Story from the competition around Europe

writen by Vladas Sapranavicius
also take a look at photos from this competition

The competition started at 10 a.m. and participants ran to their spots every 5 minutes. We started the 5th and ran to the spot for hitch-hiking through the city. During the crossing of Vilnius we have overtook 2 pairs from Russia and the next participants which we have met on the road where only in Poland (town Augustow). At 8 p.m. we were in Cechanowo and met another Lithuanian pair Augustas and Audra. They already have been in the controlling point n. 1 (CP1) in Zuromin and said that to reach this CP is very difficult. Keep a good speed! After 90 minutes we were in city Mlawa and saw 4 Russian pairs walking by foot through the city. Great! On the exit from the city direction Zuromin we decided to begin our REST time. After some minutes we met 4 Russian pairs, what came by foot. They were still trying to get a lift to Zuromin and we went to sleep.
Next morning we were lucky and reached CP1 at 6.43. We were the second at this CP after Augustas. Nice! After 2 hours we were in Lodz. We made a mistake here - we have entered the City and went 2 and half-hours by foot! Terrible. So we have reached the Slovakian border only at 6.30 p.m. and waited here about 2 hours for a lift till Ruzumberok. On the border we have met one pair of Russians and a doctor with a journalist. There was a very low traffic in Ruzumberok and we have stayed for a night here.
Next morning we have successfully reached Poprad (CP2) and found 3 controlling messages there. After we saw one local hitcher with a sign "BB" (Banska Bystrica). He was just standing with this sign and do nothing. So we left him there and went to Ruzumberok, Banska Bystrica, Nitra and Komarno. Till Komarno we had a lift with a drug users. At 1.30 p.m. we were on the Hungarian border and went to Gyor and after to Veszprem (near Balaton lake) with a leaving a message in CP3 in Zirc. At 7.30 p.m. we have crossed the Austrian border and went to Graz. The night was spent 15 km after Graz on the rest area.
Day 4th. At 7 p.m. we were in Leoben. One driver said, that he have heard on the local radio about us and it is why he took a lift for us. After 2 hours we were at the CP4 in Hieflau. Augustas and Audrone were there 2 hours ago and there were no Russians. At 2 p.m. we saw this another Lithuanian pair on the German border and at 4 p.m. in Wienerwald. The Italian border we crossed in "Volvo" truck and went to Bozan Bonzano by this car. We stayed for a night in the mountains in a small town Cuisiano, on the road to Sondrio.
9.30 at the morning we have left our message in Sondrio. We were first there. Wonderful! At the noon we were in Milano and at 9 p.m. in S.Etiene (France). CP6 was near Aosta, on the road Torino - Geneva.
Day 6th. Clermont F. - Montlucon - Courcais and Chateroux with a leaving a message in CP7 in La Chatre at noon. After there were Bourges - Varzy - Chalons - Verdun and overnight in Dun-sur-Meuse.
Day 7th. At 7 a.m. we got a lift directly to The Netherlands and were on B/NL border at 10 a.m. after leaving messages in CP8 and CP9. 4 great hours of hitching in The Netherlands and we sit in the car with Ukrainian driver to Hanower. Some short lifts and we finished the first part of competition in Kulturherberge hostel near Alfeld (Hildeshaim) at 6 p.m..
Yeah, it is fantastic! We are a winners of this stage. I won a 35 cm diameter cake from Alexey Vorov, because the deal was about a cake of 15 cm + a time difference in finish of the first part. So the difference between me and Alexey was 20 hours. The second was Andrey Kuritsin and the third Augustas and Audra.
After the rest time me and Kuritsin's pair have finished our participating. I should leave the route because of my studies and Kuritsin - because of his illness.
Other participants finished their route in Sant Petersburg in 1 of April. You may find the results of the competition in the official Trophy page.