Sweden, Finland, Baltic States, Poland - July 04
 

FWIW I'm heading around the Baltic Sea during July this year. Leaving Sweden on the first weekend in July, then Finland down to Helsinki, St. Petersburg for 3 days, then Tallinn, the Estonian islands, Riga, Klaipeda, Vilnius, Poland, ferry to Sweden, and finally Gotland. I've got 4 weeks set aside for the trip.

If anyone's going that way during July, or lives en-route, I'd be pleased to meet up, ride with, or just share a beer. http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif Get in touch.

Iain

Hi Iain,

I had been planning a solo trip to Norway, then down through Sweden this Summer but have been thinking of going to the other side of the Baltic too. I wasnt sure if it would be too much of an undertaking, specially as I've only been to mainland Europe on a bike before, but yeah I'm interested in riding along.

I'm not limited by time so much, but are you looking to ride with someone the distance or is this a solitary adventure thing?!

Let me know if you're interested,

Cheers, Steve

Hello,

Might cu on the road then, going to do the finish allroad tour beginning of august and then heading north to nordkapp and slowly decending to southern norway before taking the ferry to denmark and on to amsterdam.... all this in about 3 weeks..

grtz!

StevieG: Whilst I'm not looking for company throughout the whole trip, hooking up for the ride from Tallinn to Klaipeda could be an option. The Baltics are part of mainland Europe, so I'm not expecting the sort of culture shock associated with Africa or Asia. Have a look at a map and see what you think about the extra distance. If you're still interested we should probably meet for a pint, see if we can tolerate each other, and take the planning from there.

gozell: If you're heading to Finland in August via the Baltics we may well cross paths, going in opposite directions. Keep an eye on this thread, and the Baltic thread in the Route Planning forum.

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif

Iain

Iain,

Ive got limited time so in unfortuanly im taking the ferry between rostock - germany and hanko - finland, saving the baltics for another time...

grtz!

how's it going lads, will be in that neck of the woods in july also. Gimme a shout if yis fancy a pint or two...

KevH, what's your route going to be?

Iain

Greetings again, Iain.

Get in touch when you'll enter the Estonia. I'll share a beer with you http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/wink.gif and maybe give some advice what to visit around here and can join up with my MC here-and-there.

Estonian islands are excellent idea to visit indeed.

Margus

Hello,
Like Ian I'm off solo to the Baltic in July for a month but taking the long way round. Newcastle to Bergen and north to Norkapp, then down through Finland to Helsinki, St Petersburg, Tallin, Riga, Vilnius, Minsk, Prague and then home.
Getting the paperwork sorted at the moment. The only thing that worries me is the GPS and mobile phone at the Russian border.
I was going to ring Glavgossvyaznadzor in Moscow.
Has anyone any experience of this?

Regards

Alex

haven't a clue yet but bought maps and an LP today so will let u know. Anbody know where to get front disks for an Africa twin for less than a kings ransom?

Well I'm off this weekend. Visa for St. Petersburg came through in the end, so I'll be there on the 8/9th July as I head south towards Poland. After Russia I've not got any firm dates, so anyone else in the area at the time should use this thread to get in contact.

See you all when I get back!

Iain

Margus, Check your email!\

Iain

Hi @all!

finally heading off to the north cape, starting coming Friday July 16.
here my routeplanning :
I am taking the ferry from Kiel to oslo then heading north along the coast of norway. From the
north cape I want to try to get over the russian border to murmansk. Then heading down via Finland to Sweden, from there the ferry to Gdank, Poland.
Scheduled to take appr. 3 weeks.
Hope to see some fellow travellers on the road.
Gijs

------------------

Well, if I had known earlier. I am planning on a reciprical trip in Sept. Germany, Poland, Baltic States, Finland, Sweden.

NB

I'm now currently in Riga, Latvia. Is there anyone between here and Vilnius (and the coast, Klaipeda, etc.) that fancies meeting up? Heading to the coast on Sunday, then down to Klaipeda and across to Vilnius.

Iain

Iain
Is there anything specific required at the border for entry into the Baltic Countries?

E.g. Did they ask for international driving licences, green card etc. or was the new EU border open? Thanks.

We hope to be there in early August.
Stephan

Going from one Baltic state to another is a piece of cake. The steps are;

a) show up a deserted checkpoint on a dead straight bit of road

b) wait a minute for the security guy to realise he's got a customer

c) present passport and V5

d) remove your helmet and smile nicely, so border guy can check the photo in your passport

e) ride off into the sunset

The longest it has taken me to get through one of these border crossings is about 5 minutes, because there were 2 cars in front of me and only one border guy. Compared with getting in and out of Russia the Baltic states can be considered as easy as going to France.

Have a good trip.

Iain