writing to you dearest from Edinburgh. i love this place, it's artsy and hip and the scenery is amazing. it irks me to pursue higher education in some form... easier said than done. none the less, i'm going to start GRE bootcamp from Delhi, with a tutor and all (I hope).
if you'd asked me a month ago what i'd be doing right now i wouldn't have told you that i'd be going back to India/Nepal. that was pretty far off the radar. but such is the case, the icing fits the cake, and off we go again.
i want to write about how this whole year has come full circle but i can't write clever sentences anymore, haha. i do, however, notice that i have the exact same stick of deodorant that i bought in Kathmandu this time last year. it's not even that well-used, heh. it's amazing how you can lose important things, like bivy bags, and still have the same deodorant stick or hair tie for so long. funny things, folks.
alright, that's it for now, just a quick update from me. love you all -- im terrible at blogging.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Lower Rauma, git some
Round #2 of gettin' the goods goes down tomorrow. I'm an excited little girl.
Photo of Round #1 courtesy of Tim Ripper -- England's finest.
Photo of Round #1 courtesy of Tim Ripper -- England's finest.
Friday, August 21, 2009
something is amiss
brace yourselves, this could be an ugly one.
i have a little problemo. i have no passport. i'm actually getting neurotic to the point where i'm convinced it's been stolen.
you see, five weeks ago i sent it to the Indian Embassy in Oslo for a tourist visa. wham bam, fast-forward to present times and i still don't have my passport, much less a visa. i leave norway soon. if i don't leave soon, i will run out of money. candy is really expensive here.
the Indian Embassy does not accept phone calls, nor does it answer emails. the American Embassy, somewhat to my surprise, doesn't really care that much. that just leaves little old me to stress and pull out my own hair.
if they received my passport in the mail, sent me confirmation that they received it, and then don't give it back, that is stealing -- right? i feel like i might be on the cusp of crazy right now. my argentine roommates are kindly reminding me how much American passports sell for on "the black market". i don't know where that market is, but i want to go. i would probably sell my passport there anyway, seems to fetch a good price.
this is an S.O.S. from Sjoa. if you have any friends at the Indian Embassy, drop-kick them for me. thanks.
i have a little problemo. i have no passport. i'm actually getting neurotic to the point where i'm convinced it's been stolen.
you see, five weeks ago i sent it to the Indian Embassy in Oslo for a tourist visa. wham bam, fast-forward to present times and i still don't have my passport, much less a visa. i leave norway soon. if i don't leave soon, i will run out of money. candy is really expensive here.
the Indian Embassy does not accept phone calls, nor does it answer emails. the American Embassy, somewhat to my surprise, doesn't really care that much. that just leaves little old me to stress and pull out my own hair.
if they received my passport in the mail, sent me confirmation that they received it, and then don't give it back, that is stealing -- right? i feel like i might be on the cusp of crazy right now. my argentine roommates are kindly reminding me how much American passports sell for on "the black market". i don't know where that market is, but i want to go. i would probably sell my passport there anyway, seems to fetch a good price.
this is an S.O.S. from Sjoa. if you have any friends at the Indian Embassy, drop-kick them for me. thanks.
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
an update, you say?
hello friends! are there any of you left? i've been a bewy bad biddle blogger.
anyway, things are still peachy in Norway. my initial plans to head to India got nixed when the Indian embassy wasn't able to process my visa in time to catch the POMEs i was hoping to paddle with. that said, kayaking trip to India in August 2010, anyone?
that brings me back here to Sjoa, stressing about my passport for the last 45 minutes. I probably should have started stressing awhile ago, but im lazy about stress. i still don't have my passport back from dear little India.
in related, more positive news, i'm booked to the UK the second week in september. this is exciting! this is the motherland! im really stoked to visit some familiar faces that i've met whilst traveling -- should be very exciting. oh, and im looking for casual work -- let's throw that out there. tell all your friends.
ok enough "admin vortex" stuff. here are some peektures from the past few weeks! eeep, long time no write.
the bachelor line-up at Sjoa's notorious Pimp n' Ho party. bang bang!
also during Sjoa festival is the Amot boatercross -- here's a peek. i ended up doing alright here, and the prize money helped me abstain from my bi-weekly ATM tours for awhile. this is possibly the first time that kayaking has ever paid for kayaking in my microcosm.
ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to the RAUMA. let's say it again: RAUMA. this is mini-Huka Falls on the Upper Rauma, but the Lower has just come in and it's got some real goodies. I'll post pictures later... that one warrants its own entry i think. the Rauma is a later season run (i.e. right now) -- the goods are good.
alright alright, that's all i've got for now. it's time i be productive, contribute to dinner or something. good times chilling in Sjoa!
yours truly,
Norway's resident cowgirl (ok, fine... cow-chaser)
anyway, things are still peachy in Norway. my initial plans to head to India got nixed when the Indian embassy wasn't able to process my visa in time to catch the POMEs i was hoping to paddle with. that said, kayaking trip to India in August 2010, anyone?
that brings me back here to Sjoa, stressing about my passport for the last 45 minutes. I probably should have started stressing awhile ago, but im lazy about stress. i still don't have my passport back from dear little India.
in related, more positive news, i'm booked to the UK the second week in september. this is exciting! this is the motherland! im really stoked to visit some familiar faces that i've met whilst traveling -- should be very exciting. oh, and im looking for casual work -- let's throw that out there. tell all your friends.
ok enough "admin vortex" stuff. here are some peektures from the past few weeks! eeep, long time no write.
the bachelor line-up at Sjoa's notorious Pimp n' Ho party. bang bang!
also during Sjoa festival is the Amot boatercross -- here's a peek. i ended up doing alright here, and the prize money helped me abstain from my bi-weekly ATM tours for awhile. this is possibly the first time that kayaking has ever paid for kayaking in my microcosm.
ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce you to the RAUMA. let's say it again: RAUMA. this is mini-Huka Falls on the Upper Rauma, but the Lower has just come in and it's got some real goodies. I'll post pictures later... that one warrants its own entry i think. the Rauma is a later season run (i.e. right now) -- the goods are good.
alright alright, that's all i've got for now. it's time i be productive, contribute to dinner or something. good times chilling in Sjoa!
yours truly,
Norway's resident cowgirl (ok, fine... cow-chaser)
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Valdall Summer Games 2009
the afore-mentioned kayaking festival turned out to be a wicked good time! all week there was good creeking with good company. and did i mention the strawberries?
here are a few highlights... Stordalselve Gorge... dropping this 6-7m commits you to running the rest. luckily it's a pretty good note to start on. Jay starts us out right,
next up comes the rapid named "Must Run." you perceptive ones out there will gather that this is, indeed, a must-run rapid. it's a bit nerve-wracking because it ends in a hole and it's impossible to set safety until one person nuts up and runs it. luckily Matias was that guy in our group. for the most part we had good lines here, here's Espen givin' er
anyway, the Gorge carries on like this for about 3km. even though the rapids aren't particularly easy to portage, they're all scout-able and straight-forward. i really enjoyed this section... such good ju-ju going on.
there were countless good runs like the Stordalselva in the Valdall area. but one river, a really special river, stands out in my mind.... MYKLEBUST! better known as 'Mickey Mouse' river for it's Disneyland-like qualities for whitewater enthusiasts.
the festival organizers, a strapping group of young local boys, put together an awesome race on le Mylkebust. the race was amazing. the river is fast on its own, but when you paddle yourself faster it starts to feel like time-travel. yeah, pretty fast.
Exhibit A.
