Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Istakos nuo pradziu pradzio... 540km by rowing boat across Lithuania


Here comes the story of some friends and co-workers, uniting their strenght in a never-seen before trip by rowing boat, all the way from Paluse to Nida. These twelve or so people struggled and suffered for 540 km and during eight days, experiencing heavy rain as well as a big hot sun, but most of all enjoyed and celebrated some kind of freedom, although being (proudly) "stuck" on their 8-meter long wooden boat.

Why proudly? Why being so proud of achieving what can only appear to be a physical performance? Well, because it is much more than that... We both know about it, cause for the first three days, and for the very last day, we were part of it.





Three questions to... Sarunas, "captain" of the boat :

1. When was "Paluse" born?
The idea of building this boat was born two years ago in Finland, when we went there with a bunch of friends for a few-weeks trip. We were staying in small houses in the nature. There was this night I drank vodka with this local guy. I asked him if he could find a boat-builder. He found us one, I wrote him a letter, but he was asking 8500 euros for it. And then, we would have needed to add one more thousand for transport from Finland to here. So my friend Kostas decided to make it. It took him two or three months to make it, with some information provided on the internet. It was easy work.

"Captain Sarunas"

One day, we were sitting by the fire, and we decided this boat had to make a long trip, like a trip to the sea...
When I told Linas (our mentor, employee of Aukstaitija National Park, ndlr) and other guys of the Park about it, they said we could make it bigger, create a real event, with the official opening of the new boat rental place in Paluse, and the 20-year anniversary of lithuanian National Parks (the five of them were created in 1991, except Aukstaitija, named that way in 1991, but created in 1974, ndlr). And they called the trip Istakos, which means the source of a river, the beginning of it.



2. What were the most beautiful thing, the biggest difficulty and the biggest surprise you experienced during the trip?

The most beautiful thing was the team. I was afraid that twelve people altogether in a boat for a week would have been a difficult situation. But the team was wonderful. Everyday was a new day, a happy day, we had lots of talks about nothing and everything. We became real friends. With some colleagues, we used to say just hello in the morning, not much more, but now we know each others much better.

The hardest part was not what I was expecting. I thought we would experience some problems along Nemunas river. I thought some big winds would come from the West and we would have to row against them. But there was only one day with strong wind. The hardest part was on Zeimena river, when there were so many branches across the river and one of them made a hole in the skull of the boat (the second day, ndlr). But we managed to fix it in Kernave, with the help of some very good people.

And what surprised me the most was the warm welcome we've had in different regional parks we stopped for breaks or overnight. In Panemuniu (regional Park, ndlr) for example, we arrived very late, it was 9.30pm. But they waited for us, made us very good food, and some home-made vodka (laughs). We've even had a local guide from there, who spent the whole day on the boat with us!


3. How is the boat being used now? Did the trip give you other ideas for the future?

The boat has a commercial use. People like to be altogether, so over the week-ends, this boat is perfect for rent for large groups of friends or family.

Kostas has another idea to make a boat with a roof, with tables, maybe for a restaurant. But I've got an idea to make another boat like Paluse. I really like the shape of this boat, it is very stable. Last day of the trip, we've had big waves, but no problems with that.

So I would like to make long up to 10-day commercial trips. But of course, the participants wouldn't have to row ten hours per day everyday! So we could use a motor sometimes, and go for some sidewalks to the forest or to interesting places. I really want to try that this automn. This summer, I'm going on vacation to Iceland and to Oural, I won't be back before the end of september. So october, with rain and short days, might not be the best, but I'll try...





1. The excitement of a... NEW BIRTH

The preparation of the fish soup, before leaving






Some traditional music, after the official part




Almost ready to leave...





2. The innocence of... CHILDHOOD









3. The harsh realities of GROWING UP

Rain + trees and branches = problems...

The only solution is sometimes to go for "a swim"






4. The beauty of FAMILY

The arrival in Nemunas Deltas, the day before the last

Last day, 6am... a bit early maybe?

Mixed feelings before the end of a beautiful adventure

The "inspection" boat, last joke right before Nida

Imantas will not go for the sirens...

This gift was given all along the trip

They did it!


No comments:

Post a Comment