Today we have to leave earlier than the previous days, at 8am already, because we have an official appointment in Riga at 4pm and we have to cycle about 95km. A few of us nevertheless find the energy to wake up at 5:15 to go to the beach before the departure. It has rained during the night (the first drops since we arrived in Helsinki!!) so our clothes that were hanging outside to dry got wet and the mosquitoes fled into our rooms. It’s official, mosquitoes like Belgian blood.

We’re trying to avoid the Via Baltica as much as possible but there’s not always a better choice (we got stuck again in sandy trails in the forest…). We’re happier (and safer) when cycling on the smaller country roads. And our smile gets bigger as we see the « Riga » sign on the road. We’re getting there. Relief is closely followed by nostalgia when we come to realize that most of us will be leaving soon.

At 4pm the Latvian State secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is waiting for us in front of the Ministry with some fresh water and kind welcoming words. A few official pictures are taken and we continue our journey towards our hotel. On the way we are met by three of our successors who will start off their journey to Gdańsk on Thursday. We’re all looking forward to a good shower as it is around 29 degrees in Riga today.

The day ends with a lovely traditional Latvian dinner, the last dinner of the A-team.

Wednesday is a day off – no cycling.