Mantvydas walked from Vilnius to Palanga – it only took a couple of weeks

“Living in quarantine conditions, I really lacked movement, nature and new experiences. As soon as the movement restrictions between the municipalities were lifted, I immediately set off on a walking trip from Vilnius to Palanga, – said Mantvydas, And it was more difficult to walk, and you had to carry the backpack, and it took much more time, even 15 days. “

When asked what people had to know during that period, the boy did not hesitate to answer that he did not agree with bad people. “When I went to more remote homes to ask for clean water, many were surprised that I was alone on such a long journey on foot. I am glad that I have always received support: an unknown woman, when she found out about my goal, she even hesitated to pay for my shopping cart in a rural store, the young man opened.

Traveling from the capital to the seashore, Mantvydas chose forest trail routes with nearby bodies of water to find the right place to spend the night, cook over a campfire, take a bath and, of course, admire nature awake. I also had some unpleasant moments when, preparing for the place to spend the night, I left the camp with recharging solar panels, which were swept by long fingers as I passed. This caused annoyance to the traveler and of course spoiled the mood for a while. But even for this incident, the young man is not inclined to blame someone: “I took this as a lesson that we should be more careful next time.”

Mantvydas does not hide that there were difficulties during the trip: “In the first days I felt a great pain in the muscles of the legs, the new shoes rubbed my feet a lot and the weather conditions did not spoil me either, I had to. accept the wind, rain and snow. Throughout the trip, the warmest and sunniest days hardly followed.

Didn’t want to turn around and come back in a few days? “It really happened, but I have developed a trait, if I am starting something, I have to do it until the end, whatever happens. Sometimes it is not easy to be with myself, confronted with my thoughts, my fears, but once again I proved myself that I can overcome all difficulties, ”the boy assured me.

Mantvydas is not referring to his marches: “I think everyone could do it, just maybe it would take a little more determination and faith in what you are doing. Since I was a child, I have been accompanied by these types of walks, starting with the Lithuanian Fusiliers Union and ending with walks and camps organized by the Lithuanian Union of Healthy People, in which I not only had to participate but also be a volunteer ”.

By the time I spoke to Mantvydas, it had only been a few days since the trip, but he was already facing other self-assessment challenges: running a marathon next summer. When asked what advice would be given to those who wanted to follow his example of where to start, the young man replied that there is no way to immerse yourself in such tests with a straight head: “You have to start small, let’s say learn to fix your bed every morning. And the best way to acquire vital skills is the youth camps and wild marches organized by the Union of Healthy People of Lithuania. “

“Participation in such hikes or camps gives young people not only a knowledge of nature and the basics of camping in the forest, but also educates independent travelers who accept nature as their home and live there courageously. . The Mantvydas journey is a great example. Almost anyone can do it, but only a small part understands it and an even smaller part does. I am glad that the young people who grew up in the camps later volunteer or work there and become leaders, educate other independent travelers, inspire, train and support each other, ”said the president of LSS , Simonas Dailidė.

Since the age of 14, Mantvydas has not missed any of the WILD YOUTH camps organized by Simonas Dailidė and Lukrecija Augustaitytė. This year, August 9-15, the Wild Youth Camp will be twice as big and there are almost no spots left! Travel with you for those for whom wildlife is a welcoming home.