Digital Wanderer

We live as long as we fly

Latvia - bike trip to Aglona and two HPPs

2010-08-25

вылазки байк природа фото латвия латгале аглона

Went to Aglona a few weeks ago. We 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, barely made it before dark. We navigated using Bing maps, which was fun — its Navteq maps are inaccurate in places, but at least they have forest roads. Because of that, as usual, we wandered around in circles. Every cloud has a silver lining, though — we got to see a small working hydroelectric power plant that we otherwise wouldn't have stumbled upon. We only found it thanks to a local resident and Google satellite imagery. (iPhone rules!)

Here are the coordinates for those who crave them: 56.04249, 26.88598

Along 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 22:00.

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, thick thickets of mixed forest on the right.

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

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 on the road in the distance.

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 a cloudy sky. A wooden pole and a small wooden bench are visible to the left of the road, 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 into the camera. Green trees and a strip of forest are visible in the background under a light sky.

 

A block house under construction with an installed wooden roof frame on a green meadow against the backdrop of a forest. A passenger car with open doors and trunk stands on the grass to the left.

Building even during the crisis.

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

And harvesting too

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

We're even sick of the storks already

IMG_0693

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

They say it's been a good harvest

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

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

There's a quarry in Biķernieki where you can take a swim — all hail Biķernieki!

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

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

A dirt path, framed on both sides by dense green thickets, leads to a body of water under a light cloudy sky.

A calm forest lake, surrounded by a mixed forest with birches that are reflected 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, going into the distance towards a group of rural buildings. Power line poles stretch along the left side of the road under a light cloudy sky.

IMG_0777

This is us getting lost. But one can live like this!

A wooden house by a calm pond, surrounded by thick 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 onto a quiet forest lake, surrounded on all sides by a dense green forest under a hazy sky.

There's a HPP on this lake, fishing is prohibited. But they fish anyway.


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

Real mountain biking, a dangerous little path, 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 strapped to his bike's rack. 

A man in glasses and a black and white bicycle helmet smiles in profile 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 sluice gates. A small green shed and an overturned boat are visible on the right; in the background is a gentle hill under a bright sky. 

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

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

IMG_0802 A cyclist in a helmet with a loaded bicycle stands on a dirt road between two green structures. On the left is a tall metal construction, presumably part of a river crossing, and on the right is a small green trailer against a backdrop of gentle hills and shrubs. 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 were already rushing to Aglona in the evening, never ridden so fast on a dirt road before.

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

The Dubna is all overgrown from the heat.

Top-down view 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 shrubs.

 A shallow reservoir or marshy river with its surface covered in green aquatic plants. The banks are densely overgrown with shrubs 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. A dense forest is visible in the background under a gray sky, crossed by power lines. 

One can 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 a cloudy sky. A wooden power line pole stands on the left edge of the road. 

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

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

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

A two-rut dirt road runs through a green field to a body of water, beyond which a forest is visible. To the right of the road is a "VĀRAVAS" sign and a small wooden house.

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