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Preparation (Netherlands April-May 2004)
Quitted my job. Unlike most world travellers, I first quited my job, and two days later the idea of travelling the world crossed my mind, and it looked likea a better idea than taking on the next job.
All it took to quit the job was a little post-it memo.
At my last working day, my beloved colleagues constructed a super-de-luxe round-the-world bike, equiped with arather large muscle-powered bycicle computer and a lot of handy tools and food. Thanks a lot, guys! Also, I was handed my last patent for an invention.
Quitted my hobbies.
I've been playing tenor saxophone for 8 years now, and the last couple of years in this big band "the groove connection" of the notorious Danny Cuijpers;
Since the beginning of the Plaza Futura film- and theater house in 1991, I've been working as a volunteer film operator, and the last couple of years also as receptionist. This is the film cabine where I operate the 35 mm film projector with non-rewind tables;
My pride and joy of my living room is my self-made tropical aquarium dining table, where the tropical fish can swim under your plate and into the legs;
The flattest stereo in the worlds: the stereo painting houses an cd-player, radio, cassetteplayer and amplifier, all fully operating;
Never a dull moment at the Rodge Disco Toilet: party athmosfere round the clock, 365 days per year at 24 hours a day, admission free. If your farts don't smoke enough, just add some extra with the built-in smoke machine. The one-and-only Rodge disco toilet features a true 105 modes laser beamer, stroboscope, blacklight, sound responding moonflower light, smoke machine, bubbling machine, flicker lights, mirror walls and two rotating mirror balls, a remote controlled stereo sound blaster. And a toilet.
Quitted sports. Ski jump at the "rock of doom"in Chamonix; Mountainbiking in the Ardennes; Bouldering in Fontainebleau; Ski jump at the "rock of doom"in Chamonix; Snow board salto attempt in Chamonix; Golfing in Schotland; Sport climbing in Berdorf; Telemark tour in Norway.
Quitted house parties. In Control 2002; Extrema 2003 with Kinky; Extrema 2003 with Kinky, Dennis and Jens; Innercity 2002 with Roos, Lau and Linda; Transenergy 2004; Mysteryland 2003.
Cleaned up the house.The large bedroom before; The medium bedroom before; The garden during; Laro with junk; The small bedroom after.
Sold my motor bikes and 2nd Laro.
Trained in Norway.
Chose transportation.I considered a lot of ways of transportation:
A not yet fully restaurated Laro; Large unicycle; Bella the moped; Carnaval bicycle "de boezemvrienden'; Crashed hangglider; My not yet crashed Honda motorcycle; On horseback; Wheelchair; Diving; Flying; The security van; Small unicycle; short Laro; "fully" restaurated Laro; Brompton folding bike; The Oce Round-the-world-bike; The french godess; In a racecar in Zandvoort; Kinky's Renault 16; Swiss tractor; Skates on ramp; Mountainbike; Fully armed mercedes;
But in the end I decided to try the good old bicycle, because it is a sportive challenge and experieced travellers told me its the best way to travel. Since I didn't have a decent long-distance bicycle nor had much time to buy one, I made a 100m test ride on my Kronan (last picture) and decided to buy one in Canada.
Chose a hair cut. bald; bald with a beard; hippie; pony-tail; punk; bushman; extravaganza; world on top.
Read some books.
Planned seasons.
This was the original "planning", ha ha. It includes a a survey of the suitable seasons (green) and troublesome seasons (black) due to Rain or Temperature. For the latest planning go to the "last update" on the home page.
Packed my rucksack. Of course I packed way to much stuff, typical for the unexperienced traveller, and I sent a lot of stuff home soon. For a complte packing list see complete packing list.
Said goodbye to my friends. I had a lot of goodbye dinners and drinks, most of them no pictures unfortunately, here is just a few.
Jens, Rodge and Buddy; The brabo's; Buddy and Lau; and below a video of the party bunch:
download movie: Netherlands goodbye barbecue
Said goodbye to my family. I had a goodbye weekend with the whole family, and I took my parents and girlfriend on a goodbye holiday to Italy.
Goodbye. Just before I left, I made this picture of the sidewalk in Utrecht.
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