TravelStream™ news feed for member biggmik on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/biggmik en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Fri, 21 Sep 2007 04:02:32 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/biggmik/mtb_champs_07/1190361360/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/biggmik/mtb_champs_07/1190361360/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/biggmik/mtb_champs_07/1190361360/tpod.html Fri, 21 Sep 2007 04:02:32 -0400 Fort William, in an MGB, for the 2007 mtb world champs.

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Fort William, United Kingdom

Up at the crack of 7, we jumped to it. well, ben did.. i got another ten minutes sleep. I was in charge of driving detail, which i reckon got me off cooking duties after all. A breakfast of the meat we didn't eat last night in a bun, fuelled our tent packing away and we were at Morrisons Car Park for the shuttle bus by 9.30. Which was lovely. Just in time to catch the shuttle to the comp site.Except the shuttle didn't seem to be running... and the que grew... very long.. we nearly lapped morrisons it was that big.  Finally busses started to arrive and we finally boarded ours at 11.30.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/biggmik/mtb_champs_07/1189279080/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/biggmik/mtb_champs_07/1189279080/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/biggmik/mtb_champs_07/1189279080/tpod.html Fri, 21 Sep 2007 03:56:36 -0400 Fort William, in an MGB, for the 2007 mtb world champs.

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Fort William, United Kingdom

"Here's an idea" said my brother Ben one day. "seeing as it's my birthday soon and the mtb world champs are on, lets buy a tent and take your car to Scotland for the weekend."The only issue is he was working til 5.30pm on the friday in wales, and wanted to be there by saturday morning. And my car was built in 1978.So there we were (or should i say I),  at 8am waiting to go, but a delay occured. Tragedy had struck. We'd forgotten to upload enough CDs to the ipod. So the departure was delayed by 3 hours. And then we had to fill the car with petrol. In fairness we weren't the most prepared of travellers.Finally on the road, the 305 miles to our destination loomed over the little MG like Goliath over David. But it stuck to it's task, and it was Lunch at Carlisle before too long.All was well until on the banks of bonny loch lomond, when we got stuck behind the obligatory Coach / camper combo.  After near 6 hours we arrived in Glenn Coe at the fantastic Red Squirrel camp site.  Set on the bank of the river Coe, 2 miles from the village, half a mile from the pub it was great. ideal for walking / climbing / cycling type holidayers.  Although we were left feeliong robbed after we paid £8 for a bottle of midge spray... Then we put up our tent, which we then discovered was used as a demo by Halfords in previous life. Which would have been fine had they decided to put everything they'd taken out of the bag back in it. Thank god for gaffer tape.After a hearty campfire style meal of meat and meat, we headed out to the pub.  What a fantastic place. There must have been nearly 300 people there for a live music night with country style band Southpaw.  Everyone got into it and the drink, of which they had one of the best malt selections i've seen in years.To add to the night, a local team of women's shinty players arrived having just beaten there glaswegian counter-parts and were all for the celebration. They even asked if they could pass out in our tent if they didn't make it all the way to theirs.. With the last orders called we wandered back to the tent... past a Harry Potter movie set, and attempted to avoid to much male bonding in our wie tent.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/biggmik/round-t-world/1173389340/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/biggmik/round-t-world/1173389340/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/biggmik/round-t-world/1173389340/tpod.html Mon, 14 May 2007 08:27:56 -0400 Mikey B, there and back... the long way

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Chorley, United Kingdom

Well, after what can be described as an almost faultless flight, I arrived back at Heathrow airport. Once i had my legs surgically reattached to the rest of my body and was airlifted from my seat, i was ready to brave the arctic exterior.It's been a while since i've seen my own breath on the air. I hope it's a while before it happens again. Jesus it was cold (er).Then, after having been delayed out of singapore and therefore late in to London, people for my flight were 'fast-tracked' over to terminal 4. A process which involved on sitting in a bus in seemingly sub-arctic conditions before being asked to strip down and prove i'm not a terrorist on several occasions. Then i was hearded into the suprisingly spacious shuttle to manchester. I say this cos there was a damn sight more leg room than the trans-hemisphere shoebox i'd just spent 24 hours on. i could actually leave my knees in an angle greater than 90 degrees!! Obscene i know.Of course, as i was was 'fast-tracked' my trusty bag wasn't... and for the first time in 17 flights, and 50,000miles my luggage was lost. Bloody typical. At least i didn't have to carry it home i thought as i fought with brisk icy breeze on the train platform and complained about the ticket prices to Chorley like a pensioner who's just realised inflation also affects his pint of Mild.And there on a platform basking in the 8 degree heat of the chorley sun, were mamma and pappa to whisk me off for some good old home cooking and stuff.It's good to be back :D
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/biggmik/round-t-world/1172976180/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/biggmik/round-t-world/1172976180/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/biggmik/round-t-world/1172976180/tpod.html Sat, 03 Mar 2007 21:52:17 -0500 Mikey B, there and back... the long way

