat at a computer the whole morning, then did some relaxing park ride, dropped off the geocoin at V-K Hwy geocache. Seemed it was going to start raining, took a risk and rode to Keturiasdesimt Totoriu village. The name translates as Fourty Tatars. The village is known for one of the oldest islamic mosques in Lithuania. 130 Tatars currently reside in the area, there are four Tatar cemeteries there. Amazing. The village was first mentioned back in 1558. Hid a geocache there, then Rudninkai, Jasiunai and back home through Teresiskes/Juodsiliai. It cleared up by the evening. Seven new WWL squares this year

GPS files: txt gpx

Weather Conditions: Some clouds, some wind, the temp kept in the vicinity of +14C. Did not rain as forecasted.

2007/9/2
(Sun)

110.50

04:26:22

24.89

943

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Sunday afternoon metric Lentvaris-Trakai-Semeliskes-Trakai-Rykantai. Made five new WWL squares this year. Wanted to go back through Elektrenai, but got scared by dark clouds.

GPS files: txt gpx

Weather Conditions: +15 or so, some south-westerly, overcast.

2007/9/3
(Mon)

121.66

05:37:48

21.61

808

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Commute followed by a ride to Buivydziai. Could not make it as the rain cought me near Punzonys. Dried up before getting back to Vilnius. Rode in the park a bit to complete the metric. Earned three new Maidenhead squares for 2007.

GPS files: txt gpx

Weather Conditions: +13C on average. Light southerly, overcast, some rain.

2007/9/4
(Tue)

174.65

07:28:57

23.34

1,334

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Found the geocache at the old water mill near Bradeliskes (First to Find), then rode to Kernave. Intense road construction work was going on Kernave to Musninkai. Made it West to Ciobiskis, did some new WWL squares, hid my geocache and crossed the river by a cable ferry driven by the water flow power. The ferry is the only one of such kind in Lithuania. The operator complained there getting fewer people using the ferry as the summer is gone now. The ferry is capable to carry two cars or one minivan at a time. Or perhaps over a hundred bicycles. It never takes more than 5 minutes to get across the river and it only costs a little over a buck to go one way. More WWL were planned on the left bank of Neris. All of a sudden a heavy rain started pouring while riding on a country dirt road. The bike, my backpack, shorts, legs - everything got covered with a thick layer of mud. The rain stopped after a while and the wind dried the shoes and upper apparel up pretty fast, rode to some more squares (12 new totally) and got back through Zasliai, Elektrenai before dark. Enjoyed the ride a lot. The odometer showed I had a century under my belt and the average speed was pretty good for me counting I fought unpaved roads for at least 1/4 of the total distance. Enjoyed it a lot.

GPS files: txt gpx

Weather Conditions: +14C on average, light westerly. Overcast, some rain.

2007/9/5
(Wed)

128.25

05:43:41

22.39

897

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Pilaite-Dukstos-Vievis. Then rode toward Kaugonys, terrible sand. Spent over an hour walking the bicycle through the forest, but managed to do four new WWL's for this year. Got back through Trakai, Lentvaris, Traku Voke.

GPS files: txt gpx

Weather Conditions: No rain, little clouds. Moderate north-easterly. Temp kept in the vicinity of +16C, more sun late in the afternoon.

2007/9/6
(Thu)

174.76

06:34:12

26.60

842

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Sirvintos-Sesuoliai-Liauciai-Pabaiskas-Bagaslaviskis century. Lots of dirt roads and gravel, but riding conditions were perfect most of the time. Managed to do 16 new WWL squares for this year. Hid a geocache in Sirvintos, got home before dark with a help of a nice tailwind.

GPS files: txt gpx

Weather Conditions: Warm and sunny. Light northerly. Seemed like +23C or so. Excellent.

