There’s now only THREE weeks to go til we hit the road! Here’s what’s been going on with each GAS team member this past week…
Amand’s update (from New Zealand):
Geez, it’s been a full on week! I’ve been so flat out at work that I’ve hardly had a minute to think – fortunately, when I have had a moment to think it’s been all about the trip 🙂  I’ve also come down with a cold from more bugs Reuben has brought home from daycare – what a good little boy he is! In fact, Monday seems so long ago that I almost forget it was only this week that I got my Russian visa approved – yeehaa!!! Final piece of the puzzle boys – round the Black Sea we are going!
I’m hoping to get a ride to Palmerston North done over the weekend to visit some friends, but we’ll have to see how the family is feeling as we’ve all had a bout of it this week. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to get as much pre-trip riding in as I’d have liked, but I have been getting to the gym regularly to build the strength, flexibility and fitness for long days in the saddle. Knowing that this trip is coming has given me great incentive to work hard.
Overall, last week was tough for me with it being so close but still feeling so far away. This week has been so much better as the time to get on the plane draws nearer 🙂
Sam’s update (from Moléson):
I have been working hard at a customer site in Switzerland for the last week. I also have my mountain bike with me as well. For the first ride I went with a new work colleague, just a small round, unfortunately he chose to ride without a helmet and just 100m before we got back to the hotel he had a crash. Lucky for him it was a nice grass landing, but he still managed to knock himself out and stuff up a shoulder. To add to this he was also completely disoriented, it’s scary when you have to show to your flatmate which flat and room is his! This little mishap landed him in the local hospital for 24h stay. Fortunately he is ok and back at work after a weekend of rest.
This is the view from the side of Molesön. What better way is there to soak up the ambience of a view like this, than with a cold brew.
This weeks beer is from Germany, but it’s not really German beer,
it’s Bayerisch, and they know a thing or two about making good beer.
Tegernseer Hell
I’d define it as lager style, with the first swig there is a definite hoppy flavour, but not overpowering, as the beer settles on your palate, there are other subtle tones, notably the malt taste lingers.
Unlike some lager beers there is a depth of flavour. It’s not sour and has a nice lingering finish, you know one of those beers that leave your mouth feeling nice, and somehow you don’t want to wait too long for the next sip.
It’s a summer beer, great for a late afternoon refreshment of the spirit. I’m sure of one thing though,
I will need to test another bottle or few, to really make up my mind.
I know this is a tough job, but somebody has to do it……………………..
In the words of my dear uncle,
Kind wish
Steve’s update (from Germany):
This has been one hell of a week to be quite frank. I haven’t been able to get to the gym at all, have ridden my bike only once, work has taken up most of my energy, and my one task of finding a suitable bracket to attach the navi to my bike (and for Amand’s bike) has been, so far, fruitless. At a time when I feel like I should be cruising into the start of the trip and buzzing to hit the road I actually feel the most removed from it. It’s a weird feeling when this trip has been on my mind for three years!
The chats with the lads on Whatsapp and Skype have been getting me through this tough period though, and I reckon I’ll bounce back next week, so it’s not all doom and gloom! In fact, therein lies the positive – there’ll be ups and downs on the road too – and knowing already that we’ve got each other’s backs is a sure sign we’ll make it through anything. So, cheers guys for keeping my spirits up!
One thing I did this week to re-energise myself was spend some time learning about the places we might explore. For instance, have you heard of the Republic of Abkhazia? Or Transnistria? I certainly hadn’t! These and a few other post-Soviet “frozen conflict” zones are partially recognised states that sound super intriguing, and are definitely “off-the-beaten-track”. Also, the mythical Land of Darkness (a land supposedly enshrouded in perpetual darkness) is said to be somewhere in Abkhazia. I’m adding a head-torch to my gear list, just in case  😉
Tune in next week when…
Amand is literally jumping out of his skin to get on the plane, Sam jumps for joy on his last day of work for quite some time, and Steve gets his mojo back!
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