Cycling Tour from Riga (Latvia) To Talling (Estonia)
| This year (2008) my holiday will be a cycling tour from Riga (Latvia) to Tallinn (Estonia) split in six days of cycling booked via Eigen Wijze Reizen (in Dutch Only). During this cycling tour I will keep a diary and update this page when I am back or during my holiday if I find an internet cafe. Also I will publish a lot of pictures made with me new digital camera (Nikon S550) which I especially bought for this holiday as it is small, light (128 gr = 4.5 ounce). A selection of the pictures I made during my cycling tour from Riga to Tallinn can be found at the Flickr Website. Please come back mid of July as this page will contain much more information. |  |
Day 1 - Arrival in Riga from Brussels (Baltic Air)
The start of the holiday was not that good, as the check in had to be done manualy at Brussels Airport. Probably the had a computer error. In the afternoon I visited the old city center of Riga in Latvia.
Day 2 - Riga to Igates (41km = 25.5 miles) => first by trian to Sigulda (1h15m)
| After a very nice breakfast in Hotel ElizaBetes Nams I left on my bicylce to Central Station in Riga to go by train to Sigulda (this to avoid the busy roads around Riga). After a train ride of 1h15 I first visited the ruins of an old castle in Sigulda. Afterwards back to the center of Sigulda to buy some drinks and foods for the first day of cycling. Around 14h00 I arrived at Guesthouse Jokas where I was welcomed by a Latvian family who lived in the Uk for a long time, so talking English was no problem. First I refreshed myself and a nice cold beer was brought to my room. In the afternoon we sat in the sunny garden and had a nice talk (the even have a large pond and sauna). Diner was also good with some home made apple wine which tasted very well. After a good night sleep breakfast at 7h30 and left around 8h30 for the next day of cycling. |  |
Day 3 - Igates to Salagriva (62km = 38.5 miles)
Day 4 - Salagriva to Vandra (?? km = ?? miles)
Originally this trip would go to Reiu but due to a change in hotel this was changed to Vandra (extra 20 km or approx. 13 miles).
Day 5 - Vandra to Kaisma (74 km = 46 miles)
Day 6 - Kaisma to Rapla (54 or 61 km = 33.5 or 38 miles)
Day 7 - Rapla to Tallinn (44 or 62 km = 27.3 or 38.5 miles) The roads were much better today as I got near Tallinn. It was recommended to take the train from Saku to Tallinn as the road can be very busy. As I missed the early train by just 10 minutes I had two options: wait for the next train to Tallinn (almost 2 hours) or just cycle the last 10 km towards Tallinn. Well I just cycled to Tallinn, as the road had a wide enough shoulder and it was not that busy. As an extra I did an guided bicycle tour of two hours (approx. 16 km) around the city of Tallinn. Most part of the ride is along the harbour and the coast line of Tallinn. The bicycle tour includes: bikes, helmets, safety vests, soft drink, guide and raincoats (if needed). The sights you will see are Kadriorg Palace and Park, presidential residence, Song Festival Ground, II WW Memorial, Olympic Centre, Sandy beach, seaside promenade and much more. This "Welcome to Tallinn by bike" was organised by Citybike.
Day 8 - Tallinn to Amsterdam via Copenhagen
| The way back home was a bit long, from Tallinn to Copenhagen and than to Amsterdam (Estonian Air/SAS Scandinavian Airlines). And to get back to Antwerp (Belgium) I took the train from Schiphol Amsterdam. |
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