Enjoying the pow pow!

We've struck it lucky with the Whistler weather. It has snowed every day we have been here. We arrived on Sunday night after 24 hours of travel door to door and took Monday off to acclimatise and orientate. The flights were fine. We stopped off at Heathrow and watched football with Nina, and the onward flight to Vancouver even had Entourage episodes. Getting used to the time difference has meant that getting up early has been really easy so far. In fact, this morning we were in the first public gondola up Blackcomb mountain. It was a bit colder in the Alpine today and the weather does close in quick but we took the plunge and walked up the gauntlet to the top of Blackcomb glacier and snowboarded down on a single run over 10km. The first half was mostly powder and pretty fresh as it just keeps snowing. Next week we should have some sun but we are happy to put up with the flurries as the boarding is ace. We have been mostly on blue runs and gentle bowls as the blacks and many of the the bowls tend to be unprepared and very bumpy thanks to all those skiers overdoing it over the season - basically a load of moguls - no fun on boards. We have only had one walk out so far. I saw a 200m stretch of fresh snow and had to have it. Of course it turned out the reason it hadn't been ploughed was the great cliff at the end of it. Still we only had to make a little 60m walk.

And today we had our first quality route row. We lost each other due to tiredness coming down dome of the great groomed slopes in the middle of Blackcomb. Two hours, several failed calls and some very nice mountain staff later, we found each other back at the ranch. Speaking of which we struck gold with the Clock Tower. It is compact but way above wildest expectations and only 50m from the gondolas, bang in the heart of the village, and we got the quiet side. Hoorah.

We keep meeting little'uns as the teachers ask you to take them on the lifts. Most memorable so far would Gabriel from San Diego. He was so sweet until the dismount. He got caught up and I had to carry him of the chair lift. And I set him straight about Santa being from Finnish lapland!

Three songs about powder
#3 White lines (don't do it), Grandmaster Melle Mel and the Furious Five
#2 Life in the fast lane, The Eagles
#1 One way ticket to hell and back, The Darkness

Packing list

We can't have a blog about the trip without a packing list, so here it is:

Bags
Rucksacks x2
Day pack
Rucksack covers x2
Mini keyring bags
Dry bags x2
Drawstring bin liners
Sleeping
Sleeping bags x2
Mummy bags x2
Mosquito net
Pillowcases x2
Travel blankets
Travel pillows x2
Double sheet
Footwear
Trainers x2
Sandals x2
Trail running shoes x2
Anna's clothes
Poncho
Jacket
Hats
Sarongs
Skirts x2
Bikinis x2
Trousers x1
Shorts
Knickers x4
Bras x4
Socks x4
T-shirts x4
Hoodie
Jamie's clothes
Poncho
Waterproof jacket
Hat
Sarong
Trousers x2
Socks x 4
Boxers x 4
Rash shirt
T-shirts x4
Bermuda shorts
Shorts
Hoodie
Tools & toys
Frisbee
Washing line
Torch
Head torch
Sink plug adapter
Leatherman
Eye shades
Cutlery (sporks x2)
Mugs
Money belts/pockets
Snorkelling gear
Jamie sunglasses
Anna sunglasses
Padlocks
Bike chain
Sewing kit
Kettle element
Binoculars
Backgammon
Playing cards
Compass/thermometer
Jesus (gaffa) tape
Lighter/matches
Pens
Hooks
Ear plugs
Safety pins
Cable ties
Straps
Spanish guitar
Guitar soft case
Mini guitar tuner
Plectra
Guitar string sets x 2
Media
Copies of documents x2
Scans of documents on USB
Photo selection from home
DVDs (entourage)
CDs (music for US car trip)
CD case
Passport holders
Passports
Waterproof document pouches
Moleskin notebooks x2
LP CA
LP SA
LP LA
LP California
RG Mexico
Finnish Spanish phrase book
English Spanish phrase book
Electronics
N95
N95 headphones
N95 cable
N95 sd cards x3
SD card reader
USB sticks x2
N5100
Phone charger
Phone chager Nseries adapter
Ipod mini in plastic shell
Itrip
Ipod charger
Ipod headphones
Ipod double headphone adapter
Cybershot camera
Camera USB cable
Camera charger
Camera memory cards x3
Universal socket adapter
Clock radio
Toiletries & medical
First aid kit
Sterile kit
Travel towels
Wash bags x2
Nail kit
Wash kit
Water purificication pump
Collapsing water bottle
Water purification tabs
Baby wipes
Disinfectant
Malaria pills (Malarone & Doxy)
Off (and other sprays)
Antibiotics
Contraceptive pills
Prophylactics
Burana/aspirin
Milk pills
Multivitamins
Iron tabs
Sun cream
After sun (cocoa butter)
Foot tape
Yeast cream
Diarrhea tabs
Antihystimines
Hair wax
Hair spray
Toothbrushes x2
Deodorant x2
Contact lens solution
Contact lenses x12 pairs
Moisturiser x2
Make up stuff
Shampoo & conditioner
Snowboard gear
Snowboard bag
Boards & bindings x2
Boots x2
Jackets x2
Trousers x2
Straps x2
Pippos x2
Gloves x2
Goggles x2
Lock
Long johns/tightsx2 each
Thermal vestsx3 each
Socksx2 each
Long sleeved topsx1 each
Helmets x2
Screwdriver
Jeans x2
Casual top x2