2007/9/7
(Fri)

165.25

07:44:49

21.33

1,267

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: A metric for Mary on her birthday. Turned out to be a century. Rode to the Confluence geocache. Did not examin the description prior to leaving so first made it from the opposite side of Brazuole river, no problem, the forests tracks were rideable and in good condition. Collected a lot of hazelnuts. They are really delicious. Then rode to the right bank of Brazuole, find a cache and left. Made it to Pastrevys and then decided to hide my geocache near the Elektrenai power plant. The power plant is now only operates at 5% of it's capacity, but will most likely be soon running at full speed again when the Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant gets shut down. Some site seeing in Elektrenai and made it back home through Dukstos and Pilaite. Enjoyed some mushrooms near Paneriai. Got home before dark. The days are getting shorter. Four new Maidenhead squares visited this year.

GPS files: txt gpx

Weather Conditions: The thermometer at the entrance to EPP showed +18C, felt a bit cooler, perhaps due to a moderate northerly. Some clouds, no rain. Pretty good to ride a bike.

2007/9/8
(Sat)

122.09

04:46:28

25.57

710

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Rode to Paluknys, did two new WWL's, Lentvaris, Trakai, Daniliskes for another WWL and back through Traku Voke, Gariunai. Nothing spectacular, just a regular brain ventilation.

GPS files: txt gpx

Weather Conditions: +15C or so, light wind, some clouds. Fantastic weather to ride a bike.

2007/9/9
(Sun)

128.03

05:49:27

21.98

1,036

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Rode to the Byelarus border, visited Aukstojas hill, the highest point in Lithuania, then Keipunai, Tarpuciai. The gravel there was pretty bad, so did not make it to Turgeliai and got back to Medininkai and home on A3

GPS files: txt gpx

Weather Conditions: +14C maybe. Shorts and T-shirt. Felt maybe a bit cool, but no problem. Light northerly, few clouds, no rain.

2007/9/10
(Mon)

130.09

06:14:55

20.82

798

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Tried to find a geocache in an abandoned manor North of Nemencine, but did not have a rope or a ladder to get to the basement and out of it afterwards, so left the attraction for the next time. Rode to Pabrade and around it. Lots of bad unpaved roads, one front flat while riding on a new bike path that replaced no longer used railroad. Could not get to one of the WWL squares planned due to military trainings. Took a train back from Pabrade.

GPS files: txt gpx

Weather Conditions: Nice and sunny most of the day. Light southerly, +14C or so. Comfortable with shorts and shortsleeves.

2007/9/11
(Tue)

102.15

05:12:38

19.60

685

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Urban metric. Including some lazy park ride, back and forth errands. Rode to the abandoned Paneriai tunnel, some foresty single track, by railroad, visited the WW2 memorial, back to the park, some downtown ride and home by dark.

GPS files: txt gpx

Weather Conditions: +13C or so. Overcast most of the day, light southerly, some rain in the afternoon.

2007/9/12
(Wed)

176.15

07:08:31

24.66

1,025

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Took a train to Kaunas, did some geocaching downtown, then Domeikava, Vandziogala. Rode to the geographical center of Lithuania near Dotnuva, then Daumantai (picked some corn for my wife), Kedainiai (saw nice antennas of some HAM), Seta, Ukmerge. Took a bus home.

GPS files: txt gpx

Weather Conditions: +13C or so. Litht southwesterly, cloudy, some thin rain near Deltuva. Fine weather to bike.

2007/9/13
(Thu)

47.72

02:19:44

20.49

317

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Hit a car on the way to work. Some moron hooked me up while attempting his right turn. I happened to turn right along with him. Down his mirror went. Somehow I happened to stay upright with absolutely no damage to me and my bike. A police car was a few cars behind, they stopped and asked if we wanted them to call road police. The crazy driver said no and started insisting on me to pay him for the mirror :))). But he absolutely did not want to wait for the road police, so he left. One of the rare bike/car accidents when only a car is damaged :). Continued my commute, did some park and downtown ride afterwards.

GPS files: txt gpx

Weather Conditions: Some rain during the day, the temperature kept in the vicinity of +12C, moderate westerly.

