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Southbound, The Course Of Empire Takes Its Time
Surprise, I'm still here. Sort of. Tomorrow, Elliott (see above photo) and I set off for a bike tour beginning in Sweden and hopefully ending in Germany. Well, at least for Elliott, as his flight back to California leaves from Amsterdam on the fifteenth.
The end of Elliott's several week long visit (and five month European bike expedition) upon us, we decided to bag our initial Sweden>>Norway tour (weather and lack of real motivation being the two killers here) and instead head south so that Elliott will at least be heading in the right direction. His goal is to make it to Hamburg in time to take a train from there. Time, unfortunately is of the essence for me as I have to be back my Monday to have my wisdom teeth torn out. I'm guessing I will probably make it to the southern part of Denmark before I'm forced to turn around and hop onto a train.
In my sleep deprived state, I've come up with a formula to estimate my distance. Please bear in mind that I dropped out of trigonetry in high school and haven't looked back (I even suffered through a full year of linguistics in college to fulfill my math requirement without taking anything that involves serious numbers).
Formula
4{60[-(awbø)]} - r = distance (km)
Key
a = Atmospheric conditions: Rain incurs a positive number, sunshine a negative. NB: It's raining as I type this.
w = Wind speed/direction: Positive (wind from behind [hush]) or negative (head on) number based on intensity.
b = Bike/equipment cooperation: A cooperative bicycle earns a negative value.
ø = Quantity of [comparatively] inexpensive Danish beer (øl) consumed: Measured in positive numbers. sXe is measured as 0.
r = Railroad condition: I.e. German train or Danish train, and if German, will they let me on with bicycle. A less than ideal railway scenario can subtract approx. 30-45. Optimal conditions carry a 0.
Photo credit for both these images goes to Johan who doesn't know it but has stepped up to fill the void created by my lack of digital camera, scanner or even means to edit pictures. I posted this second, hideous photo so as to deny either party involved in this little deal a bit of satisfaction (in my supposed outrage?)
Music: Born Heller-S/T