Exhibit B.
aaaand the daily dose of requisite debauchery.
another beautiful day wrapping up in Norway.
there wasn't a women's category in the race, but i was pretty stoked to come out with 4th overall. i have a feeling this event, and the Valdall Summer Games in general, is going to get more and more popular in the coming years. right now it's super grassroots, in a good-vibe hippie kind of way. pay your entry, winner takes all. i love it even though im 50Kroner poorer than when i started, haha.
anyway, im going to wrap this up for now... we're back in Sjoa staring down 3 days until the epic Pimp n' Ho party. Valdall was one of my favorite places so far, definitely a must on any Norwegian road trip.
many thanks to the event organizer's... the farmer for the field... the slackliners for slack-lining drunk, you were fun to watch.... the strawberries for being amazing.... the Myklebust for rocking my socks off....
for the record, i'm not taking any new drugs. i just flippin' love it here.
here are a few highlights... Stordalselve Gorge... dropping this 6-7m commits you to running the rest. luckily it's a pretty good note to start on. Jay starts us out right,
next up comes the rapid named "Must Run." you perceptive ones out there will gather that this is, indeed, a must-run rapid. it's a bit nerve-wracking because it ends in a hole and it's impossible to set safety until one person nuts up and runs it. luckily Matias was that guy in our group. for the most part we had good lines here, here's Espen givin' er
anyway, the Gorge carries on like this for about 3km. even though the rapids aren't particularly easy to portage, they're all scout-able and straight-forward. i really enjoyed this section... such good ju-ju going on.
there were countless good runs like the Stordalselva in the Valdall area. but one river, a really special river, stands out in my mind.... MYKLEBUST! better known as 'Mickey Mouse' river for it's Disneyland-like qualities for whitewater enthusiasts.
the festival organizers, a strapping group of young local boys, put together an awesome race on le Mylkebust. the race was amazing. the river is fast on its own, but when you paddle yourself faster it starts to feel like time-travel. yeah, pretty fast.
Exhibit A.
Exhibit B.
aaaand the daily dose of requisite debauchery.
another beautiful day wrapping up in Norway.
there wasn't a women's category in the race, but i was pretty stoked to come out with 4th overall. i have a feeling this event, and the Valdall Summer Games in general, is going to get more and more popular in the coming years. right now it's super grassroots, in a good-vibe hippie kind of way. pay your entry, winner takes all. i love it even though im 50Kroner poorer than when i started, haha.
anyway, im going to wrap this up for now... we're back in Sjoa staring down 3 days until the epic Pimp n' Ho party. Valdall was one of my favorite places so far, definitely a must on any Norwegian road trip.
many thanks to the event organizer's... the farmer for the field... the slackliners for slack-lining drunk, you were fun to watch.... the strawberries for being amazing.... the Myklebust for rocking my socks off....
for the record, i'm not taking any new drugs. i just flippin' love it here.
Monday, July 06, 2009
NORDIC FREESTYLE CHAMPIONSHIPS 2009 Bubble Machine, Sjoa River, Heidal PHOTOS |
Hi friends... just a few pictures from another kayaker. I'm not really that great at taking pictures, so they're cheap enough. In addition to Paypal... I also accept chocolate and beer. And boxed wine. Especially boxed wine.
Much love!
jordbaer in valdall?
hi folks... just made it to the next kayaking festival. i'm not sure what to call it, i've heard 'trash camp' used, but most people just call it the place with the strawberries. regardless, i'm pretty sure it's going to be a wicked fun time. on Sunday, the event program reads 8-9am: Walk of Shame. haaahaha funny norsk.
up until now we've been hanging out in Sjoa. i got to watch the Nordic Freestlye Championships, which was entirely inspiring for a playboat-trainwreck like moi. it was the first event I've ever been to where there were more women than men competing. flower power! or something?
last night we stayed over in Skjaak last night and i got to paddle with some Germans this morning on the Ostri Gorge. somebody turned the juice on for sure, because we finished the run just as the shuttle came into park. 13 minutes maybe?
it had a big water feel to it... and today i had a mini-revelation that paddling big water successfully is exactly like walking a slackline. i can't walk a slackline to save my life (but i've been trying this week), and i'd peg my big water skills at a healthy 'mediocre' plus.
the secret to slackline, according to Anders, is to look ahead of you. in big water, it's so easy to become preoccupied with your immediate obstacles... but you really need to be looking ahead for the next big eat-you-alive hole (or other obstacle) before you come up on it and it's too late to correct... the infamous 'bitch-slap' ensues.
