off to Belgium

After a long few months counting down to my trip to Belgium, yesterday it was finally time for me to pack all that I would need for the following 4 and a half months I’d be away from home. With a luggage limit of 20kg plus 7kg of carry on, and heading for European winter, it proved quite a task keeping my bike, riding gear and clothes in the ball park. I knew I was in trouble early on when my packaged bike and bike box weighed 15.4kg without any clothes or equipment, meaning I only had 4.6kg of checkable luggage and the 7 of carry on. After weighing my suitcase it became clear that the 20kg checkable luggage limit was unattainable as my empty suitcase alone weighed in at 3.6, so the suitcase stayed at home and I shoved as much stuff as possible in with my bike as well as in my carry on. In the end managed to fit everything into my bike box and back pack but they came in at 24.8 and 10.4 respectively,



Some drastic sweet talking was required at the airport to dodge the $40 per kg excess. I’d like to think it was my charm and dazzling smile that wooed the check in lady, but you and I both know that’s not true. Thankfully she was in a good mood and even asked me to take 4kg out of my carry on and into my bike box, taking it up to 28.4kg’s, only 8kg over, with no extra charge.
It was then time for the 14 hour and 20 minute non stop ( lol, I find it funny that they say it’s a non stop 14h 20min flight, because if it did have a stop, wouldn’t it be 2 shorter flights which total 14h 20m) to Abu Dhabi. This leg was to be the longest of our travels to and from Belgium, but after watching Twighlight just to see what all the kids rave about, and now realise how shit it realy is, I mean come on kids get some taste. Then it was time for one of the sleeping pills mum had got for me, which worked like a charm, thanks mum. I woke up with only about 2 hours to go, and watched another in flight movie “Ninja” which was rated R and for good reason, it was pretty gory with lots of death much better than woeful love stories with even worse acting. First impressions of Abu Dhabi were good, although we were landing during a thunderstorm and could see several flashes of lightning as we descended though the clouds, which was a little un nerving. It was just before sunrise and once below the clouds the lights lining the many streets of Abu Dhabi made for an awesome sight, but I was unable to take any decent photos . We could also make out the massive Ferrari theme park under construction and the Abu Dhabi Motor Racing track which despite being several hundred meters above the ground still looked HUGE.
Abu Dhabi Airport also made quite an impression, with flashy arrival area, and even a text message from the local Phone network, welcoming us as guests to their network.



Even the trees arent spared the special treatment.


the departures area wasnt quite to the same standard as the arival area and had one of the longest hallways iv ever come across


After waiting around in the airport for a bit it was then time for the 7 hour connection to Brussels, which thankfully had power sockets allowing me to use my laptop. Unfortunately Trent got the window seat, and along with it an awesome view of the western edge of the Himalayas.


Then after a long long time watching ordinary in flight movies it was time to land in Brussels. Bags were collected and then we passed through the non existant imigration/customs and on to the train from the airport to Tielt where we would be collected by the Fuji Test Team, painted van/minibus. Which would take us to the apartments where we would settle in go for a shop at aldi (which is nowhere near as good as Warragul Aldi) and have dinner.

Il try and get some pics of the team base/equiptment and bus in the next few days.