Well, Poland was a bit of a shock to the system, but more about that shortly.

We had a peaceful start to Sunday morning in Lithuania. It was very quiet in our camp spot, and we spent the morning drinking coffee and working on videos. But the peace didn’t last long.

We went for a walk around the lake and this is where things got a bit noisy. In the space of 15 minutes we saw not one, but two snakes! The first one was a wee green thing that scurried off the path when I saw it. The second one was much bigger and I almost tread on it! Both times I screamed really loudly, shattering the peace.

And then it was time for the inevitable. Leaving Lithuania. We have both loved it here so much, it is a shame to leave. It’s been such a peaceful country, and very little tourists, and people in general. Even the cities were relaxing. But we only have 90 days in Europe and the days are ticking over quickly. So off we went, and drove in Poland.

Immediately things were different.  The calm of Lithuania vanished the moment we crossed the border.

Suddenly, the road was buzzing with traffic, lakes were crammed with swimmers and sunbathers, and small towns were packed with people and market stalls. It felt like we’d landed on another planet.

As well as that, it was hot! Without air-conditioning and the sun streaming in the front window, we were sweltering! We turned off the main road, suddenly desperate for shade. After weeks of steering clear of forests, now the heat had us seeking refuge beneath their trees. Ironic how quickly things can change.

I didn’t hold out much hope of finding somewhere that wasn’t crowded, but we found a  place in the forest beside a lake. There were a few locals here, but not heaving, so we pulled up under the trees, opened the doors, turned on the fan, and collapsed. It was far too hot to keep driving, so we decided to stay the night.

Just as I was drifting into sleep, a strange squeaking noise cut through the silence outside. Half-asleep, I dismissed it as some unfamiliar creature rustling in the forest. But then it came again. Closer. Right next to the van.

It turned into a long, grating screech that sliced through the night. I bolted upright and peered out the window. Nothing. Just blackness. Whatever it was, I must’ve startled it. Still, I slammed the roof vent shut, just in case it tried to join us in bed. 

The plan for tomorrow is to get up early and do things before it gets too hot.