The Edge Of Madness

Man I've been slack on the updates.

The quick run though, spent 3 months in Oz for Nick & Bonnies wedding and Jacques & Eve wedding. Spent 2 odd months with my parents (which was worth it alone for the trip, good to spend time with them). Plus catching up with The Crew and assorted others. Also spent a week with Lana's mum on Hamilton island, and amazingly we actually got on for that trip

But back to this update.

So I heard about the abbey of Saint Sixtus of Westvleteren (http://www.sintsixtus.be/eng/brouwerij.htm). Meant to produce some of the best beer in the world. It's a long process to get hold of a case. You need to call up the beer hotline at a certain time, book in a pick-up time, then cruise across to Belgium to get it. You can't purchase it in any stores, and you're restricted to between 1-2 cases a month.

Took 4 days of calling up to get through the reservation lines. That's me and Lana both calling up.

A month later, loaded up the bike to go pick it up.

Riding through on the train from Folkestone. This is one of the coolest things I've encountered. You ride up, get on the train, half an hour later you're in France. I'm from Oz, so being able to ride to a different country is pretty much mind blowing.

Fairly cool on the train as well, you sit with the bike. They also stick all the riders together, and as usual riders tend to be a fairly cool bunch of ppl, so plenty to chat to. Got invited to a couple of coffee nights, now I just got to get off my arse to get over there

Then you ride off the train, and you're in France. With the words "Ride on the right" kept repeating in my head.

40 minutes later I'm in Belgium. Again, this is blowing my mind. I'm riding through different countries.

Get to the abbey, down some country roads. Pull up and chat to the monk. Young guy, been a monk for 6 years. Had a bit of a mag about the bike as well. Picked up 1 case of the Westvleteren 12.

Turn around and head on back. I was 50/50 if I was going to do the trip in one day or 2, but I'm feeling fine, and it's pretty early in the day (around 2pm), so plan to head on home.

From France to UK is the first time my passport is checked. But again, on the train with a bunch of riders, all placing bets on if it's going to be raining in the UK.

Simple ride home, ruined by a couple of idiot drivers once I hit London. But no real difference than normal

Get home, and crack open a beer. This is bottle matured beer, it gets better with age. Up to around 3 years old is the best. Is it good? Yep, it's damn good. Easily the best trappist beer I've drunk. It also tastes different as it warms up.

Is it worth a 500 klick round trip through 3 countries? Hell yes. Am I going again next month? Hopefully yes.

I've got 22 bottles left. After the next 6 go, rest are being kept until 2012. So if ya want to try one, you better get your arse over to my place soonish

Also I'm on a bit of a high right now. Sometimes I've got to keep reminding myself how mind blowing it is that I'm living in London. I can't recall ever thinking as a kid that I'd leave Brisbane, let alone one day be riding through multiple countries. Life is rather good right now.