Bash in Austria for a change!

This time we got the "SCUK bus" picking people up from Castelford, Tamworth, Hemel, Hatton Cross etc.

I got to Hatton cross quite early due to a free lift from my manager. Was texted by Chris that the pickup point would be in the near by hotel so I promptly found the bar to wait. Note that the temperature in the UK dropped dramatically and was not really comfortable to wait outside. I was warned by text that the coach was late but it arrived on time about 20:30.

This time the coach was comfy, roomy seats and half empty with enough luggage space and spare seating.

Due to traffic and Outgoing planning, we missed the Billabong A&S, was told we would get refunded and after a 23 hour coach journey and under -20C outside was not very keen anyway.

Austria looked a lot prettier than france and a lot cheaper, slightly better than UK prices!

Mayrhofen itself was a medium size resort but our lift pass covered a larger area so we wen out to Ziller on Wednesday and Hintertux on Thursday.

Conditions where icy (hard packed) and we didn't have any new fresh snow during the week. We had clear skies from sunday to wednesday but closed up big time on thursday. Temperatures hovered around -17 to -11 during the day but warmer to almost -2 on friday.

Managed to get some Maverix coaching this time on wednesday. Avalanche transceiver and awarenes corse with some nice and short off-piste run in the morning and piste awareness in the afternoon where basically I was made to go down the black 17 until I got it right :) 

The Apres routine was find a cafe for after riding, get back and changed, then Mo's, dinner and eventually in the Scotland Yard.

This time I avoided drinking much but most SCUKers ended up out till 4am! Mind you, was coming down with a cold so I was much up for it.

The quiz night was better behaved as it was in the hotel's sports bar but eventful :)

The Pics are here.

Quick one week trip to north of Brasil, thanks to TAP for opening direct route from London via Lisbon to most of the capitals in the north east of Brasil. Flew to Recife and saw the historic center, then Olinda, stayed a few days in João Pessoa where I saw the Niemayer Museum and the east most point in the americas amd ended with a few days in Pipa, one of the best beaches I have seen with a local nature reserve included.

The Pics are here.

Open House weekend again with some pics of the Banqueting House, City of London Guild Hall displaying the London Magna Carta, Apothecaries's Hall, Westminister Hall and the former Commonwealth Institute/New Design Museum.

The Pics are here.

Long weekend to Florence again. This time had to go to see what I did not manage lat time.

When you fly to Italy you expect when you step oiut of the plane to feel like stepping into a sauna but this time was cloudy and rainy but at least the next day was sunny and 33˚C :)

Did not go to the Ufizzi this time but saw the Domo insode, The Domo Batisteria, Palacio Vecchio, and David's bronze which had a nice view of the city.

The next day saw the Pitti palace with impressive state rooms, painings, specially by Tician and Raphael, and frescos by Raphael. Few other galleries inside and the gardens with nice view of the city and surrounding country side etc.

Next last day saw the Gallileu Museum which is basically Florence's science museum and after the Bargello with its impressive sculptures by Michelangelo, Donatello etc.

The Pics are here.

Less eventful trip, used up the bank holidays to expend time there instead of Christmas. Expent most of the time doing physio to recover from Tignes and meeting long lost classmates from school.

Took a lot of pictures from my home town including Parque dos Açorianos, Parque Marinha, Viaduto da Borges, Catedral de Porto Alegre, Praça da Matriz, Parque Farroupilha, Auditório Araújo Viana and further afield to Gramado. Note that did not take my camera and took the pics with a Canon S95 I bought for my mum :)

The Pics are here.

Some Pics here.

I had a pair of ThirtyTwo Lashed boots for 5 years and they were one the hardest boots to get in and out. Got them size 7 same as my show size and they actually felt one size too small, so much so I could not wear thick socks.

This time I got the Focus Boa one size bigger for comfort. In the shop I got shocked how light they where, even compared to my old Lashed!

They are easy to put on, ThirtyTwo changed the system of the inners, gone is the velcro leash with integrated velcro on the tongue and a new inner leash locking mechanism. The dual Boa discs control the ankle and the foot tightens separately. Its quite easy to over-tighten them so takes a few tries to get them used to doing them right. Overall they are really comfy. Note that I had them heat molded in the local twoseasons shop.

Used the first for a week in the SCUK Winter Bash. It was a bit uncomfortable on the first day, also because they where over-tightened until they got broken in. Next few days got used to them and felt really comfortable. It is a stiffer carving boot so all the pressure goes to the ankles and releases the pressure on the feet.

After I am used to them it is really easy to get in and out and feels really good to release the boas when stopping for lunch and are very comfortable overall.