Today I scored the check in supervisor from hell who charged me 88 euros for my bike..just 'cos it was a bike. Actually she said she should have charged me for 2 bikes but wouldn't cos I was a Star Alliance frequent flier. That cracked me up 'cos I only have 1 bike is which in a bag with wheels only in the box!...she still insisted she should be charging for 2...sheesh..give me a break!
So, I'm giving Geneva airport the flick..not only for 88 euros but also from having to change money into Swiss francs..or paying in Euros and getting Swiss Francs as change. So that's Geneva, Heathrow and Munich airports I refuse to grace with my presence ever again!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Geneva..a clash of coin. Swiss Francs one side the fence, Euros the other
Since driving over into Switzerland..nearly all autobahn and nearly all in the rain, I've been busy packing up my bike and wheels, retrieving things from where I stayed on arrival and generally getting things sorted. I finished packing my bike bags by 5pm yesterday and drove to the airport to put them into the left luggage so they wouldn't have to be squashed into a shuttle bus. And this is when I started to get lucky
Lucky moment No 1
At Geneva airport the Left Luggage office is in the railway station (Swiss side therefore payable in Swiss francs) so when I drove in to park at the airport, I was supremely lucky to get a parking sport only 50m away from where I wanted to be. I also managed to do the deed and drive out all within the minimum parking time...so only 2 Swiss francs for parking.
Lucky moment No. 2
The deal with the car was that I should give it back at 12 o'clock today and then I would be driven to the French side of the airport. After which I would summon a shuttle bus from the Swiss side of the airport to get to tonight's hotel, which happens to be in France. The truly lucky bit was because there was NO way I could have got my bike boxes from where I was dropped off to anywhere..the left luggage office or to where my shuttle bus stopped. There were no trolleys and even if you found one, you couldn't take it through to the Swiss side.....
I guess I'll be giving Geneva the flick for leasing a car in future...just too complicated with bike boxes.Lyons look a likely candidate.
Lucky moment No 3
Since I was at the airport with time to spare, I decided to see if I could check in early, and yes I could but since I didn't have my frequent flyer card to use a machine, I had to do it face to face and that is where I got lucky again. Why?...'cos the number on my electronic ticket was completely wrong. I was in the system ok, but somehow the number got screwed, which explains why I had trouble checking in on line in Melbourne......The lucky bit is 'cos it took AGES to sort out..but I remained totally unstressed since I had 19 hours before my flight! phew!!
and finally Lucky Moment No 4
Eventually it all got sorted and I got my boarding cards. I was just about to grab a bite to eat when the most beautiful music started emanating from the arrivals hall, so I had a look see and this is what I found:
Swiss alpine Horns..just magic..soothing and special. I hung around for ages, happily listening. Manchester tomorrow for the obligatory time in UK to meet the conditions of my ticket and then over to San Diego.
Turns out Phil is struggling, a very painful knee is preventing him from walking, so it looks like he really DOES need a spell in a Rehab hospital! I suggested he requests an x-ray of his knee too.
Lucky moment No 1
At Geneva airport the Left Luggage office is in the railway station (Swiss side therefore payable in Swiss francs) so when I drove in to park at the airport, I was supremely lucky to get a parking sport only 50m away from where I wanted to be. I also managed to do the deed and drive out all within the minimum parking time...so only 2 Swiss francs for parking.
Lucky moment No. 2
The deal with the car was that I should give it back at 12 o'clock today and then I would be driven to the French side of the airport. After which I would summon a shuttle bus from the Swiss side of the airport to get to tonight's hotel, which happens to be in France. The truly lucky bit was because there was NO way I could have got my bike boxes from where I was dropped off to anywhere..the left luggage office or to where my shuttle bus stopped. There were no trolleys and even if you found one, you couldn't take it through to the Swiss side.....
I guess I'll be giving Geneva the flick for leasing a car in future...just too complicated with bike boxes.Lyons look a likely candidate.
Lucky moment No 3
Since I was at the airport with time to spare, I decided to see if I could check in early, and yes I could but since I didn't have my frequent flyer card to use a machine, I had to do it face to face and that is where I got lucky again. Why?...'cos the number on my electronic ticket was completely wrong. I was in the system ok, but somehow the number got screwed, which explains why I had trouble checking in on line in Melbourne......The lucky bit is 'cos it took AGES to sort out..but I remained totally unstressed since I had 19 hours before my flight! phew!!
and finally Lucky Moment No 4
Eventually it all got sorted and I got my boarding cards. I was just about to grab a bite to eat when the most beautiful music started emanating from the arrivals hall, so I had a look see and this is what I found:
Swiss alpine Horns..just magic..soothing and special. I hung around for ages, happily listening. Manchester tomorrow for the obligatory time in UK to meet the conditions of my ticket and then over to San Diego.
