Thumbs Up Hitchhiking Race 2011 - August 19th-21st

Sunshine and happiness for the departure in Vilnius.

But they all know the Race will be difficult

and this good weather will not last...

Florence Guiral and Robertas Žvirblis,

opponents during the Race,

but together to study the map and

 the locations of the challenges to accomplish.

1007 km all over Lithuania with a thumb up as a unique tool of transportation, 10 stopovers and as many tasks to achieve on the way, all that under rain, heavy rain and/or thunderstorm...

Challenging? Apparently, it was. 32 people were supposed to take part in the Thumbs Up Hitchhiking Race 2011, only 6 brave ones came! But we can say that these six ones had fun, lots of fun. Unfortunately, one of the teams didn't make it to the arrival in Kernavė though.

A night in a police station

Among funny stories, the winners of this first edition Sabrina Buhn (Germany) and Robertas Žvirblis (Lithuania) pitched their tent in front of Klaipeda's big shopping center Akropolis, to be sheltered from the rain. Quite a few local people, totally astonished, took photos of this very unusual scene. The following night, they slept in Ukmergė's... police station! A policeman working there told them it is not a place to sleep overnight, and proposed them to sleep under the staircase, so as not to be seen by anyone in the morning.

The silver medalists Florence Guiral (France) and Fela Winkelmolen (Netherlands) got picked up by a 65-year old man, Vilginius, who hosted them overnight in his place in Vilkija. "The generosity and welcoming spirit of Lithuanians can really be astonishing", said Florence once the Race finished. The alarm clock rang at 6am the following day. Cause Vilginius got so interested in the Race that he motivated both racers to carry on as early as possible, and wishing they would win eventually.

Among other prizes, medals were offered
to all participants of the Race

Around the three Baltic countries

The event managed to raise 554 Lt for Lietuvos Gamtos Fondas' projects :

1. Editing a fish guide for a sustainable use of ressources

2. Developping a better coexistence between farmers and wolves, and protecting both wolves and cattle

This sum of money is of course far less than what was expected, but it still means almost a hundred litai per participant. For instance, Sabrina and Robertas managed to collect 80 Litai during the Race! This is very important, knowing that next year, there will most likely be a second edition of the Thumbs Up Hitchhiking Race. Bigger, longer, earlier, better! 

The idea would be to make it around the three Baltic countries, and for at least a week or ten days. It would probably be in june, best time to get both Lithuanians and internationals to participate. The partnership with Lietuvos Gamtos Fondas would remain, and the equivalent associations in Latvia and Estonia would be called for partnership.

For photos and all informations, go to the official website : http://thumbsuprace.jimdo.com/