Daaaang, bicycle, why you gotta go get all dressed up when you know we're not going out til tomorrow? Ok, fine, I guess I can take you out in Sydney today, but you have to promise you never heard me say I liked you more than all the other bikes.
5/24/12
Arrival
I got in safely to Sydney around 7 this morning after an internal-body-clock-busting 21 hours of travel, grueling airplane food and film, and general boredom. This was my first flight since 4th grade without the accompaniment of music, which drove me completely nuts. I didn't pack an iPod or a computer and my phone wasted its entire battery trying to load the music which it should've synced up to itself prior to leaving for the airport (battery was a slight issue later... Travel tip: bathrooms on planes have power outlets). I watched almost all of the in-flight movies; I am embarrassed to admit I was even bored enough to watch a movie called "the vow", during which I should've just jumped out of the plane's emergency exit.
Anyway, I, and more importantly my bike, arrived safe in Sydney. I was picked up by John, a friend/colleague of my dad's, whose home I'm very lucky to be staying in right now. It's 10 minutes outside of Sydney and called Balmain. I'll spend two nights here getting acclimated and making sure I'm as ready as possible before taking off on bicycle.
I spent the day getting to know the city a little, gearing up, and just trying to beat the jetlag by staying awake. I got an Australian phone number and prepaid plan and some other travel/camping necessities - appropriately enough, John's wife works at a travel store called "lightweight traveller"! They've been extremely helpful with everything so far.
Tomorrow I'll finish re-building my bike and packing my gear, finding fuel for my camp stove, and EXPLORING! Fortunately, I'll be back here at least once before I head back to the states, so there's no rush to see everything immediately.
Goodnight!
Mike
5/22/12
Departure
Hi, internet people!
I spent the last couple of days packing, riding, and picking up last-minute gear.
My S&S coupled bike comes apart at two places on the frame and the cables pull apart, too. From bottom to top, it's packed: front half, rear wheel, top half, handlebars, front wheel. Tires and the non-drive side pedal had to be removed. Yes, I am using a cardboard box. I'm already regretting not dropping what seemed like a ridiculous amount of money for a hardshell travel case. Either way, everything fits alright and it's legal size to be considered a normal checked item.
Heading to the airport in a couple of minutes; flight leaves at 6:10PM from O'Hare, through LA, and into Sydney at 6:10AM on MAY 24TH. Mysterious loss of an entire day, but I suppose it will be returned on the way back.
Throughout the journey, I'll be trying my best to post some updates, hopefully each day. At the moment, I will not be bringing a computer, so posts will be coming mostly from my smartphone. I may purchase a tablet once I arrive there in order to more easily facilitate the transferring of pictures. My phone will also use GPS tracking, shown in the map to the right. It'll most likely update each time I find wifi. Feel free to snoop around the site and sign up for the email subscription. It should send an email containing whatever posts I've written each day.
Here we go!
Mike
I spent the last couple of days packing, riding, and picking up last-minute gear.
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| STUFF |
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| Beauty |
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| BEAUTY 'N STUFF |
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| Boxing |
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| Everything fits! |
My S&S coupled bike comes apart at two places on the frame and the cables pull apart, too. From bottom to top, it's packed: front half, rear wheel, top half, handlebars, front wheel. Tires and the non-drive side pedal had to be removed. Yes, I am using a cardboard box. I'm already regretting not dropping what seemed like a ridiculous amount of money for a hardshell travel case. Either way, everything fits alright and it's legal size to be considered a normal checked item.
Heading to the airport in a couple of minutes; flight leaves at 6:10PM from O'Hare, through LA, and into Sydney at 6:10AM on MAY 24TH. Mysterious loss of an entire day, but I suppose it will be returned on the way back.
Throughout the journey, I'll be trying my best to post some updates, hopefully each day. At the moment, I will not be bringing a computer, so posts will be coming mostly from my smartphone. I may purchase a tablet once I arrive there in order to more easily facilitate the transferring of pictures. My phone will also use GPS tracking, shown in the map to the right. It'll most likely update each time I find wifi. Feel free to snoop around the site and sign up for the email subscription. It should send an email containing whatever posts I've written each day.
Here we go!
Mike
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