2007/9/14
(Fri)

172.38

07:20:48

23.46

1,031

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Took a bus to Panevezys, then rode toward Subacius, made some 20km out in the woods in search for the geocache in gorilla dug-outs. Found it after an hour or so search, rode to Kupiskis, back and forth around the town, then quick ride to Utena and took a bus from there home. 35 new Maidenhead WWL squares for 2007.

GPS files: txt gpx

Weather Conditions: +5C in the morning, then significantly warmer during the day, maybe +15C or so. Sunny most of the day, light westerly.

2007/9/15
(Sat)

74.84

03:30:06

21.37

689

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Took a train to Palemonas. Then cycled Piliuona-Prienai-Zarsta to visit with my wife's relatives out in a country there. A heavy rain with wind soaked me up right after I crossed Nemunas. Rode into a heavy head wind, so dried up quickly, was a bit chilling though.

GPS files: txt gpx

Weather Conditions: Moderate to strong gusting southwesterly. +10C or so, some rain showers, some sunshine. Not the best weather to ride a bicycle.

2007/9/16
(Sun)

218.31

08:03:28

27.09

1,409

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Zarsta to Vilnius. Visited Paslavantys Hillfort, then Igliauka, Zuvintas, Simnas. Had a tasty breakfast out in corn fields. Hid a cache in Santaika, then Alytus and home the shortest route. Had a nice tailwind till Pirciupiai. Got home slightly after dark. Fixed a front flat near Daugai. Managed to ride some more WWLs.

GPS files: txt gpx

Weather Conditions: Moderate westerly, cloudy, some rain. Felt like +12C.

2007/9/17
(Mon)

114.95

05:14:55

21.90

833

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Commute, then checked the Kartingai geocache, picked the TB, back home, added some more air to the tires, Vingio park, Titnago loop clockwise, then Antakalnis for Clinics cache. Could not make it FTF, but met supernial, we chatted for a while. Got shocked by electricity at supposedly non-working lamp post. Saw a bad car accident on the way home. Don't know about the driver yet, but there was nothing left out of his car. Sad.

GPS files: txt gpx

Weather Conditions: Felt like +18C, no rain, some clouds, some sun, light wind. Super.

2007/9/18
(Tue)

102.94

05:01:45

20.47

874

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Some geocaching, took pictures of yesterday found Travel Bug as requested, then Naujoji Vilnia, rehid my geocache, Paliepiukai geodetic point, another cache hide, train terminal, quick stop at work, some park ride, Titnago loop clockwise, a bit more park and home. Happened to do another metric.

GPS files: txt gpx

Weather Conditions: Warm, felt like +20C or more. Some clouds, no rain. The rain only started around 10PM, after I was home.

2007/9/19
(Wed)

76.82

03:40:00

20.95

499

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Visited mom, commute, some park ride, Titnago loop, downtown and home.

GPS files: txt gpx

Weather Conditions: +13C or so, rather windy, some sun, some clouds, some rain.

2007/9/20
(Thu)

111.35

05:28:16

20.35

766

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Some errands and geocaching, park ride, downtown, Titnago loop with the detour to Bukciai, Zujunai, Mazoji Riese, Galine, home. Nice, loopy metric.

GPS files: txt gpx

Weather Conditions: Felt like +15C, light southerly, sunny most of the day.

2007/9/21
(Fri)

60.22

02:51:11

21.11

522

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Some park ride followed by Puckoriai, Dvarcionys including some geocaching, Vingio park again and home. Lotsa computer work.

GPS files: txt gpx

Weather Conditions: +15C or so, light wind, sunny most of the day.

2007/9/22
(Sat)

150.47

05:37:23

26.76

942

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Geo metric. Replaced the container at Avizieniai, hid Atgimusiai Lietuvai, swapped TB's at A2 Hotel near Sirvintos. Then back to Maisiagala, Vievis, Elektrenai, swapped TBs there, took the shortest route home, hid Saltinelis Micro on the way. Nice tailwind on the stretch Vilnius to A2 Hotel geocache. Supposed to be EU Commission claimed "Day without a car", but Vingio park was overloaded with cars. No one really cares.

GPS files: txt gpx

Weather Conditions: Sunny most of the day. +13C on average or seemed like that. Moderate southerly.

