Day 2 - Panavezys to Siauliai

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After lunch in Panevyzis we set of again on the A2 for the remainder of a long day in the saddle. The total distance for today (Ukmerge to Siauliai) was over 90 miles and the end comprised a series of up hill stretches which were usually very steep and hard work. Never let anyone tell you that Lithuania is flat until they have personally cycled around it. I can tell you from experience that there are plenty of hills :-)

In Siauliai we stayed in the Tomas Hotel, which on the outside was very unappealling but which turned out to be an excellent hotel with good rooms, great staff and excellent food and beer.

We spent the evening with two Rugute families and their children and had dinner at one of their houses. Dinner was a homemade soup (cooked on a open fire in the garden) with lots of fruit, drink and excellent fresh dessert. The entertainment was added by the children who played an assortment of instruments including a recorder type instrument (made of deer horn and wood) played by one young boy, a Sitar type instrument played by one of the daughters and larger version of the sitar like instrument, played by one of the Rugute Captains in a wheelchair.

All of these were excellent renditions, however the last one was magical and brought tears to my eyes to hear such beautiful music from this young lady. (Watch the video)

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Photos

Sunset at Siauliai
On our way to dinner

Sunset 2
On our way to dinner

Soup "Al fresco"
Dinner was a lovely home made soup with local bread and lovely desserts.