Turns out Phil is struggling, a very painful knee is preventing him from walking, so it looks like he really DOES need a spell in a Rehab hospital! I suggested he requests an x-ray of his knee too.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
The long trip home commences
I'm not sure there's anything quite so stultifying, so mind numbingly boring as driving solo on an autobahn for 7 hours straight. So when I saw this sign life was good again.
I dived for the camera and a) managed to find it and b) take a pix..2 even.
I dived for the camera and a) managed to find it and b) take a pix..2 even.
say no more, nudge nudge wink wink, but what do the inhabitants say when asked where they live?
Saturday, August 28, 2010
World Masters Champs
Well, the TT was so-so for me...I came 6th in a similar time to last time I raced here 2 years ago, but clearly the standard has lifted.
The road race was something quite different.... apart that is from the driving rain, uncertain wind strentgh/direction. Firstly I got well and truly dropped on the Huberhohe..a 1km long hill starting about 1km from the start of the race. The front group got away and I was soloing up the hill and dying ...so from then on it was TT time and boy did I put in big time.
I put in to such a degree that although initially I couldn't see anyone ahead, gradually I began overtaking stragglers from the younger age groups who started earlier, sometimes getting tangled up in the queue of cars unable to overtake riders ahead...???was the group ahead my rivals...I just didn't know.. but I kept on chasing, chasing chasing...
Anyhow...gradually I got closer and closer to the group...bugger only 1 in it was from my class and she latched on to my wheel leech like..on, on, on, motor, motor motor...I was motoring but clearly the bunch was playing silly buggers and so FINALLY at about 800m out from the finish I made contact and so was in the sprint for second place. However the legs were far from fresh and I ended up 5th, 6th or perhaps even 7th. (added later...5th). Later on someone who saw me at the finish said I looked grey...and she wasn't talking about my hair....so yes I WORKED! and in fact i think i did better on the part of the course which is also the return part of the TT course better than during the TT race!!...weird.
Hopefully nobody thinks I got an advantage from the cars I got tangled up with...its really difficult to know what to do....like all queues sometimes they were fast, sometimes not.. Actually on the narrow roads sometimes I was slowed down by them and also couldn't descend a hill as quick as I wanted since I had to take my life in my hands and go down on the wrong side of the road...just hoping nothing would come up around the corner too quickly! only 1 car did and I had to quickly throw out the anchors and escape back into the slow moving queue.
I'm truly stoked with the result and the adrenalin is flowing big time, the beer too..woo hoo!
Different topic
Some of you will have no doubt have heard about the possibilty that the UCI may not be sanctioning Masters Champs anymore...we've had a meeting here at St Johann re this but really are not 100% sure if its just a rumour or is indeed true. There seems to have been no communication/consultation with federations but the organisors here at St J have been told about it.......!!!!!????? Watch this space and also "World Masters Cycling" on face book and twitter
Coupla pix to lighten the mood
guess when there are alot of cafes and restaurants you just have to have something to separate you from the crowd...and a witch will do it!
some signs I just can't pass without taking a photo!
The road race was something quite different.... apart that is from the driving rain, uncertain wind strentgh/direction. Firstly I got well and truly dropped on the Huberhohe..a 1km long hill starting about 1km from the start of the race. The front group got away and I was soloing up the hill and dying ...so from then on it was TT time and boy did I put in big time.
I put in to such a degree that although initially I couldn't see anyone ahead, gradually I began overtaking stragglers from the younger age groups who started earlier, sometimes getting tangled up in the queue of cars unable to overtake riders ahead...???was the group ahead my rivals...I just didn't know.. but I kept on chasing, chasing chasing...
Anyhow...gradually I got closer and closer to the group...bugger only 1 in it was from my class and she latched on to my wheel leech like..on, on, on, motor, motor motor...I was motoring but clearly the bunch was playing silly buggers and so FINALLY at about 800m out from the finish I made contact and so was in the sprint for second place. However the legs were far from fresh and I ended up 5th, 6th or perhaps even 7th. (added later...5th). Later on someone who saw me at the finish said I looked grey...and she wasn't talking about my hair....so yes I WORKED! and in fact i think i did better on the part of the course which is also the return part of the TT course better than during the TT race!!...weird.
Hopefully nobody thinks I got an advantage from the cars I got tangled up with...its really difficult to know what to do....like all queues sometimes they were fast, sometimes not.. Actually on the narrow roads sometimes I was slowed down by them and also couldn't descend a hill as quick as I wanted since I had to take my life in my hands and go down on the wrong side of the road...just hoping nothing would come up around the corner too quickly! only 1 car did and I had to quickly throw out the anchors and escape back into the slow moving queue.
