21 to Rukai

Route: 94 kilometers, cumulated: 1,854 kilometers | Elevation: 230, cumulated elevation 6,660 meters, distance from home: 1,304 kilometers (as the crow flies)

Today, brisk wind was forecasted, but what a wonder, I hardly felt it. Unusually, it mostly came from behind, which negated the wind from biking and felt like there was no wind at all. Additionally, the temperature rose to 12°, which led me to gradually shed jackets and rain pants.

Between Klaipeda and my actual destination Pagégiai, there were almost no settlements with attractions. Therefore, there was little to photograph.

While preparing for today’s tour, I found a shortcut that primarily freed me from a national road. However, there was a key point that posed a big question mark. Someone had photographed this bridge three years ago when it was impassable. The same cyclist took two more photos last year and noted that the bridge had been rebuilt. However, it was unclear to me whether it was really the same bridge. Since an attempt only meant a detour of about 2 kilometers, I decided to take the chance. A few hundred meters in front of me, I saw construction machinery at work. Nevertheless, I went closer to take photos. And indeed, the bridge was impassable; I was just a few months too early. So, I took the alternative route, which brought me back to a national road. However, it was one with very little traffic, which allowed me to move forward much faster.

About 7 kilometers from my destination, I took a break at a bus stop to find accommodation. And behold, in Pagégiai, there was no lodging available on Booking.com. So, I took my time searching for an alternative. Here, far from big towns, that wasn’t very easy. But one of the options was very close by. I copied the address into Komoot. Right across from my place was the road that was supposed to lead me there. Unfortunately, this road was so sandy that I had to push my e-bike for about 500 meters. Then it turned out that I was on the wrong path. There was only a half-ruined farmhouse there. So, I had to push my e-bike back through the sand. Once back on the main road, I saw that the house I was looking for must be somewhere else.

On the second attempt, I found it. However, there was no one there, but there was a phone number that I called. Soon after, the owner appeared before me and showed me my room. Like in a castle, I am also the only guest here. Nevertheless, the lady cooked me a good dinner and also offered me a beer. In the season, there are surely many guests here; at the moment, it is completely quiet.

https://www.komoot.com/de-DE/tour/2200265120?ref=itd

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**Español:**

Hoy se preveía un viento fuerte, pero, ¡qué maravilla!, apenas lo sentí. Excepcionalmente, vino mayormente por detrás, lo que anuló el viento de la conducción y se sintió como si no hubiera viento. Además, la temperatura subió hasta los 12°, lo que me llevó a deshacerme poco a poco de chaquetas y pantalones de lluvia.

Entre Klaipeda y mi verdadero destino Pagégiai casi no había localidades que tuvieran lugares de interés. Así que había poco que fotografiar.

Al preparar la ruta de hoy, encontré un atajo que me liberó principalmente de una carretera nacional. Sin embargo, había un punto crucial que representaba un gran signo de interrogación. Alguien fotografió ese puente hace 3 años, cuando no se podía cruzar. El mismo ciclista hizo dos fotos más el año pasado y escribió que el puente había sido reconstruido. Sin embargo, no estaba claro para mí si era realmente el mismo puente. Como un intento significaba solo un desvío de aproximadamente 2 kilómetros, decidí arriesgarme. Ya unos cientos de metros antes, vi maquinaria de construcción trabajando. A pesar de eso, decidí acercarme a tomar fotos. Y de hecho, el puente no era transitado; simplemente llegué unos meses demasiado pronto. Así que tomé la ruta alternativa, que me llevó de regreso a una carretera nacional. Sin embargo, era una carretera con muy poco tráfico, lo que me permitió avanzar más rápido.

A aproximadamente 7 kilómetros de mi destino, hice una pausa en una parada de autobús para buscar alojamiento. Y he aquí, en Pagégiai ya no había alojamiento en Booking.com. Así que me tomé mi tiempo para buscar una alternativa. Aquí, lejos de las grandes localidades, no era tan fácil. Pero una de las opciones estaba muy cerca. Así que copié la dirección en Komoot. Justo frente a mi lugar estaba la calle que debía llevarme allí. Lamentablemente, esa calle estaba tan arenosa que tuve que empujar mi bicicleta eléctrica durante unos 500 metros. Luego resultó que estaba en el camino equivocado. Allí solo había una granja medio en ruinas. Así que tuve que empujar mi bicicleta eléctrica de vuelta a través de la arena. Una vez en la carretera principal, vi que la casa que buscaba tenía que estar en otro lugar.

En el segundo intento, lo encontré. Sin embargo, no había nadie aquí; había un número de teléfono que llamé. Poco después, la propietaria apareció y me mostró mi habitación. Como en un castillo, también soy el único huésped aquí. Aun así, la señora me cocinó una buena cena y también me ofreció una cerveza. En temporada, seguramente hay muchos huéspedes aquí; en este momento está todo muy tranquilo.

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**English:**

Today, brisk wind was forecasted, but what a wonder, I hardly felt it. Unusually, it mostly came from behind, which negated the wind from biking and felt like there was no wind at all. Additionally, the temperature rose to 12°, which led me to gradually shed jackets and rain pants.

Between Klaipeda and my actual destination, Pagégiai, there were almost no settlements with attractions. Therefore, there was little to photograph.

While preparing for today’s tour, I found a shortcut that primarily freed me from a national road. However, there was a key point that posed a big question mark. Someone had photographed this bridge three years ago when it was impassable. The same cyclist took two more photos last year and noted that the bridge had been rebuilt. However, it was unclear to me whether it was really the same bridge. Since an attempt only meant a detour of about 2 kilometers, I decided to take the chance. A few hundred meters in front of me, I saw construction machinery at work. Nevertheless, I went closer to take photos. And indeed, the bridge was impassable; I was just a few months too early. So, I took the alternative route, which brought me back to a national road. However, it was one with very little traffic, which allowed me to move forward much faster.

About 7 kilometers from my destination, I took a break at a bus stop to find accommodation. And behold, in Pagégiai, there was no lodging available on Booking.com. So, I took my time searching for an alternative. Here, far from big towns, that wasn’t very easy. But one of the options was very close by. I copied the address into Komoot. Right across from my place was the road that was supposed to lead me there. Unfortunately, this road was so sandy that I had to push my e-bike for about 500 meters. Then it turned out that I was on the wrong path. There was only a half-ruined farmhouse there. So, I had to push my e-bike back through the sand. Once back on the main road, I saw that the house I was looking for must be somewhere else.

On the second attempt, I found it. However, there was no one there, but there was a phone number that I called. Soon after, the owner appeared before me and showed me my room. Like in a castle, I am also the only guest here. Nevertheless, the lady cooked me a good dinner and also offered me a beer. In the season, there are surely many guests here; at the moment, it is completely quiet.