2007/9/23
(Sun)

54.62

02:18:31

23.66

311

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Spent most of the day at a computer. Lots of work. The weather turned out great for riding, but I could only get out late in the afternoon. Made a small city tour. Punctured both tires in Turniskes.

GPS files: txt gpx

Weather Conditions: Warm and sunny. Typical indian summer. +18C at peaks, light wind. Perfect.

2007/9/24
(Mon)

142.55

06:06:05

23.36

1,179

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Typical commute. Then afterwork metric. Took a train to Pabrade and rode to Moletai. Hid a geocache in Kabakelis, Egiptas (a funny named village not far from Uta with a couple of houses and an observation booth). Then Moletai, Alanta (hid a geocache on Virinta bridge where the Donatas & Edita lock hung). Enjoyed the windy rollers a lot. Did not have time to see Buivydai Hillfort and Rubikiai lake as it was getting dark rapidly. Got to Utena 8 minutes before the last bus leaves to Vilnius. Lucky me. Got home by 9PM. 20 new WWL squares for the year 2007. A new mod: used neodymium magnets to stick the sandwich box to the frame. It perfectly held some dried fruit snack. Easy access while riding.

GPS files: txt gpx

Weather Conditions: Nice and warm. Felt like +20C, light southerly. An Indian Summer at its best!

2007/9/25
(Tue)

202.46

07:32:53

26.82

874

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: A nice afterwork metric. Took a train to Zasliai, inspected my geocache there, took a TB, took it to Elektrenai, swapped TB's there, then rode to Kaisiadorys, hid a cache in Palomene at coded well, then Rukla, Jonava, Ukmerge. Hid a cache on Ukmerge Hillfort. Punctured my front tire there, was fun fixing it on a steep slope of the hill. The sun was still up so took a quick 1:30 hr 61km tailwind ride to Panevezys and took a bus to Vilnius from there. Contributed 30 new WWL squares for the year 2007. Great weather, much fun.

GPS files: txt gpx

Weather Conditions: +18C at peaks, sunny most of the day. Light southeasterly. Perfect!

2007/9/26
(Wed)

36.81

02:01:00

18.25

257

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Commute and the post office. Rode a bit in the park then broke the front brake cable and got home early. Much computer work.

GPS files: txt gpx

Weather Conditions: Warm. Felt like +15C, overcast, light wind. Rained a bit in the afternoon.

2007/9/27
(Thu)

50.85

02:32:32

20.00

345

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Commute and the post office followed by a bit of park ride. A lot of computer work, little time left to ride a bike.

Weather Conditions: +15C or so, overcast in the morning, some sunshine late in the afternoon. Pretty warm, dry and comfortable.

2007/9/28
(Fri)

74.49

04:01:56

18.47

746

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Commute and the post office, much work. Rode with the Critical Mass in the evening. Seemingly the left eggbeater broke.

Weather Conditions: Overcast, but warm, light wind. Felt like +15C

2007/9/29
(Sat)

64.21

03:19:34

19.30

533

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Commute. Some work at the office. The post offices. Both incoming and outgoing. Some city tour, rode to Uzupis, hid Gedimino Kapo Kalnas geocache, then by Vilnele toward Markuciai, hid a Pipe Bridge geocache, downtown, Vingio Park, Titnago loop and home. Still much computer work.

Weather Conditions: +20C at peaks. Fantastic day. Dry, some sunshine, excellent for riding a bike.

2007/9/30
(Sun)

72.39

03:05:03

23.47

448

Road: Flat

Trek 520
Touring

Bike Friday

Comments: Spent the better portion of the sunny Sunday at a computer. Enormous amount of work. Got out late in the afternoon, did some city tour including Turniskes, Vingio Park and Titnago loop. Counted well over 300 cars in the park. Wondered what people do there in the park among cars. The left eggbeater broke close to home, but I did not feel so much frustrated as it started raining anyway.

Weather Conditions: Sunny during the day, very warm, felt like +20C. Light wind. Some rain in the evening.