Day 11 – 7 September 2016
Making Up for Lost Time
After losing nearly a week in Berlin, there was no time to waste. We were up early and back on the road determined to recover some of the precious days that had slipped away during our gearbox saga.
The plan for today was simple—drive, drive, and then drive some more.
Leaving our overnight stop behind, we headed east through Germany and soon crossed into Poland. The miles passed steadily beneath Kontiki’s wheels as we travelled across vast stretches of countryside, passing farmland, forests, villages, and busy towns. Although we had already covered a considerable distance, we knew we would need many more days like this if we were to get back on schedule.
One thing accompanied us throughout the day—the now familiar gearbox noise.
Every unusual sound seemed to make us glance nervously at each other. After all the trouble in Berlin, none of us knew how long the gearbox would continue to cooperate. Yet, despite its complaints, the old Kontiki soldiered on faithfully, carrying us further east with every passing hour.
The weather could not have been better. Bright sunshine, clear skies, and dry roads made for excellent driving conditions. It felt wonderful to finally be travelling again after being confined to a garage forecourt for so long.
As evening approached, we crossed our second border of the day and entered Lithuania at around 7:00 pm. Crossing into another country brought a renewed sense of excitement. We were finally moving deeper into Eastern Europe and getting closer to the adventures that awaited us beyond the European Union.
By this point, we had already driven close to 500 miles, but our day was far from over.
Our chosen campsite near Kaunas was still approximately 125 miles away. Tired though we were, we decided to push on. There was no point stopping early when we were trying so hard to recover lost time.
The final stretch felt endless. As darkness gradually descended, concentration levels had to remain high and the kilometres seemed to pass more slowly than ever. Nevertheless, Team Kontiki remained focused on the task.
At around 9:30 pm, we finally rolled into our campsite near Kaunas, Lithuania.
After such a long day behind the wheel, it felt wonderful to stop.
Fortunately, dinner required very little effort. We still had leftovers from the previous day, which saved us the trouble of cooking. Sometimes, after a demanding day on the road, even a simple meal tastes like a feast.
With the motorhome parked up and the day’s driving finally over, we treated ourselves to some well-earned cold beer. Sitting outside in the pleasant evening air, we reflected on the progress we had made.
Only twenty-four hours earlier, we had still been in Germany wondering whether our journey would even continue. Now we had crossed Poland, entered Lithuania, and covered nearly 500 miles in a single day.
Most importantly, the motorhome was still moving.
The gearbox was still noisy, but it had not caused any further problems. That alone felt like a major victory.
As we climbed into bed that night, tired but content, there was a growing feeling of confidence amongst Team Kontiki. The worst seemed to be behind us, and once again the dream of driving all the way from London to Mumbai felt achievable.
We were back on the move, back on schedule, and back enjoying the adventure.
Distance travelled: Approximately 500 miles (800 km)
Countries travelled through: Germany, Poland, Lithuania
Night halt: Campsite near Kaunas, Lithuania
Weather: Sunny and warm throughout the day
Mood of the day: Tired, relieved, and optimistic
Join us tomorrow as Team Kontiki continues its journey across the Baltic region and heads ever closer to the Russian border on the long road from London to Mumbai.