today was about as straight-forward as read-and-rally big water can get... but we were in a gorge, with only a few eddies, and i found myself stressing about what i was currently careening over instead of what was about to knock my socks off 10 meters ahead. regardless, it was a good refresher, i haven't been on any big water for awhile... mm mmm good!
alright, this is probably the last post for awhile... i'm off to sleep at trash camp. eating strawberries tomorrow. maybe some kayaking or something. only time will tell.
up until now we've been hanging out in Sjoa. i got to watch the Nordic Freestlye Championships, which was entirely inspiring for a playboat-trainwreck like moi. it was the first event I've ever been to where there were more women than men competing. flower power! or something?
last night we stayed over in Skjaak last night and i got to paddle with some Germans this morning on the Ostri Gorge. somebody turned the juice on for sure, because we finished the run just as the shuttle came into park. 13 minutes maybe?
it had a big water feel to it... and today i had a mini-revelation that paddling big water successfully is exactly like walking a slackline. i can't walk a slackline to save my life (but i've been trying this week), and i'd peg my big water skills at a healthy 'mediocre' plus.
the secret to slackline, according to Anders, is to look ahead of you. in big water, it's so easy to become preoccupied with your immediate obstacles... but you really need to be looking ahead for the next big eat-you-alive hole (or other obstacle) before you come up on it and it's too late to correct... the infamous 'bitch-slap' ensues.
today was about as straight-forward as read-and-rally big water can get... but we were in a gorge, with only a few eddies, and i found myself stressing about what i was currently careening over instead of what was about to knock my socks off 10 meters ahead. regardless, it was a good refresher, i haven't been on any big water for awhile... mm mmm good!
alright, this is probably the last post for awhile... i'm off to sleep at trash camp. eating strawberries tomorrow. maybe some kayaking or something. only time will tell.
Friday, June 26, 2009
urrrrr -- Ekstremsport-Veko
ok people... so the photos i alluded to in that fun image below are going to take a wee bit longer to make it to the web. and im starting to think that the photo site wasn't such a hot idea... after all, when you go to all the fun events, you're there to rock rock and not to take photos of everyone else having a good time. internet here is way too slow to upload the peektures i did take.... so project is on hold for the forseeable future. anybody want to shoot for PotomacFest?
things have been SO GOOD in Voss. i had the hardest kayaking day of my life yesterday... i feel like i've been hit by a train (10x). the Brandseth race was wicked fun... i had some pretty shit lines, but still managed to make finals. my phase of 'shit lines' culminated in my accidental drop into an undercut... and kind of a bad one. the paddle is still in there, but luckily the big ol nomad floated us out and i hand-paddled across the finish. and then promptly swam the next rapid because i cannot hand-roll to save my life. good times.
as if the race section of the Brandseth wasn't enough of a bitch-slap for the day, i rallied to the Upper Brandseth (rising fast, getting scared) for the team race. two local girls, Mariann and Liz, took care of me and showed some great lines. i'd only done the river once before, but a wee bit lower. anyway, the team race was a nice finish to a day that could've just ended in trainwreck.
alright, i'm off to sit in the sun. it is painfully hot here, the sun is brutal. and i am hungover. typical.
cheers from Voss!
things have been SO GOOD in Voss. i had the hardest kayaking day of my life yesterday... i feel like i've been hit by a train (10x). the Brandseth race was wicked fun... i had some pretty shit lines, but still managed to make finals. my phase of 'shit lines' culminated in my accidental drop into an undercut... and kind of a bad one. the paddle is still in there, but luckily the big ol nomad floated us out and i hand-paddled across the finish. and then promptly swam the next rapid because i cannot hand-roll to save my life. good times.
as if the race section of the Brandseth wasn't enough of a bitch-slap for the day, i rallied to the Upper Brandseth (rising fast, getting scared) for the team race. two local girls, Mariann and Liz, took care of me and showed some great lines. i'd only done the river once before, but a wee bit lower. anyway, the team race was a nice finish to a day that could've just ended in trainwreck.
alright, i'm off to sit in the sun. it is painfully hot here, the sun is brutal. and i am hungover. typical.
cheers from Voss!
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