Lots of work but also pleasure

Andrew and Femke at Blijburg

The Blijburger

A beautiful old corvette parked outside Blijburg

The last couple of days we have both been really busy with work. Femke came home from a very interesting trip to Liberia, and needed to sum up that, at the same time as she is preparing for a conference in Stockholm later this summer.

I came home from Slovenia and had to write several stories from there. But I also had other stories to deliver and the next issue of Hypoxia to produce. Busy busy in other words.

That doesn’t stop us from having a nice time. Several evenings, we’ve had dinner and drinks on the balcony in the lovely weather. I had some whisky together with the neighbours the other night.

And tonight, we biked 10 kilometers to visit a friend that moved to Ijburg, an island in the outskirts of Amsterdam. It was a nice ride and it was great to meet Andrew again and to see his marvellous flat, high up on a corner with splendid sea-views in two directions.

From there, we biked further out on Ijburg to the city beach of Blijburg. Well, me and Femke biked and Andrew hooked on to my bike and rolled on his skateboard :-)

Blijburg city beach is quite a nice place with a terrace, a big beach and great views. They even have their own witbier, brewed by Brouwerij de Leckere.

Later on, we also had a drink at terrace of the stylish bar Dok 48, just next to the marina.

Now, it’s time for a quick look at Red Bull X-Alps, then bed. Tomorrow, more work.

Magnus Österberg vann SM, Bjørn Skarpås vann NM

Nu är det nordiska mästerskapet över. Tyvärr blev inte NM giltigt eftersom det krävs en sammanlagd poäng från varje taskvinnare på 1500 poäng.
Men tävlingen har likafullt vinnare. Norrmannen Bjørn Skarpås vann, tätt följd av landsmannen och veteranen Ronny Helgesen. Amerikanen Greg Babush kom trea och schweiziska Susanne Wyss vann damtävlingen.
Susanne vann också serieklassen och svenske Roger ”Kalle” Jönsson (CPS) kom trea. Grattis!

Svenska mästerskapen avgjordes i samma tävling, och SM blev faktiskt giltigt eftersom det bara krävs sammanlagd poäng från taskvinnarna på 1000 poäng. Magnus Österberg (Cirrus) blev bäste svensk i första heatet och Stefan ”Rolle” Rolén (Åre skärm och drakflygklubb) bäste svensk i andra heatet.

Total vinnare i SM blev därmed Magnus Österberg – gratulerar!
Rolle Rolén blev tvåa och Kalle Jönsson trea – grattis till er alla!
Anna Rydh vann damklassen i SM – grattis till henne med!

Photos from the last task in Nordic Open

Today was the last task in Nordic Open 2009. The day started beautifully with blue skies and lots of sun. But as the pilots gathered at take off, the clouds were gathering.

In the end, an ambitious almost 60 kilometers long task was set and a ground start was declared. That means that everybody takes off at the same time and that is counted as the start of the task (normally, there is a start cylinder in the air, where everybody gathers and then there is a start at a certain time, a bit like in sailing).

A big gaggle formed in front of the take off, and another one further away, close to the ridge. But then the clouds moved in and it started to rain a little. A lot of pilots had to land when the lift died, but some managed to fly on.
However, they ran into more rain and in the end, the task was stopped. Pilots are still downloading their tracklogs, but a result is expected soon.

I stayed on take off, taking photos, until most of the competition pilots were away. Then I launched as well, but then, the lift was gone and rain was in the air. I did make it to the official landing, some eight kilometers down the line, which took me further or as far than many of the competitors :-)

Photos from first task

Here are some photos from the first valid task at Nordic Open in paragliding in Preddvor, Slovenia. I will create a web page with lots of photos later, unfortunately, the internet at the hotel is too slow to upload it from here.

The task was 32 km long and the fastest pilots flew it in around 54 minutes.

Bjørn Skarpås (Norway) won the day, with Greg Babush (USA) second and Bjørn’s brother Thomas Skarpås third.
Magnus Österberg was the best Swede (8th in total) followed by Stefan Rolen (21st in total) and Roger Jönsson (26).

The full result can be downloaded here.

Golden evening in Preddvor

When it is not raining, Preddvor is stunningly beautiful. Hotel Bor is situated just by the lake.

Nice weekend in Utrect

Back in Amsterdam again after a great long-weekend in Utrecht, doing research for a story. Lots of bars and restaurants, but also managed to meet some friends, and Femke came over as well (BTW, she is now in Monrovia, Liberia).

Here’s a bunch of photos.

Now I have to pack, tomorrow it’s time for Preddvor in Northern Slovenia, and the Nordic Open in paragliding.

Last day in Slovenia

This is my last day in Slovenia. After two and half weeks, it is time to go to Amsterdam, my new home town. That is going to be nice. First thing, I have to start looking for a home for me and Femke there. If you have any contacts, just email me, any help is welcome.

You can find lots of my photos from Slovenia here.
The paragliding photos are here.

In Slovenia right now

I know, the updates have been far in between. But life is hectic now, and I am updating my MSN travel blog almost daily.
Right now, I am in Slovenia. Left Jerusalem Saturday a week ago, for the last time (at least for a long while). First, I travelled around for a week all over this little beautiful country for a travel story (keep an eye open for it in a coming issue of Allt om Resor). 

Now, I am in Northern Slovenia for a paragliding story. Had some good flying the last two days, hoping for more today.

From here, I will fly to Amsterdam, our new hometown. Femke has already been there a week, but right now, she is in Italy on a yoga holiday. We still need to find a home in Amsterdam, but I am sure that will happen sooner or later.