I'm truly stoked with the result and the adrenalin is flowing big time, the beer too..woo hoo!
Different topic
Some of you will have no doubt have heard about the possibilty that the UCI may not be sanctioning Masters Champs anymore...we've had a meeting here at St Johann re this but really are not 100% sure if its just a rumour or is indeed true. There seems to have been no communication/consultation with federations but the organisors here at St J have been told about it.......!!!!!????? Watch this space and also "World Masters Cycling" on face book and twitter
Coupla pix to lighten the mood
some signs I just can't pass without taking a photo!
Monday, August 23, 2010
Austria
The weather here has, so far, been really good..check out the blue sky in the pix. However..its probably going to change in a coupla days.
this is the road 3km from the end of the road race..dead flat and dead straight.
St Johann has many, many houses just like these ones..so beautiful
the end of a Women's race
and yet another sign!
Sadly I may not be here for the races as I've just heard my husband Phil is in hospital with a broken leg.....obviously I have to shorten my holiday but am not sure by how much since this is prime travel time and there may b a problem getting my ticket changed......more anon.
this is the road 3km from the end of the road race..dead flat and dead straight.
St Johann has many, many houses just like these ones..so beautiful
the end of a Women's race
and yet another sign!
Sadly I may not be here for the races as I've just heard my husband Phil is in hospital with a broken leg.....obviously I have to shorten my holiday but am not sure by how much since this is prime travel time and there may b a problem getting my ticket changed......more anon.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Austria and World Championships
We've moved on to Austria now and we are happily at our home from home at St Johann in Tyrol, the site of the World Masters Cycling Championships.
Talking of world championships..check out these for weirdness..Sauna berry picking mobile phone throwing and finally the loudest crying baby world champs .
Weird, weirder and weirdest and in the case of the last one very worrying.
Talking of world championships..check out these for weirdness..Sauna berry picking mobile phone throwing and finally the loudest crying baby world champs .
Weird, weirder and weirdest and in the case of the last one very worrying.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
more on Slovenia
great country..clean, friendly and very outdoorsy ...at least it is here in Bled. And it's 'cos of this last thing that`we're moving on as the weather forecast for the next 2 days is bad and there's not much fun being stuck in a hotel room for a coupla days So we're off to Austria tomorrow.
meanwhile..I remain gob smacked by what some people have as house/garden decorations:
and I am still pathetically amused by Slovenian`words and I've opted NOT to know what they really mean
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Slovenia..misc pix
its been along time since I've seen a sycthe in action
just a stones throw from the sythe wielding man.....
and when you have no knowledge whatsoever about the language, you Anglicise or make things up
Slovenia
Bled church and castle
Korbarid .the Italian "Charnel House". This was the site of an intense battle during the first world war btween Italy and the Austro Hungarian army.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
bolzano in the dolomites, tuscany and elsewhere
We're here because we want to see the Ice Man ...Utzi and it was well worth the queue...and believe me...i don't DO queues!
so its catch up time and i'd like you to guess what these people are doing.....
answer a bit later
San Gimagno has at least 7 towers built by warring families......(!)
and roman remains and towers that you just have to climb up even if your knees are shot for a coupla days afterwards.
and great views everywhere...
and the answer to the riddle at the start is below
....yup they're posing!
so its catch up time and i'd like you to guess what these people are doing.....
answer a bit later
San Gimagno has at least 7 towers built by warring families......(!)
and roman remains and towers that you just have to climb up even if your knees are shot for a coupla days afterwards.
and great views everywhere...
and the answer to the riddle at the start is below
....yup they're posing!Sunday, August 8, 2010
Venice
still in internet wilderness..or at least only at an internet caff. I'll just have to sort out my pix and put them on a USB stick......
weather perfect, house very nice, location great...no loud church bells next door!!
We're planning to go to Bolzano tomorrow to see the ice man museum (Utzi) and if there's time Alex may scale a Dolomiti pass....Pordoi (spelling VERY uncertain).
well best finish before time runs out...off to ride the grand canal
weather perfect, house very nice, location great...no loud church bells next door!!
We're planning to go to Bolzano tomorrow to see the ice man museum (Utzi) and if there's time Alex may scale a Dolomiti pass....Pordoi (spelling VERY uncertain).
well best finish before time runs out...off to ride the grand canal
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
florence
A bit of a problem with internet access has slowed input to this blog to a big fat zero..hopefully normal service will soon be resumed....
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