27/07/08 - Exploring the countryside or getting lost in it?

Our sleeping spot was another random place dictated by a 'point of
interest' sign off the main road. This point of interest was a
memorial obelisk in the middle of nowhere. To add to our lack of
understanding was the fact that the words on the obelisk were all
Lithuanian (fair enough I guess). The only words I thought I
understood were okupantais (occupation), partizanu (partisan), and
1944 - 1953. Something to do with a partisan movement against the
Soviet occupation between 1944 & 1956 perhaps?

We made it to Aukstaitijos National Park, an area dotted with lakes,
hills, old farm houses and little farming villages all around. We
soon found a nice shaded parking spot and enjoyed a bit of time just
chilling out away from the heat, before climbing a short path to a
hill where we apparently could see 6 lakes from the top. It was quite
difficult to work out where one lake stopped and the next started -
but we think we sorted it.

Deciding that going back down the same way was too easy, we headed off
in the opposite direction to the van to have a bit of an explore. It
was a very pleasant walk along the edge of a lake, up a hill, along a
dirt road with some very authentic looking farm houses, and tiny
little crops or gardens scattered about with scare-crows looking over
them. Soon Marea began to question the direction we were heading.
After we both drew maps in the dirt to try explain to the other where
we were and where we should be going - we agreed that we were a little
lost!! A bit of cross country and bush-whacking later we were back on
track. But to be honest, if we went the way I originally thought - we
might be still walking. My excuse is that their are too many lakes
that all look alike!?!?!?

It was only mid-afternoon when we found our sleeping spot - right by
the lake where the water was beautiful for a swim!!! Also, after
Marea's doom and gloom prediction that our lap-top will never work
again turned out wrong - maybe my un-educated diagnosis that it was
just having a bad day could be true?? In saying that - we can't have
all good news. Now the leisure battery seems to have stopped charging
while we drive! It still works, and can be charged using jumper leads
- but thats just a pain. We will have to turn into mechanics again
;-)