The piccy just shows the tools, toys, leccy gear and sleeping stuff. Luckily all our snowboard stuff just fits in my big snowboard bag but let's see how our backpacks turn out. I am praying for 15 kilos but expecting 18-20. We are still debating ponchos Vs jackets, if we want eyeshades and earplugs, and if we can leave out trainers - handy for footy games with the local youth!

Of course we don't have to carry all this. The snowboard gear and the US guidebooks will be jettisoned before Mexico. There are a few things we might leave out but things like the drugs are worth getting now and are based on our experiences in India. Of course we would be happy if we never have to open the first aid kit or use any antibiotics...

We still have to sort out the document copies, get the iPod and phone loaded, get Anna a helmet, get a bike chain (found two but no spare keys - doh), and find some decent bin liners, as well as a few little things we can find in the states (like the trail runners) but we are in good shape.

Three songs about packing:
#3 Would I Lie To You, Eurythmics
#2 Ready 2 Ryde, Snoop Dogg
#1 A Bird That Whistles, Joni Mitchell

The long goodbye

We have been busy saying goodbye. Miss Deli has been to France to say goodbye to her dad and his family and I have been to England to say goodbye to my mum, step-mum and some of my English friends. I also got some great tips and picked up a few essential items, as well as raiding my mum's travel gear from when she was in Nepal. And I found my old mosquito net that we used in 2001 and the re-treatment kit I bought back then.

Then at the weekend we had a party at Loop and Lostari. It was quite a low turnout (you know who you are!) but it was nice that it was relaxing for us. And we got some more great gifts (head torch, moleskins and 'kossu' long johns - all stuff on the list:)) as well as Jonhy Wee. It has been a bit of a strange week as we have both been ill - I am convinced it is pre-travel nerves - though we got the great news on Friday that the flat is rented for the whole year! So now we can really relax. In fact we have reached that point that, even with all the planning, as long as we leave the house on Sunday with our tickets and passports, everything else is a bonus.

This week there is Ernie's birthday on Thursday and the magnificent Beats & Styles at On The Rocks on Friday. And we will spending the rest of the week eating our favourite Finnish food while we still can - Oltermanni, Iguana pizza, Lio's fish, rye bread - we're gonna miss it.

Three songs about goodbyes
#3 Goodbye, Shady ("To everything I know, everything I need to let go" - I will post this here soon)
#2 Last Goodbye, Jeff Buckley ("Did you say 'no, this cant happen to me'")
#1 Singing My Song, Christina Aguilera ("Take the time to look at what is mine")

By popular demand

Some bright spark asked for some music so, courtesy of My Flash Fetish, their funky music players and a little bit of html editing jiggery pokeri, you could and maybe should be listening to it now.

On the jukebox

-John Clay, Always On The Outside - my dad from about 1971 in his Donovan phase. Never one to miss the proverbial hop, skip and jump onto the latest bandwagon*, this is one of a collection of lovely understated tunes that spawned his debut single release, As She Flies Away. Key lyric; "I didn't know where to begin. Always on the outside looking in." Is it about fear of living; or the paradox of being the centre of attention while being onstage and yet still being detached and observing; or is it about the loneliness of travel? No idea. *The record books will show that the 'bandwagon' was actually only a 'wagon' until my father jumped on the punk wagon one weekend in '77 and created the band, Joe Cool and the Killers, in his image. It has been known as the 'bandwagon' ever since; so it says here.

-Chungking, The Count - It could be because it was at this time (was it 2000?) that it became clear that Sean and Jessica (and big Jamesy) had something pretty special going on. Maybe it is also because coincidentally we once tried to play a version of this in old jam band. It is mostly because I found this infectious, I got to play it live, and this reminds me about the best of Brighton. This is unreleased by the way so it is a bit naughty to have it here. Key lyric; "I need more satis-fraction" or maybe "I am odd and you are prime". That really is genius. They didn't have that class in the Sesame Street version.

-Beats & Styles, Everything is Everything - the encore number from the gigs I played this winter. Timeless power chords, hammering production, vital chat from Jus Red (coincidentally from Brighton), and a total joy to jump around to. Key lyrics; "In general shit will hit the fan" and "listen to the chorus and comprehend". This tune really grew on me in particular because, lurking behind the faux pop of the chorus, there is an articulate and enduring message. I haven't watched a Beats & Styles gig since maybe 2005 so I hope to catch them in On The Rocks on March 21st just before we leave.

