Awaiting Travel Legends in Latvia
Zagan the motorhome’s throttle stayed firmly closed. He’s resting up by Lake Raiskuma at Kempings Apalkalns (N57.31756, E25.14966) in Latvia. Travel legends Glen and Steve have been in touch (glenswatman.blogspot.com), they’re just behind us in Riga, and are nipping over here to say hello. How cool is that!
Fire! Smoke’s not getting our eyes though, the wind’s hoofing it all off across the lake
Latvia’s defied my expectations. The country’s only existed for the past 100 years, and spent half of that absorbed into the USSR so was less than independent until 1990. I imagined an unkempt land, but I was very wrong. From our short time here it’s coming across as a neat and tidy place, like an early version of Austria (without the hills). The campsite here fits into my ‘perfect’ box very nicely. The chap running it’s a kind and cheerful fella, leaving you alone under the over-arching agreement that if he asks you to do something, you do it. There’s a sign up with this rule written in English, German, Russian and Latvian, and a small picture of a radio with a cross through it. It’s a quiet and calm place, a good place to just chill the hell out for a bit, and burn stuff.
More fire! That’s Love Island in the background.
In the few days we’ve been here our neighbours have rotated in and out fairly quickly. Yesterday maybe 15 motorhomes left, but today the steep-roofed cabins clad in weather-grey wooden shingles are filling up with excited families, ready for the weekend. For our part we’ve largely done little. That said, the wonders of the Internet have enabled us to sit here in a Latvian field and update the TomTom’s maps, renew Zagan’s road tax, switch our Bungalow’s mortgage to a new deal and research the dreaded motorhome insurance renewal. The latter one gives me the shivers, and I crawl off under the van, into a wardrobe, up a tree, anywhere while Ju’s working it through. I’ve never been big on bureaucracy and the insurance seems to get dafter by the year – one company didn’t want to know when they discovered we don’t have a car. Huh?
Not sure what someone’s doing in the campsite WiFi, but Google keep making me fill these things in whenever I want to search for something…
Our sleep patterns have gone on a wonk by the way. We’re on a similar latitude as northern Scotland, the Hudson Bay in Canada, and the southern edge of Alaska (it’s also half the distance from here to Moscow as it is to London). The sun’s not setting until gone 10pm. It stays light much longer. Our usual sack-hitting’s been delayed by an hour or two as a result, and an hour’s been added on to getting up time. The van’s blackout blinds and curtains are no doubt going to come in very handy as we head towards the lands of the midnight sun.
Ju’s now running over 7km in one hit (selfie from this mornings run), which I’m very impressed with. Marrakesh half marathon, here we come
The weather’s turned cool the past couple of days, and our wee electric fan heater’s even been out huffing heat onto our tootsies as the rain patters on Zagan’s roof. Campsite man says the good weather’ll be back in a day or so, and we’ll be on t’road by then I imagine, heading up towards Estonia. The tour must go on!
Cheers, Jay
I get that ” unusual Traffic ” on the Melia web site.
And no I am not a Robot.
I felt like a robot after I’d filled in the CAPTCHA 20 times… Jay
hi, nice to see you both looking, feeling brighter and looking forward to catching up with some friends, just want to ask if you can watch youtube or uk tv? with your wifi ….been looking at this :- SAMSUNG Galaxy View 18.4″ Tablet – 32 GB, Black ….http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/computing/tablets-and-ereaders/tablets/samsung-galaxy-view-18-4-tablet-32-gb-black-10142445-pdt.html?gclid=CNnloePwnc0CFesW0wodQ_UIMA&srcid=198&cmpid=ppc~gg~~~Exact&mctag=gg_goog_7904&s_kwcid=AL!3391!3!75234023779!!!g!150402842179!&ef_id=VH20rgAAATWjP1c0:20160610162953:s :- this could be a great idea for those who like UK TV when travelling long term in Europe?
Note: I live in Bolton and it’s Garlic Bread…Not Garlic Beer??..UUURGG
Hi Marcus, we can get UK TV on WiFi with viewabroad.com. Works well. Cheers, Jay
We use Dolmen in Dublin for our Hymer. £255 fully comp.
Right-o, thanks Deryck, Jay
Hello There ,
I was looking for the “all the Aires” book on your Amazon link and it seems that they only list a 2008 edition ?
Is there an up to date version…..heading off for our first BIG trip in the autumn …3 months….can hardly wait !
Me again,
Found latest one, or two rather, split into North and South France ……looking forward to hearing all about Your progress north ! Love the blog thanks for all the effort …big help to us planning our trip.
Cracking, cheers Gordon, Jay
Nice to hear you stayed on at Apalcalns, it’s the best campsite we’ve stayed at so far, we wished we could have stayed longer. The spa hotel was pretty good, though!
In Estonia, we suggest you avoid the campsite at Vaibla – same price as Apalcalns but nowhere near as nice. There are good free campsites in Soomaa National Park, some with electric hookup and water, sadly we missed out. Tonight we are in Vosu on the north coast of Estonia – we rejected the big tourist campsite for the back garden of a hotel but with WiFi, sauna and the most friendly staff ever it is proving a big hit.
Rich & Gem xx
Hi guys
Managed one more fire there! Too hungover the following day (all blame lies on that 7.2% Lidl beer :-)), then it started raining… Lovely spot.
Thanks for the info. Which hotel are you at at the mo? We’ll be on the Latvian-Estonian border tomorrow, then crossing over and chasing you guys, slowly, northwards!
Glad you enjoyed the spa too, cheers, Jay