So here is the schedule. Of course, this comes with the Extreme Trifle advisory notice that what is planned is never what happens (though this usually works out for the better).
Wake up, call in sick to work, scratch your delicates and contemplate driving 2,000 kms from London to Tallin in Estonia. You can either go for it overland via Germany, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia or stuff the car on the ferry in Germany and sail to Denmark whilst enjoying the on board "entertainment"
You are either spluttering along in Poland admiring the hookers on every corner and trying not to get wiped out by the 18 wheelers who can make 3 lanes out of 2 or alternatively you have driven from Denmark to Stockholm and boarded another ferry to Tallinn. The onboard "entertainment" on this crossing is best described as alternative.
The "start". Where else but the aids capital of Europe, Tallinn. From here you will travel on to Haapsalu. If you came the overland route you are probably parked up in a Lithuanian layby having got cabin fever and declaring never to drive again.
Ok from here on in we admit we have no idea what will happen so there is pretty much nothing to say except where you'll start and end on each day. Let's just say last time we took the same approach and still managed to find an abandoned Soviet underground missile silo, a nuclear bunker and some of the greatest off road rallying roads....so for now we have the start point the end point and the distance.
From Haapsalu to Hiimauu, the second biggest island off Estonia. (200 kms)
From Hiimauu to Saaremaa, the bigges island off Estonia. (200kms)
From Saaremaa to Parnu, and subject to global warming, a chance to drive the ice road to Kihnu Island. This is the only road in Europe where it is illegal to wear a seat belt. For a rapid escape when you car plummets through a dodgy patch of ice, see... (260kms)
Parnu to Volga (200 kms)
Volga to Cesis (300 kms)
Cesis to Riga (110 kms)
Either drive back or take a plane. A friendly scrap merchant will take your car (rhd motors can’t be registered – a lhd car is worth way more) for around £150, which is an air fare.
Snow tyres are the rule from Poland upwards, so we just ignore the rules. As long as its black and sort of round. Paperwork for the vehicle, travel insurance etc...
That’s about it. No visas or anything. A coat might be handy in minus 15 degrees. Gloves? You know, the sort of stuff we used to need in this country.
£100 per team as a deposit by the end of November. The rest (another £480 – so £580 in total for a team of two) to be paid on arrival. For that you get Kaspars (Latvian dude), his knowledge, his mate with a big winch to help out, roadbooks to figure out which snow-covered track to turn down, and seven nights free hotels.
Late entries can be accepted but accomodation can't be guaranteed depending on numbers.
Triffic...
An example of going the wrong route...
