22.05.05 - Europe adventure kicks off:

After spending ages trying to get two bikes into a one-bike bike bag and finishing off all my clients' work, I was set to jet OS. My trip from Canberra Airport began in MTB style, seeing local MTB chick Cara Smith at work at the Qantas counter, then Jared Rando, who was heading to Sydney on the same flight to head to LA to hit up his DH season. He was trying to scam a business class standby flight.

After a 21hr flight to San Fran, then a 4hr wait in the airport (I'm stopping to check it out on the way home), I hit up another 19hrs of airtime to Frankfurt. After waiting 2hrs for my bags, then noticing everyone else had theres, I asked Lufthansa what the go was. They realised my bags were stuck in security check in the US, so wouldn't arrive for another day or two. I was stoked, cause it'd mean I wouldn't have to lug my 72kg of bags and bikes on the train to Vielsalm. They gave me some cash and toiletry bag and send me on my way.

I checked out Liege for the sake of it, then decided there was nothing to see. I was where I was aiming to be (in Vielsalm Belgium) by the day's end. A very nice small town 3hrs south-east of Brussels. This is where I'll be for 2 weeks leading up to the Houffalize XC World Cup.

I've now been waiting for my bikes for 4 days. With the past 2 weeks already being fluff training, I'm not too impressed at having to be off the bike for this long with a World Cup next weekend! I did a run yesterday to at least the body active, but now I'm just sore! Went to Luxembourg today for something to do, seeing as it's not too far. Nice town with lots of strange people. Tried to find some clothes, seeing as I've been wearing the same ones this whole time, but their fashion wasn't my style. One day was enough in Luxembourg.

A couple of pics of Vielsalm, where I'll be with the u23 XC Team (McConnell, Farley, Lewis) for a while: