76.39km –10H51’
Altitude : 12m
Did it rain all night? This morning it was under a sky heavy with clouds that Serge took to the road and headed toward Riga. For the first 35 kilometers Ludo was alone, leaving René and me to reconnoiter the Latvian capital. I have finally understood something that surprised me when we visited Vilnius which, like Riga, has no suburbs. 15 kilometers from the capital you are still in the countryside and as soon as you pass the sign for Riga urban development begins. Riga is the largest of the 3 Baltic capitals, with 730,000 inhabitants. As early as the 11th century, the city started developing around the estuary of the Daugava River.
Serge’s log:
« At km 40 my shoes began to stick to the road, not because of the heat but because of fatigue.
Yesterday, I wondered how I would react to normal life upon my return, not because I’m afraid of being bored, but because for 10 hours per day, if not more, the only roof I have over my head is the sky. I’m afraid I may not be able to stand the ceiling of my bedroom, the roof of my car, etc., etc. I have come to the conclusion that I’m made for living outside in open spaces. It contributes to the feeling of freedom I have when I am running. I had fun calculating my average number of kilometers over the past 49 day and it is more than 75 km. I also calculated the cube root of my next clocking of 1,000 km, i.e. 15,000 km, and the cube root is 24,6121 (without a calculator it took me two days because I kept losing track).
For the past three days I feel pressed, no it’s an obsession, to go as far as possible beyond the polar circle in order to see Santa Claus.
I’m happy that Eliane is back, it gives a feminine touch to the support team which I really like.
Love to my mama and papa!”
It was unhoped for but we saw Riga in the sunshine. Serge was lucky to be accompanied in the city by Alexander and one of his friends, who acted as guides to a tired runner, who declined their invitation to see more of their city because, as you have learned, the hours pass and the kilometers are counted.
Town : Riga