I’m leaving Belgium today heading for Scotland. And man, I’m dying for a breath of fresh english. Sure I have enjoyed my time here and the countryside is amazing however with the recent turn of events (I’ll get to in a sec) and constant hurdles of dealing with language barriers, differences in food, culture and even keyboards, I’m ready to head. At least in Scotland I can ask a person where to return the rental car. I can ask what the “Especial Pane” is. I can ask how to get where I’m headed without a comedic series of pantomimes.

As I sit here in the airport listening to the loudspeaker, wondering if the plane that’s boarding outside is mine the frustration builds. You see, there is no one to ask - sounds crazy in a modern airport but there was also no one at the car rental desk once I finally found it. The janitor kinda clued me into having to drop the car off across the highway from the airport, leaving it there, run (with baggage since they don’t let you leave it at the terminal) back to airport (in the rain), drop the key in a (sketchy) green box with a note that tells where it is and go on my merry way to the check-in desk. All that without a word of english spoken.

Ok, getting lost 3x between Houffalize and here wasn’t frustrating enough. But then I headed to the check-in desk. when the guy went to check my bags - viola! “Massieur, you are over the maximum weight limit!” I actually expected this since I’m so damn savvy now. I thought it might be about 50€ but had no idea. Turns out I’m DOUBLE the limit. DOH! Shoulda ate the chocolate I bought for gifts. I have like 10lb’s of the stuff. So I get sent to the ‘Trouble Desk’ - seems fitting for me. That’s when they tell me they don’t even have me on the list for the flight. One guy asks another who asks a woman who asks a girl who looks at 10 dif. computer screens and finally tells me my ticket was for yesterday’s flight. Are ya starting to feel my pain? So I purchase a new ticket - while holding back some serious unhappiness (I know I booked it correctly but did not have a printer to show them the confirmation, only a screen shot on my computer that had the dates of travel covered by another window). I hold myself back from throwing a full-on temper tantrum and pay the fees. 60€. I dragged me and my bags away from the Trouble Desk and decided to eat as much chocolate as I could in hopes of reducing the weight. I head back to the guy-who’s-gonna-stick-it-to-me-desk and let out a long, defeated sigh. I said I had to pay for a new ticket. He looks at me, looks back at my bags and then at the chocolate all over my face - and he only charges me for being 5 kilos over - when it woulda been 3x that. He saved me 60€!!

Earlier today I bid team TREK adieu. Perhaps for a while. I had planned on staying with them in Scotland (the only solid plan of this trip and it falls through) but I’ve got to scramble to find other arrangements including a ride from Glasgow to Ft. William. Ken is traveling with his family and sounds pretty fried with having made all the logistical arrangements for them. I’m sure by now all hotels are booked so I can only hope one of the other teams has some floor space.

I know, you’re wondering what happened. Truth is I can’t say. It might end up being a small speed-bump. It may end the film. Time and patience will tell. I can say that I’m having a tough time. Whose idea was this?

I’ve got plenty to get uploaded here but hang tight, most of my journal is on my laptop and i have to get it hooked up to the matrix before i can post it. i’m at a hotel by a loch that has a laundrette AND internet. Which, btw, is only the second place i have found in town that has internet. Ask if it’s “high-speed?” and people look at you like you’ve asked where nessy lives. Don’t think Scotland is on the bandwagon.

Either way, the media tent at the event site is supposed to have dial-up ports today so i hope to score that. Should have the goods up later today.

cheers