Top 3 songwriting moments from people I know:
#3 Beginning, Ian (I like this so much I will put it on the jukebox)
#2 Mother's Day, Robin/Tony/Dre (I've got a very cheap video we made somewhere)
#1 Two faced, two timing tart, Barry (Laughing Gas) (sentimental reasons as it was the first song at the first gig in the first band, you get the idea, with Jamie and Dylan; charming lyrics too - a definite message!)

The missing list

There are some things that are making us sad because we are going to miss them while we are away, in no particular order...

-Vibu & Kibu's wedding
-Hermanni & Helmi getting a year older
-Maija & Veeti speaking English better than Jamie's Finnish
-Iris getting a year older
-Beats & Styles gigs all over the place
-Arabia in summer and running out of our flat to play tennis
-Pallo's 10th football season (guess which one of us?)
-Hand bags (guess again?)
-Simon & Roz's new arrival
-Oma sauna
-Hietsu beach
-Clothes
-Frank & Ernie in the studio
-Tahko in February
-The Handan (digibox and hard drive - wow)
-Fantasy football
-Bodypump with Hanna
-Guitar toys
-Tiistaitreffit (ladies' night)
-Friends
-Family

Top 4 songs about not having regrets
#4 Eurythmics, Regrets
#3 Robbie Williams, No regrets
#2 T Pau, Bridge of spies
#1 Artful Dodger, Please don't turn me on

The Amazing Race

It is less than three weeks until the start of a race around the world. Have you ever seen the Amazing Race TV show? I don’t like the action so much as the credit sequence and the captions for the contestants. The “dating models” pose with their backpacks and the “married seniors” open a pair of those ten thousand dollar dental jobs that are as American as they are frightening – I expect them to drip with blood as they devour the “sky diving sisters”.

In our dreams we are the “friendly couple” or “dating lottery winners” and, of course, we are hoping to replace some people we have met before on holiday as the “never ending holiday couple”.

Our nightmare is probably being the “annoying crying couple” (always a classic when we get emotional in the back of the bus!) or the “ex-round the world travellers”. Also it would be very uncool if were cast as the “recent exes” or “penniless wanderers”.

Understanding the Amazing Race
-Road Block – A road block is a task only one of the competing pair can complete, such as; eating meat or map reading. A road block is also where my cousin Ben (who is still at uni at the age of 30-something) gets very drunk and, late at night, takes items from roadworks and places them to block the middle of the road to confuse drunken motorists.
-Detour – This is what happens when you fall asleep on the bus or miss the turning to Yosemite.
-Fast Forward – This is what I will be doing when Bad Religion, Oasis or James Blunt come on our iPod. Or what Miss Deli will be doing when Christina Aguilera comes on.
Yield – This describes our decision making process whereby I acquiesce to Miss Deli’s superior intellect, will, insight and charm, and convince myself days later that it was my idea.

3 songs about races
-#3 Queen, Bicycle Race
-#2 Yello, The Race
-#1 Bad Religion, The Gray Race

Shopping

One thing we know how to do is spend. So we've been going through the list. This week we have bought;

50 litre backpack for Miss Deli to carry all that beach wear; two good value down sleeping bags that are left & right zippers so we can zip them together and have a double (to give me maximum leg room); ruck sack bags (cheap bags so we can check our sacks in with normal baggage and hopefully help protect them during all those air miles); some secret pockets (I could tell you but I'd have to kill you); plastic sporks (it would be a bit daft to carry cutlery all the way); a tiny compass; Rough Guide Mexico & LP California (...here we come...); LP's Latin American Spanish phrasebook...

And we took back Thomas Cooks Driving in California book because, frankly, it was terrible. My abiding memory was in the San Francisco section where the book listed a whopping three different accommodation options all in the €€€ bracket - yeah, thanks. Oh and there was the classic lines "if you are not driving then SF is great" and "don't try to park in downtown SF" - I mean WTF - the book is called DRIVING in Cali - and, FFS, for 38€ the book should maybe suggest where to park anywhere in SF, probably the prime destination for anyone on a driving tour of California. Suffice to say I won't be buying a Thomas Cook publication again. I found it particularly annoying that they even tried to make the graphic design and cover artwork look like the LP series. Don't be fooled!

Oh, and the other teeny tiny thing we bought this week. 34 flights. Wow. I have 2 bulging flight ticket wallets filled with 17 flights each. And our collective wallet is over six thousand euros lighter. What a feeling! Of extreme wallet pain! We took the plunge and booked all our North American flight dates and Easter Island and Auckland. Our Santiago-Auckland flight is on 4th November. This was when we wanted, which was lucky, because 2nd and 3rd Nov were already booked!