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Sydney, Australia

After a short recovery from hulking furniture around, my friend Monika from Brisbane, arrived in Sydney for a few days so we had a wander round to Coogee and Marubra where Helen and Susi live. They've got a lovely place overlooking the Ocean. I'm very jealous! Getting back in to the city from the coast was fun as preperations for Mardi Gras were well under way. I've never seen so many men wearing vests on a night out in my life!Saturday saw us all head down to the beach for some hard core tanning. I can't be going home looking like i spent the last year in a siberean salt mine. If i'm going to be broke, i'd like to think i at least got a tan in the process! After cooking through thoroughly, we made our way to the BBQ pits on he prom and made a top dinner for the seven of us... I say we, it was more co-chefs Adam and Susi... they wouldn't let me anywhere near the spatula thing :(The decision was then made to go out in to town.. so a shower and a survey of where i'd missed with the sun lotion then prevaled as i got ready to brave the Streets of Sydney on it's biggest night of the year. The city seemed to have aquired at least an extra 5 million people. It was a mad house, but we had a good night, until Wes and Hel disapeared, and Adam got himself locked out of the bar whilst looking for them..Never a dull moment!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/biggmik/round-t-world/1172112480/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/biggmik/round-t-world/1172112480/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/biggmik/round-t-world/1172112480/tpod.html Thu, 01 Mar 2007 22:56:27 -0500 Mikey B, there and back... the long way

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Maroochydore, Australia

Overnight stop. RAIN. It's kind of like an Eastbourne for surfers...
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/biggmik/round-t-world/1172781060/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/biggmik/round-t-world/1172781060/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/biggmik/round-t-world/1172781060/tpod.html Thu, 01 Mar 2007 22:40:39 -0500 Mikey B, there and back... the long way

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Sydney, Australia

I arrived back in Sydney after what must have been the least painful flight experience of the entire trip so far. Well done Qantas. Well done. At last you're getting it right... I had booked in to a hostel in advance at an incredibly cheap rate, but having worked out how far i had to walk and  the general rates, i decided to find somewhere a bit closer to where my feet were that second. Chilli Blue Backpackers was my final choice. I booked six nights and they said i got an extra night free... i pointed out i'd be at 30,000 feet on the tuesday night, but he didn't seem to understand.  So i took the freebie and will let him work it out when i don't check out on weds morning.After about an hour in the ostel, the call went out for work: Removal Man required. Sod it i thought, i'd nothing better to do, and i kind of needed the money. So next morning at 7am i was outside the hostel waiting for Jim and his truck to pick me up. It was to b the last time i sat down until 6.30 that night. Humiditiy is not the furnitiur moovers friend. I can state that catergorically. All was well however when my aching limbs were taken to the pub for a few VBs and $150 was handed to me under the table. can't say fairer than that.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/biggmik/round-t-world/1171939560/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/biggmik/round-t-world/1171939560/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/biggmik/round-t-world/1171939560/tpod.html Sat, 24 Feb 2007 21:46:54 -0500 Mikey B, there and back... the long way

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Airlie Beach, Australia

Airlie Beach, Over night stop. RAIN!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/biggmik/round-t-world/1172371380/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/biggmik/round-t-world/1172371380/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/biggmik/round-t-world/1172371380/tpod.html Sat, 24 Feb 2007 21:46:01 -0500 Mikey B, there and back... the long way

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Town of 1770, Australia

Overnight stop. Beautiful place!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/biggmik/round-t-world/1172369580/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/biggmik/round-t-world/1172369580/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/biggmik/round-t-world/1172369580/tpod.html Sat, 24 Feb 2007 21:42:48 -0500 Mikey B, there and back... the long way

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Brisbane, Australia

I've forgotten what driving in a city was like... well, a town with a population in excess of 40,000 anyway. Arrived in Brisbane's city limits after half an hours driving then proceeded to get toaly lost in the city within minutes. An hour and a half later i made it to the hostel. One way streets... why don't they mark them on maps!!Was going to pick Susi, Adam and Mandeep at the airport - but their flight was cancelled giving me a few more hours to look round. Once I got the guys in the car, it was like i'd known Mandeep and Adam for ever and not been away from susi. It was good to be amongst familiar folks again. I then got us lost in the one-way sytems of Brisbane on the way back from the airport again, but we got a nice busman's tour of the city  none the less.Friday morning was an early start, in the car and driving north to Beerwah, home of Australia Zoo. Possibly trhe best Zoo I've ever been to, despite it's lack of monkeys! We were there from the moment the gate opened until it closed behind us. The staff were so informative friendly, not to mention attractive, it was untrue.  The main show in the 'Crocoseum' a football stadium sized arena, put the icing on the cake with a huge saltwater croc leaping from the water... It was a bit pricey, but i'd gladly help these guys continue their cause anyday. World weary we went back to the car, where i found to my horro, that for the third time in three seperate cars, here in australia, that i had a cracked windscreen. I must be jinxed! It certainly cost me a few pennies to have it put right!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/biggmik/round-t-world/1172172240/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/biggmik/round-t-world/1172172240/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/biggmik/round-t-world/1172172240/tpod.html Wed, 21 Feb 2007 22:27:10 -0500 Mikey B, there and back... the long way

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Brisbane, Australia

IT'S STOPPED RAINING!!! I can even make out some blue sky up there and everything. I know it's the wet seaon but that really was just crazy... 5 days of seriously torrential rain!Picking up Susi, Adam and Mandeep from the airport in a bit. They were supposed to be here now, but their flight was cancelled... you've got to love qantas.... 
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