Hungary's off-road challenges test Lithuanian motorcyclist

Lithuanian motorcyclist K. Mieliauskas is navigating the "European Vertical: Off-Road" expedition, a challenging journey across 13 countries from Athens to the northernmost point of Europe, Nordkapp, Norway, exclusively on unpaved roads and off-road trails. This project distinguishes itself by having a new motorcycle enthusiast join Mieliauskas for each stage, offering them a chance to test their off-road skills and gain experience in an adventurous setting.

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This format I call "ride&train", meaning to ride and learn in real situations with help, because that's how skills are acquired, and it happens very quickly.

So far, the expedition has covered nearly 4,000 kilometers of its planned 7,000-kilometer off-road route. The fifth stage, which began in Zagreb, Croatia, led Mieliauskas and his riding companion, Alenas, through Hungary and Slovakia towards Krakow, Poland. Alenas, a hospitality manager, is returning to motorcycling after a nearly 30-year hiatus, embracing the "ride & train" format Mieliauskas advocates for rapid skill development in real-world situations.

Mieliauskas identifies Hungary as an ideal country for novice or returning riders due to its varied terrain, including hills, forests, and sand, which allow for testing a wide range of surfaces without the extreme conditions found elsewhere, like Bosnia. However, the Hungarian stages presented their own unique challenges, particularly the country's notorious muddy off-road sections.

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Hungary greeted us with 38 degrees Celsius heat in the shade, so the roads were lined with mud dried like cement.

Upon entering Hungary, riders faced temperatures of 38 degrees Celsius (100.4 Fahrenheit). The unpaved roads, especially in forests and on gravel paths, were characterized by dried, cement-like mud. While seemingly firm, these surfaces were riddled with deep ruts left by tractors and all-terrain vehicles, demanding technical skill to avoid falling in. The situation worsened as the drying mud turned into fine dust, creating an illusion of riding on sand. Mieliauskas likened this dust to "feš-feš," a fine, powder-like soil found in deserts that rises in thick, persistent clouds, completely obscuring visibility. This dust not only makes riding difficult due to its lack of load-bearing capacity but also creates a significant hazard for multiple riders, necessitating a half-kilometer distance between motorcycles to maintain visibility.

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But this is a deceptive impression, because it's not sand, but very light mud dust, resembling feš-feš – extremely fine soil found in deserts, which in its consistency resembles powder.