The Road to Riga, Latvia...16th June

Leaving the centre of Tallinn mid-morning, with a clear blue sky, and driving south towards Riga I drove through zones of development; the Soviet era urban architecture, post independence commercial buildings (generally developed with no urban context) and the most intriguing, individual houses set in dense woodland. No doubt these existed in the Soviet era, for party members, but many are new. I drove out on a Sunday but I would be interested how the congested the road would be on a Monday morning. With the historic centre essentially given over to tourism, the option of having a third option of residential living in the suburbs must be beguiling. I'm not sure if there are limits to the development of this suburban zone but I hope so. 

Driving on south, The road (proudly displayed as having been funded by the European Union) changed from a dual to a single carriageway road. For the first time in my journey this highlighted the compromise of driving a right-hand car. Trying to see what's coming towards you while sitting on the 'wrong' side when needing to overtake a slow lorry is a little nerve racking. In Latvia they have a way of dealing and will explain later. Anyway I remind myself I'm in no rush. The best way to deal with slow running vehicles is to stop at a lay-by or service station and let that particular vehicle disappear down the road.. and start again..

I reached the original boarder crossing, now just a large lorry park and a restaurant and gift shop. I needed to stop but at the same time 5 or 6 coaches materialised from no-where; I hadn't seen a coach since leaving Tallinn. Mostly Chinese but also a coach of Italians. I think there is a scam between coach firms and the owners of the stop. Why have a tourist shop in the middle of nowhere selling vaguely useful things but are not representative of any place?.. naturally I bought a tartan scarf.... 

Now back to driving on the road in Latvia.. After a few miles past the former check point the single road grew an additional 1500mm of tarmac past the road line each side. The use of this became very clear, very quickly when an on-coming lorry decided to overtake another.. you use all the additional road so not to be hit head on....
After the initial shock you realise this is normal behaviour and straddle the white line at all times. This helps not to be hit by on-coming vehicles but also to those over-taking you.

The road south runs close to the sea (Rizhskiy Zaliv) but its not easy to glimpse the coast. The road boarders a nature reserve; finally there is a place to stop and rest looking at the sea.

I had thought before setting off that a swim would be good but the reality of being salty and covered in sand in the car was not.

Back in the car.. 

Update: 17.06.2018...

Straddling the white line.......