Digital Wanderer

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A bike trip to Aglona and two HPPs

2010-08-25

вылазки байк природа фото латвия латгале аглона

We went to Aglona a few weeks ago. Rode 100 km on the first day and 60 on the second. By the way, this was the first time we did close to 100 km on dirt roads. It was tough, of course, we barely made it before dark. We navigated with Bing maps, which was fun — its Navteq maps are inaccurate in places, but at least they have forest roads. Because of this, as usual, we wandered in circles. Every cloud has a silver lining though — we got to see a small working hydroelectric power plant that we wouldn't have reached otherwise. We only found it thanks to a local resident and Google satellite imagery. (iPhone rules!)

Here are the coordinates for those seeking it: 56.04249, 26.88598

On the way, we visited Biķernieki, Ambeļi, and Šķeltova. In the latter, there are as many as 4 shops right next to each other, but they close early on weekends, which is sad. Fortunately, there's civilization in Aglona and Saules Veikals is open until 10 PM.

Google Maps:
Day 1

View Aglona HES 08.08.2010 day 1 in a larger map

Day 2 


View Aglona HES 08.08.2008 day 2 in a larger map

 

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Day 1

 

Aglona HES day 1

 


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Aglona HES day 2

 


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Photos from the first day, so as not to overload the post

A wide sandy road runs through the forest, winding into the distance. Tall pine trunks are visible on the left, and dense thickets of mixed forest on the right.

A dirt sandy road winds through a dense green forest with tall pines and deciduous trees. Sunlight illuminates the path, surrounded by thick grass and bushes.

An asphalt road with white markings goes into the distance, with a dense forest growing on both sides. Birches and a small pavilion are visible on the left, dark trees on the right, and a car is barely visible far down the road.

A dirt road in a dense forest, surrounded by tall trees and lush undergrowth, goes into the distance.

A narrow winding path in a sunny forest, surrounded by tall green grass and dense trees. The path goes into the distance, curving to the right.

A vast field with withered grass in the foreground, behind which rise groups of trees and several tall buildings with light facades.

A dirt road goes into the distance among green fields under an overcast sky. To the left of the road, a wooden pole and a small wooden bench are visible, and a strip of forest and sparse rural buildings can be seen on the horizon. 

A white and red cow stands in the middle of a green meadow, looking straight at the camera. Green trees and a strip of forest are visible in the background under a bright sky.

 

A block house under construction with an installed wooden roof frame in a green meadow against a forest background. On the left, a car with open doors and trunk stands on the grass.

They're still building even during the crisis.

A man drives a green BM Volvo combine harvester, harvesting a golden wheat field against the backdrop of a village house.

And also harvesting crops

Two storks in a large nest on top of a wooden power line pole against a pale blue sky.

Even getting sick of storks already

IMG_0693

A red tractor tows a trailer heavily loaded with large hay bales along a dirt road. In the background, a cyclist is riding along the same road among green trees.

They say it's been a good harvest

A two-rut dirt road, bordered by dense thickets of young birches and tall grass, winds its way into the distance towards the forest under a gray overcast sky.

A man in glasses in the foreground against the background of a calm lake and a green wooded shore.

There is a quarry in Biķernieki where you can take a swim — glory to Biķernieki!

A vast field with alternating strips of golden stubble and green plants. In the right part of the field, a yellow combine harvester stands in the distance, and a strip of forest is visible on the horizon under a bright sky.

A rusty combine harvester stands in a field with golden, partially mowed grass. In the background, dense green trees are visible under a clear blue sky.

A dirt path, framed on the sides by dense green thickets, leads to a body of water under a bright overcast sky.

A calm forest lake surrounded by a mixed forest with birches reflecting in the mirror-like surface of the water. A gentle green slope is visible in the foreground.

A sandy two-rut country road curves to the right, going into the distance between dense greenery. Grass and bushes grow along the roadsides, birches are visible on the right, and a wooden pole rises on the left.

A winding dirt road runs through green and withered fields, heading into the distance towards a group of rural buildings. On the left, power line poles stretch along the road under a bright overcast sky.

IMG_0777

This is where we got lost. But you can definitely live like this!

A wooden house by a calm pond, surrounded by dense thickets of reeds in the foreground, with gentle wooded hills in the background under a pale sky.

View from a clearing overgrown with tall dry grass, of a quiet forest lake surrounded on all sides by a dense green forest under a hazy sky.

There's a hydro power plant on this lake, fishing is prohibited. But people fish anyway.


A narrow dirt path goes deep into a shaded mixed forest with tall conifers and young deciduous trees. 

Proper mountain biking, a dangerous little trail, especially for our loaded bikes.

A cyclist in a helmet and blue jersey stands with a mountain bike on a path in the middle of a dense green forest and looks deep into the thicket. An orange duffel bag with camping gear is attached to the rack of his bike. 

A man in glasses and a black-and-white bicycle helmet in profile smiles against the background of a forest lake surrounded by dense trees.

Here I look like the Mono project logo.

 mono_logo

A person walks a bicycle along a dirt path towards a bridge over a canal, next to which stand two green metal structures resembling lock gates. On the right, a small green shed and an overturned boat are visible; in the background — a gentle hill under a bright sky. 

The promised HPP. You're actually not supposed to be here, but we came from the side where there were no signs.

An overturned wooden boat with a rusty chain on its bow stands on a wooden slipway in the middle of an overgrown area. Around it are lush green bushes and trees, with sunlight breaking through the foliage. 

IMG_0802 A cyclist in a helmet with a loaded bike stands on a dirt road between two green structures. On the left is a tall metal structure, presumably part of a river crossing, and on the right is a small green trailer against a background of gentle hills and bushes. A massive green metal structure with a rusty gate and a lifting mechanism stands on the shore of a reservoir surrounded by a dense forest. A yellow safety warning sign is attached to it. A concrete road with railings over a calm river surrounded by dense forests and hills in the distance.

We hurried to Aglona already in the evening, never having ridden so fast on a dirt road before.

A dirt road goes into the distance under a hazy sky with bright sunshine. Dark silhouettes of trees, bushes, and power line poles stretch along both sides of the road. 

The Dubna river got all overgrown from the heat.

A view from above through the white railings of a bridge onto a river with dark water overgrown with water lilies and marsh grass, surrounded by green trees and bushes.

 A shallow body of water or a marshy river with its surface covered in green aquatic plants. The banks are densely overgrown with bushes and trees, forming a wild natural landscape.

A wooden house with a red roof and three small buildings are located on a hill by a pond. In the background, a dense forest is visible under a gray sky, with power lines stretching across it. 

You can definitely live like this!

A wide dirt road leads into the distance through a rural area surrounded by green trees and grass, towards a body of water visible on the horizon under an overcast sky. On the left, at the edge of the road, stands a wooden power line pole. 

Near the Aglonas Alpi campsite, the beauty is incredible for our parts. Oddly enough, I hadn't been here before.

A back view of a cyclist in a helmet and a blue jersey riding along a winding dirt road. To the left of the road — a pond and a forest, to the right — a large lake and a hilly wooded shore under an overcast sky. 

But we spent the night before reaching Aglonas Alpi, right here

A two-rut dirt road passes through a green field towards a body of water, behind which a forest is visible. To the right of the road is a signpost "VĀRAVAS" and a small wooden house.

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