Aug 2008

We stood in the forest and listened to the silence...then we blew a big doobie and it got even quieter. Jan, Ward and Rafaella squatted around me and I am sure they all felt something similar. There was a rich finality to the moment, one rooted in travels and events that had occurred 13years ago when I was living on the Moby Dick in Antwerp. Somehow time has cemented these friendships whilst so many others have weathered and washed away. Sometimes I wish I understood better what it takes to hold onto friendships, for my past seems to be littered with so many valued losses - but then again, perhaps this process is inevitable and to try and retain what should be released can only limit growth.

Jan had driven us all from Brussels to the Abbey in Orval, where they make a renowned beer of the same name. It was a joyful escape from the city and our travel preparations. The Abbey sits at the base of a valley right near the French/Belgium border and is surrounded by forest..after a quick poke around we wandered along an 8.5km route through the forest which was well worthwhile.

Prior to the trip I dropped in our passports at the Syrian embassy in Brussels where the ever so efficient clerk noticed that my identity permit had expired. I explained the situation, but the clerks command of Dutch was non-existant and her English was basic. The situation resolved when I proffered my alternative, a British Passport. She then explained that Brits (apparently not so popular in Syria) need to pay 85Euro instead of 25Euro, then after a brief period of contemplation quietly took my Australian passport and said if I paid 112 Euro I could pick up all the visas next week. Sweet!

I Measured all our weights tonight, which might provide an interesting comparison as the trip progresses:

Steve: 68kg
Lute: 51kg
Victor: 39kg
Max: 38kg

Training has withered somewhat due to family protests. I hope to get everybody out tomorrow night.

12 days to blastoff

"Dad, I dont want to stay here and do cooking", said Victor yesterday morning as we stood inside Antwerps central youth centre and deliberated over the surprise timetable change. It didn't take long to make a decision, "sorry mate, you guys are not staying at home today!". The resulting long faces caused a twinge of guilt and uncertainty but as I suspected they met some nice kids had a great time. Of note over the last two days:

[*] My gear freaking tendency was exposed by an experienced salesrep at K2, arguably Antwerps best camping store http://k2.firstserved.net/Home/tabid/251/Default.aspx . Due to the lack of a day pack in our present baggage list I had been deliberating if I should replace my 20 yr old Berghaus backpack with a travelpack with inbuilt daypack. The girl on staff talked herself out of a good sale and convinced me that hanging a small daypack from the front would be a better solution. I really get a positive lift by such integrity and must ensure I mention her excellent service to her boss.

[*] I relented on the evening exercise last night to allow Lute, Isa and myself a visual indulgence by seeing "Transylvannia" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transylvania_%28film%29 at the free open air cinema that runs in summer at the old wharf sheds on the Schelde River. It was a good flick and our second Tony Gatlif film which once again confronted and drew me into the raw world of the Gypsies in Eastern Europe. As my good buddies will know, there is something in the music and the lifestyle that that touches my soul.

[*] I picked up a custom made pallet box that will be strong enough to ship back the 500kg of blacksmithing equipment I have gathered and our other gear.

[*] Sold enough AECOM shares to keep us on the road for a while. It was difficult to go through the process of selling when the market is so low but it had to be done and I have still made a decent profit.

[*] The night hikes through the city with the additional daypack strapped to my front made me realise the downside of having flab instead of stomach muscles; I am not strong enough to hold myself straight and be aware of my surroundings. Not Good! I have therefore started building up my core body strength with some morning yoga routines.

16 days until Blastoff...............

"I think it's about time we turned around now!", stated Lute quite emphatically. I was quietly frustrated but calmly accepted the decision, it was after all only our second training hike. Anyway upon return I mapped out our route using the Google Earth path calculator and to my surprise discovered we had walked a total of 4km, which is not too bad. One of the spin-offs from tonight's walk was the realisation that Victors hip belt can't be tensioned up enough and I am going to have to source some additional padding. Lute also has some minor discomfort in her neck which I am hoping is not going to get worse.

Its 2230hrs and we have just come back in from a short 1/2hr trek around Antwerp with fully loaded haversacks. With only 3 weeks to go I have decided to put myself in the role of bootcamp instructor for my slightly reluctant family. We are all in OK shape but we are certainly not fit and dragging around a heavy pack is something that takes some getting used to. I enjoyed some of the looks that were cast upon us, they made me feel like I was wild, free and on an adventure.

The apartment is now beginning to look like its on a diet as we slowly return all the paraphernalia that has been loaned to us. Not all is remaining in Belgium though and I will be picking up a palletbox on Thursday to load up the blacksmithing goodies and other treasures that have been deemed too valuable to remain. Such treasures include two boxes of rock crystals that the boys excavated from a remote abandoned mine we discovered in France...they will no doubt join the tonnes of other invaluable samples that litter the garden in Perry Street.

Max is very excited after participating in a holiday activity that saw him learning to scuba dive in a local swimming pool. Lute is tired, a product of work and the insomnia she has been suffering from over the last 3 weeks.