Monday, July 28, 2008

Day 1

Day 1


Nuthin' much going on really.  I've still got five hours before the connnecting flight to Paris.  Singapore Airport can become really small soon.  I might take a walk later just to get tired and then easily fall asleep on the  8 hour flight later.  I finshed two movies already on the previous flight.  I'm not really looking forward to finishing 2 more.

Well, at least there's the X-Games on the TV.  I guess I have to save some more energy and get one of those push carts.  I'm lugging around 10Kg. for hand carry.

Word is though it's a bit rainy in Orpierre.  Cold and wet.  Hope it changes when I get there. 

Dodedoodedoo...   

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Day 0 . . .



I just got the visa and tickets yesterday  for my odessey to Europe.  It was a long wait and I'm still to wait a few more days before the plane really starts me on my journey.  My flights got moved by three days and so I'm still here and starting to get really anxious.  Travelling alone presents a lot of intimidation.  There is that slight fear of getting stuck in the middle of nowhere where no one would understand you and running out of funds for the next lap of the journey.  But also, as a friend told me, there is a lot of experience to gain from going in solo.  It's also very reassuring when she said we as climbers are a very altruistic community and we can always find a friend.

The plan is to get to Orpierre first.  The routes there are nice and moderate.  It will be the perfect place go get aquainted with the rock in France.  I'll be staying at a friend's house and so the comfort I believe might be close to home.  After a few days I'll be enroute to Ceuse.  Fatima and I will be camping for 10 days.  Without that bed and the very cold nights, I could imagine not getting in so much comfort.  I'm still with people I know at that point and the worries aren't so impossing.  The next few weeks will find me wandering off to Rodellar or Siurana probably.  Anywhere in Spain would be cheap I think and mistakes there could be forgiving.  The first option was Millau for Gorge du Tarn but it's too expensive to be spending too much time in France alone.  But things could change and events lining the road might blow me to places which might be even better.

On the last week I fly off to Italy to meet with the Amici's.  Shane and Oscar will be there and Fats will fly in from the U.K. again to get in some climbing at Arco.  Sadly my visa only allows me 40 days and so I'll miss the Rock Masters by a day...I'll be flying off home Sept. 6th on the day the Rock Masters start.

Well, all these things aren't really that crisp and solid.  I'm sure there will be changes and they are more than welcome.  

Monday, July 7, 2008

Waiting game . . .



...waiting, waiting, waiting... it's been the story so far.  I just came back from the French Embassy and again after so much explanation I'm still to wait some more.  This visa has been occupying my mind so much.  I've still to get this "attestation d' accueil" from France and it might be another 2 weeks before it arrives.  

Good news though, the guy at the counter told me the visa has been granted and everything is just a matter of documentation and paper work.  Rules.  It's their rules and I think I have to play by it to get the visa.  

The trip promises a new world and to be prepared for it is something I can only hope for.  I've done what I could to be prepared but  it's best for me to just throw away all my expectations.  I'd want to carry out an agenda or what others might call a "tick list" for a hundred or so routes but then again I'm not to know how these things would go when I'm there.  It would be nice but it's not all that important as just being there and just climbing and taking things on a personal level.   

More waiting. . . I think I have to rest my mind and just climb at the gym . . . see how all this waiting is affecting my climbing . . .