Audrius quarantine holiday: 559 km walk along the Nemunas from Belarus to the Curonian Lagoon

Audrius 15 minutes He said that the idea of ​​an exclusive trip was born when he changed his lifestyle. Having decided that she should lose weight, the man has not broken his New Year promise so far: He has given up alcohol and travels at least 10 km every day. The result of such a will is not only better well-being, but also the discovery of wonderful images of Lithuania, which he saw while walking on the roads and tracks as close as possible to the Nemunas.

On the inspiration for such a hike, the most beautiful places discovered and the lessons learned, in Audrius’ conversation with 15 minutes.

– 11 days of hiking in Lithuania, when the weather is not the best, a bold idea. What prompted you to hike like this?

– I have been dreaming about the walk since January of this year. I thought summer would come, warm weather, vacations, and I could go hiking. It all started with the fact that during 2019. I weighed at Christmas and decided I needed to lose weight. I started walking at least 10 km every day: it rains or snows, it is strong on January 1st or stronger … I have not been drinking alcohol since January 1st. Today, Saturday, in response to my question, there are already 141 days that I go every day.

– And why did you dream of walking through the Nemunas? What exactly attracted the riverbank?

– The dream arose by going spontaneously in Vilnius, Konstitucijos Avenue. This has become a goal with an indefinite implementation deadline. The Nemunas attracted by the fact that it is the longest river in Lithuania. And the shore itself still couldn’t grab me because I had seen so little of it.

– Is this your first long journey on foot? Did you specifically train against her physically?

– I have participated in a 25 km walk, there were days when I walked 40-50 km per day in Kaunas. I was physically ready for it, almost … I was still carrying a backpack that weighed 12-15 kg on the hike. It was necessary to prepare for the walk not only physically, but also psychologically and materially (adequate clothing and equipment for the walk).

– Have you traveled a lot in Lithuania before this trip?

– I have been to almost all Lithuanian cities and towns, except only north of the border with Latvia. I traveled both for work and to be in that place. Once I decided to get in the car and drive Jurbarkas through Šakiai, and back to Panemune. I saw castles then, but I paid much less attention to them than I do now, visiting them on foot.

Last year I traveled a lot to collect mushrooms, I even went to the Skuodas district for boletus. In other words, I drove a distance equal to Garliava to Riga. Also, I went to rest at Kertuoja Lake in the Labanoras Regional Park. I accidentally went to the forest and brought a bucket and a half of mushrooms and squirrels. The place made an indelible impression: on one side of the road – squirrels (newly germinated) and on the other – boletus. I felt like I was in a supermarket where I could choose where to find what. What I like the most is where I find more than 10 boletus.

The place made an indelible impression: on one side of the road – squirrels (newly germinated) and on the other – boletus.

– Hiking is becoming more popular every year. What attracted you? What do you take from that trip?

– The walk attracted me to see a lot. I was motivated by the fact that I did not find anyone who had traveled that route in Lithuania. Being motivated first was very difficult. After the trip, I felt like I had seen a lot and got to know Lithuania better. The walk took 1.5-2 kg of weight and allowed me to test the limits of my physical and psychological possibilities. After the walk, I became bolder and more resistant to stressful situations.

– Tell us about the life of such a walk. Where did you stay, what did you eat?

– The life of the walk was difficult. She needed to prepare. I ate nuts and cheese, I had 1 kg of honey to start. Before the march, he was excited and afraid to spend the night in a strange place and the ambient temperature was only a few degrees above zero. But the President of the United States, Roosevelt, said: “We must fear nothing but fear itself.” The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. “Then I overcame my fear.

The walk took 1.5-2 kg of weight and allowed me to test the limits of my physical and psychological possibilities. After the walk, I became bolder and more resistant to stressful situations.

I spent the night in towns that had at least one church and one school. After leaving in the morning, the goal of the night was to reach that city, although it would take 12 hours to walk. During the night it was a separate ritual. I find a place in the territory of some mansion, as flat as possible so that it is more comfortable to lie. I set up a tent and threw out all the things, took off my sweaty clothes, put on thermal clothes and put on wool socks. I straighten a rug and a sleeping bag. I used a backpack and a shirt instead of a pillow. I put a knife to the side if I rushed the guests every night without asking. I will fasten the zippers of the store from the inside so that nobody gets caught. I dressed in a sleeping bag, lying cool and uncomfortable. Also, I cover my legs with a tent cloth, and on the upper part of my body with a jacket, I put on my hat and try to fall asleep … I wake up at least 5 times a night.

The penultimate night was very hard and cold. There were railroad tracks nearby, trains that interfere with sleep. It was already 5:20 in the morning. I decided to get up and go. When I broke the tent I found ice in it, it became evident what was so cold at night …

– What do you need to carry in your backpack for an 11-day trip through Lithuania?

– I had a tent, a reflective mat, a sleeping bag, thermal underwear, a hat, gloves, a tent cover, an external battery to charge the phone, warm socks for the night, pairs of spare socks, a second shirt, a knife, sunglasses, sunglasses, phone charger, phone charger 2 days, drink one day. The backpack weighed 12-15 kg.

When I broke the tent I found ice in it, it became evident what was so cold at night …

– Do I understand that you traveled alone? For some people it’s boring, for some solo trips, just soda and soul medicine. Who would you attribute to?

– I am used to traveling and walking mainly alone. On the second or third day, I get up just to leave, and start talking to most of the people I met or spoke to.

– What are the biggest challenges you encountered during the trip? Is the infrastructure in Lithuania suitable for hiking?

