Descent of Speed

I’m on a boat somewhere in the middle of the Baltic Sea, heading from Helsinki to Stockholm. With a stop at a small island. This island enjoys some sort of tax free status, and all ferries stopping there can partake of the tax free status and run duty free shops. The tax on alchohol and tobacco is quite high, and that natives take full advantage. I saw some people leaving with more alchohol than luggage. The small island enjoys it, because it brings tourists. And of course the ferry lines like it, as it is a huge source of revenue.

I spent the day wandering around Helsinki and the National Museum. The museum had stuff dating back to 8000 BC!

Of course the day turned out to be beautiful and sunny. I should have gone to the island fortress today. I thought about doing that yesterday, figuring the weather today would be better. But I decided if I went to the fortress yesterday I could stay as long as I wanted. It was probably for the best, my neck got a little red yesterday. I probably would really have gotten burnt if I had gone today. Of course my sunscreen is in Stockholm.

Still not sure what the plans are for the rest of the week.

Yesterday I dropped off my two large bags at left luggage at the Stockholm Airport. When I left home, I tried to pack a bunch of heavy stuff in my carry on and some lighter stuff like my clothes in the large bag. Turns out it was a waste, as my bag was still 62 pounds! Well I repacked the bags, putting my wheels in the big bag, and my clothes in my carry on. Of course I forgot two things, my jacket, and the battery charger for my camera.

I took the boat from Stockholm to Helsinki. It would have been nice to have my jacket. In Helsinki the weather was overcast and chilly all day. I also visited the island fortress Suomenlinna, which was very windy. Again it would have been nice to have my jacket. As I was thinking of heading back to the mainland, my battery decided to die. Thankfully I broght a backup camera that takes AA batteries.

I only had a few hours in Stockholm before I had to catch the ferry. I went through the Royal Palace. At one point they were talking about withstanding a siege, and the well and oven was in use until the fifteenth century. It just seems funny to talk about something happening until 600 years ago!

So what is with London and this time of year? It seems like every year that I get over to Europe, London is on the news about some bomb. Fortunately this year they didn’t got off.

I just got to Stockholm. I’m at an internet kiosk at the airport. I needed get someone’s number, but since the minimum amount of time I could purchase was 90 mins, may as well get everything caught up.

My first flight out of Seattle was delayed, they said it might be delayed up to an hour. I promptly fell alseep. I got to Philidelphia about a half hour late, so I guess we weren’t delayed that long. I was too worried about the delay, I had the same flight number, a continuation flight on to Stockholm

I had the same flight number continuing on to Stockholm. But that was just to play games as I had to go two terminals over and a completely different plane. What is the point of using the same flight number when nothing is the same? I’m guessing if my Seattle flight was delayed much more I would have missed my connection.

On the plane I had an aisle seat, but the guy sitting in the window seat next to me was a pilot and got bumped to first class. I moved over to claim the window seat. I dozed while we sat on the run way. It feels like we sat there for a while, but since I was mostly alseep I don’t know how long we sat there. When it was our turn to fly I saw over a dozen airplanes lining up to take off!

We must have sat on the runway for a while because we got to Stockholm about an hour late. Its now just after 10:00 AM. I need to figure out where to stow my bags, then catch my 5:00PM boat to Helsinki.

I’m sitting here waiting for my ride to the airport. Its 4:50 in the morning, ride is supposed to be here between 5:10 and 5:30. Taking Shuttle Express, it was only $37 which isn’t bad.

Now I’m off to Europe. I’m supposed to call someone in Stockholm when I get there, and I don’t have their number! Guess I’ll wing it!

I woke up this morning 3 hours late. I was up very late organizing stuff to pack. Someone I slept through, or shut of my alarm. I got up at lunch time. I was supposed to eat lunch at a pizza place with some friends, I called them to say I overslept and found out the pizza place was closed due to a gas leak.

Its late, and I have to get work. I need to run a few errands on the way in. When I checked my email, and found out that the first World Cup Race of the season, Pata Challenge taking place in Sweden has been canceled! Apparently their road closure permit was revoked, and they didn’t think they could solve the problem in time.

Now I’m left with a large hole in my schedule, and one day to figure out what to do. I feel bad too, because I am missing some friends wedding.

I have no idea how long its been down, but my race result site Streetlugeracer.com is back online. I’ve update most of the races for last year, although I still need a few results, like Top Challenge. I also need to add in last years qualifying times. I’ll do that when I get back from Europe.

In the future, if it ever goes down again, someone email me!

I’m beginning to pack for my 6 week trip. I have a few electronic toys:

• Laptop
  • Mouse (the mouse pad works, but the mouse is better for lengthy operations.)
  • USB GPS works well with Streets & Trips
  • External HD (the internal 30GB is full!)
• Sanyo Xacti HD video camera (little larger than my fist!)
• Samsung X106L video camera with external POV lens (size of a deck of cards)
• Canon PowerShot SD700IS Digital ELPH (also the size of a deck of cards)
• Gisteq PhotoTrackr a GPS device to allow tagging photos with GEO location
• Garmin Forerunn 201 a GPS device I mainly use for max speed at the race.
• 1600 WATT 220-110 Power Coverter, fortunately only one or two of my devices need this
• Cell Phone (unfortunately it only works in North America, my iternational phone is broken)

Of course I need power cords for everything. Everything uses rechargable batteries except for the POV lens. Of course the disadvantage of rechargables is carrying extra cords, and needing electricity and converters. The advantage is smaller devices, my Canon Elph is smaller than my Samsung still camera that takes AA’s. I don’t know how the cost of electricity compares to the cost of batteries, but when you are at a hotel the electricity is free.

 By the way Velcro is awesome stuff!

I was reading an article about a Continental Flight with lavatory problems. This particular article happened to be the number one search result. It was written by KUTV a Salt Lake City CBS Station, with an Amsterdam byline. The story is about a flight from Amsterdam to New Jersey. There were some problems with the lavatories, and the plane made an emergency pitstop in Ireland. Apparently they failed to repair the problem, and well things were bad for the remainder of the trip.

What I don’t get, is King-TV a Seattle New station is the refference for this story! WHY is a SEATTLE News Station the main report for a cross ATLANTIC trip that ends in New Jersey? Doesn’t New Jersey have any of their News Stations?

The KING5 Article interviewed a Washington State man that travelled on the flight. I looked at a few other stories and sites, and KING was usually referred as the one that broke the story! I don’t know if news travels fast, or if it was just a slower news day in Seattle than it was in New Jersey.

The first race of the 2007 season was GSI’s Green Mountain Madness held on Mt Ascutney, Vt. I took 2nd in buttboard, and tied for last in luge. Read about my adventures at http://www.chrismcb.com/streetluge/07/GreenMountain.htm

Well I think I have to feel honored.

A local news station had tentatively set up an interview with me on Thursday. He said there was a possibility of cancelling because Kevin Durant would probably be in town. For those that don’t know Kevin Durant will most likely be selected with the Sonics (the local basketball team) first draft pick (#2 overall.) I joked about “this Durant guy having a higher priority than me.”

Well they call today to cancel, but only because they lost their photographer. But he said he might have some time this weekend. Both Ken Griffey and Kevin Durant would be in town. but he said he might be able to squeeze me in between!

For those that don’t know Ken Griffey was a long time Mariner (the local baseball team) and multiple Gold Glove winner. He will be in town this weekend playing the Mariners for the first time in 8 year. Kevin Durant was the 2007 College Basketball Player of the Year and is considered one of the top two draft picks in 2007.

 I am honored that they will even attempt to squeeze me in on a weekend where both of those guys are involved.