Day 13 - Gulf of Finland

Although all the wild camping spots were taken last night, was quiet. Some lads appeared with thumping music and beer but disappeared off to the shore and peace reigned. It seemed to be light all night. At midnight the sky was still glowing from the sunset and at 2am it wasn’t dark.

This morning we drove about 20 miles east to the old fishing village of Altja where we followed a walking trail along by the sea and back through the woods. It was 22 degrees. I had a paddle - a swim would have been good but I didn’t think to carry my swimming costume. Stupidly we didn’t spray ourselves for bugs and both got bitten on the woodland trail back.

We drove back to the little peninsula we wild camped at but this time stopped at a campsite, as we needed water and waste disposal. It’s a lovely site. We have a pitch under some pines right by the sea. There’s a path leading down to the beach where I might have a swim later. For now I’m reading an old easy read - a Tony Hillerman - seems incongruous to be solving crimes with the Navajo tribal police in this setting. I brought my knitting but I think the mental agility the pattern requires is beyond me after so long. (Mr C must be in holiday mode - he’s in his shirts and sandals).

Some Blippers were asking about the planning of the trip. I usually ask people who have been for recommendations and I google but most of my plans come from reading a guidebook to suit our interests. A friend loaned me an Insight Guide to the Baltic states. From that I make a list of possible places of interest and consult Mr C. He plans routes but if some of the places are too far off course they are abandoned. Once on the road we more or less take it a day at a time, fitting in interesting places to stop with wild camping spots found on P4N.

We’ll stay here for 2 nights as museums are closed on Mondays, then head for Tallin. Then a big island and after that head back west. We may give Vilnius a miss.

Today we drove 47 miles.

The blip is the fishermen’s cottages at Altja.