– During the trip I reached the limit of my physical and psychological abilities. On the afternoon of the first day, my legs hurt a lot. It was difficult to walk about 5-6 km in the forest on a straight path and see the same trees. Blocked walking on the Vilkyškiai – Šereitlaukis – Bitėnai and Usėnai – Galdzonas – Rusnė roads, because in two days I had to walk about 56 km on a gravel road, which caused pain in my tired soles. The backpack hurt his shoulders and back, and the extra load was placed on his legs. During the walk more hit 11 blisters and a heel wound.

I hiked beasts and trails called fishermen if I could. The most important part of the trail was a dry and non-slippery path, as you had to go on slopes where you clung to the trees. There are excellent cycling and hiking trails near some cities, and not much in others.

– Of course, the highlight of this hike is nature. And did you visit cities and towns along the way? What impression did they leave you?

– As we know from history, the first settlements developed near bodies of water, so I visited many cities and towns. I climbed all the mounds on the way, which were not more than 2 km from the Nemunas. I had an opinion: people who live near Nemunas don’t live very well.

During the walk more hit 11 blisters and a heel wound.

– What places surprised you the most? Maybe the beauty disappointed me, or maybe the opposite?

– The Lesser Lithuania region was a little disappointed. I don’t know if the architectural heritage doesn’t allow for the renovation, or if the residents don’t see the need for it, but the buildings look poor with a shabby roof and walls that look like after the war, but with plastic windows.

I was surprised by the public transport stops in the Varėna district, which are based on sand.

The Stangė stream in Merkinė and the view from the sunset Merkin mon mound made a great impression.

I really liked the trails that are named after the fishermen along the Kaunas lagoon and many colorful stalls, which are beautiful and informative.

The memorial trail, built during the time of the Sąjūdis, was enjoyed in Birštonas with beautiful sculptures and heartbreaking words about the occupation, deportation and suffering suffered by the Lithuanian people.

It was beautiful and interesting to pass through Kulautuva, especially the 2.5 meter tall boar, which seemed larger than a bear, caught my eye.

In Rambynas Regional Park, I saw a witch fir and noticed as I was walking that the place was special: I saw a four-stemmed oak and a three-stemmed pine. I climbed many mounds.

I didn’t like the fact that while I was in Rambyn Regional Park, the phone had a Russian connection, I couldn’t turn on the navigation or call … And most interestingly … I’m going on a gravel road and listening to famous music from the Kaliningrad region. I think the Russians are celebrating the end of the quarantine or whatever. I look at the phone: May 9 … Everything became clear why it was so good to listen to songs in the territory of Lithuania.

And I noticed spectacular oak trees and other majestic trees as I walked through the Punia moor in Pashtuva.

– Maybe there were funny or curious situations? How did the locals react to the meeting?

– It was all. The most difficult thing was the second day of the walk. In the morning at 07:30 on Google Maps I saw that from Merkinė to Alytus – 32 km. I thought it would go along the Nemunas and it would be 40-45 km per day. I walked until 1:00 PM before there was a trail along the Nemunas. I looked at Google Maps, how far from my place to Alytus … and hell, the same 32 km! And so much sweat pours out, and they drink little left. I raped myself that day, I was in Alytus around 19:10. The Endomondo program showed that 68 km had been covered that day. I found a big wild boar in the forest, but he escaped before I could take a photo of him.

And about the people … The locals didn’t pay much attention to me. On my way from Jurbarkas to Rusnė, several people offered to take me. In addition, the agreed border guard offered to be transported to Rusnė and advised on accommodation issues. Speaking of the march and the smugglers, I wished him success.

And now, about the drivers of the Kaunas and Kaunas district. On the afternoon of May 1st I arrived in Piliuona, and the bus went to Kaunas only after 2 hours. Very tired I walked towards Vaišvydava, wearing a mask, I walked and NOTHING stopped. I want to chop you up and tell you that I have not met such ugly people who are not sympathetic to travelers elsewhere in Lithuania. I studied in Kaunas and live in the Kaunas district, so I was very disappointed in his behavior.

The Stangė stream in Merkinė and the view from the sunset Merkin mon mound made a great impression.

– If you did a walk like this again, would you do something different?

– I would behave as I did in the last days of the walk, when I already had experience. Not only would he plan where he would spend the night and how many miles a day he would walk, but he would also find out which towns have shops. A 40km walk with just a 0.6 liter drink is an example of very poor planning.

– Such a calm and slow journey away from city life is probably a great opportunity not only to see Lithuania, but also to immerse yourself in reflection. What did this trip bring you?

– I gained hiking experience. I have many photos and impressions to tell. I can say that I gained almost an iron will. I was much calmer in stressful situations, I learned to plan.

– Do you think everyone could take a trip like that? Does such a challenge require not only physical but also psychological resistance? After all, walking is not as comfortable as, say, driving.

– Definitely not everyone. I had walked about 2000 km in 120 days before the trek, but I rubbed a lot of blisters, more than once I wanted to spit on everything, call a taxi and drive home. Proper clothing and good nutrition are very important. The nights are cool and you can’t get sick because you have to leave. It should always be appreciated that it can start to rain at any time.

– Many travelers this year are disappointed that they will probably have to give up on traveling abroad in the summer. You are upset about it? Have you had to change your vacation plans?

– I am not disappointed after the walk, because I defeated myself. I don’t need to change my vacation plans because the hike was a very difficult but delightful vacation during the quarantine. At the same time, I showed many beautiful places that travelers will be able to visit in the summer.

– What do you need to say about the holidays – “wow, they were really good”? What attracts you the most: cities, architecture, nature?

– Nature attracts more, followed by cities. Have a good vacation when you bring a smile and great memories.

– And then, what do you need to have a smile and good memories?

– Adventure, a little risk and danger. And, of course, a happy ending.