1836 – SECOND DAY OF THE THIRD EXPEDITON

Latvian stuntmen worked for several films and TV programmes. Aigars was especially good at stunts in the water and once even worked as a double for Eduards Pāvuls.

Our next stop is one of the world’s border cities Valka/Valga. At the old border crossing point, Jānis Rozītis does a wheelie and enters Estonia to local folks’ delight.

In the lutheran church of Valka, we take the stairs to the tower. The church is close to the border so this is a chance to see both countries at the same time.

We want to get out of the city as soon as possible, so we ride on the train tracks and choose the great Kaķu pine tree next to river Gauja as our next destination. The seven kilometers of train tracks is hard enduro with several complex elements and we work as a team to overcome obstacles.

Near Pukšu swamp, we munch on forest blueberries and dream of a swim in Gauja. Here, in the pine forest, we find great trails and riding pleasure with our reliable motorcycles.

In Plāņi parish, we come across interesting stones. Archaeologists have identified them as a historic stone breaking spot that was used in the 19th century.

Nearby, next to the river, we find the great Kaķu pine. It is the oldest known pine in Latvia and it was included in Nature rarities list in 1999. The tree is estimated to be about 380 years old. The width of the bark is more than 3m. 

The swelter and dynamic riding has taken most of our energy so we find a great swimming spot in river Gauja and get in the water.

Jānis has to go home, but the four of us continue our journey to Zvārtava.

Fredis chooses the path and rides at good speed, but even his motocross-adapted front wheel can’t take the pressure and slides out in one of the turns of the wet forest track and Fredis is thrown into a ditch. We’ve made it through with a bent handlebar, a scratched arm and a fright, because luckily there were no trees where he crashed.

Next to beautiful Salainis lake, we stop at Salaiņu household to ask for a resting place in the hay shed. They don’t have one, but they kindly offer their garden house, which is usually used by their kids that are in the city right now.

There are no amenities, but the view towards the lake and the atmosphere is great. We agree to pay three euros a person for the resting place. We build a campfire and start cooking dinner. Agrita brings potatoes and offers us a taste of the homemade quality moonshine. There are several varieties available, but the most interesting one is the honey-infused one. 

The red sun is setting in the dark lakewater but the party’s only starting at the campfire.