Day 3 - 4: Warsaw - Vilnius - Riga - Tallinn

After 3 hours of sleep and our third generous Polish meal in 12 hours we hit the road for our Day 3 9 hour train ride up into our first Baltic state. The time passed slowly and as counting trees didn't prove easy we entertained ourselves taking pictures of Lithuania's baton banishing station masters (see pics) enjoying their twice or so daily waving duties.

Andrzej's sandwiches proved their worth as the trip went on and on stopping at a seemingly never-ending number of village/farm stations. The lack of sleep may have been kicking in yet the pleasant enough Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, seemed underwhelming compared to its Baltic rivals and to its reported role as a regional powerhouse during its 16th century heyday.

Having disappointed the Vilnius hostel staff by not living up to the apparent British guy stereotype, Day 4 started early (again) stumbling to the bus station for the ride up to Riga. A lively and intriguing city we made our 5 lats go much further than we imagine they would had we been in town at 2am rather than 2 in the afternoon.

Tempting as it was time was not on our side so, upgraded to a Lux Bus, another 5 hours north took us to Tallinn, our favourite of the Baltic capitals with its largely pedestrianised centre steeped in history in the evening sun, before enticing us into our beerhouse #2 of the trip so far followed by the (obligatory we were told) couple of beers taking in some of the sights night Tallinn has to offer. No scandal I'm afraid, although buy me a beer and I might let you know how Will struts his stuff when the Hollywood stars beckon.

Little did Will know as he went to sleep the fun in store the next day, but for that you'll have to wait until our next blog!

Warsaw - Vilnius: 520 km / 9 train hours (106 zlotys)

Vilnius - Riga: 270 km / 4.5 bus hours (45 litas)

Riga - Tallinn: 270 km / 4.5 bus hours (12 lats)

TOTAL TO DATE: 2,590 km

Day 1 - 2: London - Berlin - Warsaw

So after not much preparation and a lot of talking midday saw us set off from London's Tower Bridge with a mere 24,000 (at our most conservative estimate) kilometres to cover in our 56 day trip to reach Sydney. Meeting on time, even if Will had a massive hangover, put us in good stead and with the obligatory photos taken we made for our glamorous first major departure point, Victoria Coach Station. Despite TfL not running the district line, and the replacement Routemaster being too full, our quick (for a Sunday) thinking got us to Victoria and on board our first Eurolines coach just in time.

A quick "Das ist verbotten" speech from the rather German coach crew later and we were on our way racing past the sights of south London and onto the Chunnel for a rather un ferry like crossing to the flat, flat and grey skied lands of northern France. Although we were enjoying the company of our fellow, and rather eccentic, passengers, detours into the centres of Lille, Brussels, Hannover and another German sounding place was enough for us and we were glad to reach the outskirts of Berlin after only 19 and a half hours on the road. A journey that could have been significantly shorter if we'd gone for a coach with more drivers than tachometers.

3 hours in Berlin was enough for a reinvigorating breakfast (and beer - a German custom apparently) courtesy of Rory, then a whistle stop tour of the Reichstag, Brandenburg Gate and Jewish Memorial before ambling over to the rather impressive Hautbahnhof to take a mere 5 hour train ride east to Warsaw passing through the rolling plains of eastern Germany and Poland reaching the Polish capital. Thanks to Andrzej for an awesome evening of steak, beer, beer, then a night time tour of the surprisingly attractive Warsaw Old Town including the apparently olibligatory litre Tyski before a road racing trip to a well earned bed for five hours kip and a 6am start tomorrow!

London - Berlin: 1,000 km / 19 hour bus (£42)

Berlin - Warsaw: 530 km / 6 hour train (€48)

TOTAL TO DATE: 1,530 km