I Bought a Bike

After shopping a few local bike shops and getting scared off by the crazy Norwegian prices, I got word of a police auction where they sell off stolen bikes that have been recovered but not claimed by their owners.

The location was walkable from my home (like 3km) but quite far from work, so I decided to bus it. I looked up the routes and found that the X30 would take me very close by. I took the X30 but after reaching town realized we were way too far. "Oh, you needed the other X30. This one goes straight to the center." The other X30? Two buses with the same number but different routes? What, did they run out of numbers and letters? So what was going to be a 5 minute walk after work became a 30 minute walk. I eventually made it just as the auction was starting.

I bugged a couple of strangers to learn basic numbers in Norwegian (1-10, 100, 1000).

Eventually, I bought a 2008 FELT QX85, a great bike, for 2300NOK ($430CAN). For Norway, this is a steal (haha). It's in like new condition too!

• Frame: Felt Cross Design 6061 Double Butted Aluminum. Disc-brake Compatible and Integrated Hebie Kickstand Mount. Basta Lock Compatible
• Forks: Felt Alloy Fork with Cro-Mo Steerer tube
• Gears: Shimano Deore M530 front and Shimano Deore LX RD-M571 SGS rear derailleurs
• Shifters: Shimano Deore SL-M530 rapid fire trigger Shifter
• Chainset: Shimano FC-M443-SK Non-Series Forged Aluminum crankset and 48/36/26 tooth chainrings
• Brakes: Shimano BR-M485 Hydraulic disc brakes
• Wheels: WTB DUAL DUTY XC lightweight doublewall rims built on Shimano HB-RM65 hubs with Quick Release
• Tyres: Continental Twister 700x37tyres. Wire bead
• Handlebars: Felt 6061 Alloy butted Flatbar
• Stem: Felt One-Piece 3D Cold-Forged Threadless Aluminum
• Saddle: Felt Facade Comfort saddle
• Seatpost: Felt Alloy Micro-Adjust
• Pedals/Extras: VP-199 MTB Design Alloy Cage and body

However, both tires were completely deflated, and nobody had a Presta pump so I couldn't fill them. I ended up walking home but getting completely lost along the way.

However, I have a new bike now and it rocks!




The funniest part was when they brought up one of several bikes in really bad shape. This one had no front wheel and had at least one cable hanging loose. Nobody started the bidding, so the auctioneer said what I image was "Anyone? Anyone?". Finally one guy just said "4 kroner" and everybody laughed, and he was handed the bike. 4 kroner is about 80 cents Canadian.

Hike to Preikestolen

Slippery ice + 600m drops = scary. Now I understand why the hike is not recommended in winter! Nevertheless, we saw a lot of people there today. Great weather, and noticeably colder at the top.

Taken from the ferry from Luvvik to Oanes:


At the parking lot:


On the way up:


Just a bit higher:


East view of Lysefjorden ('the light fjord') from Preikestolen ('pulpit rock'):


West view from Preikestolen (604m drop):


View of Preikestolen:


On the way down:


This last picture is of the hardest part of the ascent, at least in winter. What you are looking at is a slippery narrow ledge with a 600m drop on one side. No barriers, and only rocks to hold on to. I think this would be MUCH easier in summer, but still scary!

Edit: This was not taken by me but I wish I had done something similar! (oops, now I have to go back)

More Pictures

1 week down. Here's a [better] picture of my apartment and a picture of my car. I managed to get it home and safely into the underground parking without killing or breaking anything!

Two Work Days Down

First, I'll confirm my address is as follows:

Ytre Eiganesveien 19, F-H0308
4022 Stavanger
Norway

The F-H0308 part just means apartment #308 in building 19.

Now, more pictures!

The first is taken from Valandshaugen:



Downtown port:



Cathedral:





Breiavatnet Lake in central Stavanger:



Mosvatnet near my apartment:



The park near the lookout point in the first picture:

FW: Pilots vs Mechanics

Remember it takes a college degree to fly a plane, but only a High
School Diploma to fix one. Reassurance for those of us who fly
routinely In our jobs.

After every flight, Qantas pilots fill out a form, called a "gripe
sheet", which tells mechanics about problems with the aircraft.

The mechanics correct the problems, document their repairs on the
form, and then pilots review the gripe sheets before the next flight.
Never let it be said that ground crews lack a sense of humor.

Here are some actual maintenance complaints submitted by Qantas'
pilots (P) And the solutions recorded by the by Maintenance Engineers
(M).

By the way, Qantas is the only major airline that has never, ever, had
an accident. Below is taken from Qantas maintenance logs for 2006.

       P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.
       M: Almost replaced left inside main tyre.

       P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.
       M: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.

       P: Something loose in cockpit.
       M: Something tightened in cockpit.

       P: Dead bugs on windshield.
       M: Live bugs on back-order.

       P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per
minute Descent.
       M: C ann ot reproduce problem on ground.

       P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
       M: Evidence removed.

       P: DME volume unbelievably loud.
       M: DME volume set to more believable level..

       P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
       M: That's what friction locks are for.

       P: IFF inoperative in OFF mode.
       M: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.

       P: Suspected crack in windshield.
       M: Suspect you're right.

       P: Number 3 engine missing.
       M: Engine found on right wing after brief search.

       P: Aircraft handles funny.
       M: Aircraft warned to: straighten up, fly right, and be serious.

       P: Target radar hums.
       M: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.

       P: Mouse in cockpit.
       M: Cat installed.

       P: Noise coming from under instrument panel. Sounds like a
midget pounding
       on something with a hammer.
       M: Took hammer away from midget

More Pictures!

Why not?

I'm finding that an English speaker can sometimes figure out what a word or phrase in Norwegian means by sounding it out and using one's imagination (lots of the latter). Sometimes a 'c' becomes a 'k', or an 's' becomes a 'c' or 'z'. 'ou' as in 'house' becomes 'u' as in 'hus'.

Using these techniques, one can only imagine the name of the building in this picture would be the Stavanger Sanitation Forensics Hell House. (I'm sure it would be...)



Also, some more pictures from my walk this afternoon.

First 24 Hours in Stavanger

OK, more like 28 hours, but who's counting?

First, my apartment:



Everything is new! (There are still tags on the towels, kitchen appliances, etc). I don't think anyone has ever even lived here before. It's also much bigger than I expected: Two bedrooms and lots of storage. The view could be a bit nicer but I'm about a 30 minute walk from downtown which is great!

I spent today (Saturday) touring the downtown area looking for a power adapter.

Victor's Address in Norway

This is not 100% confirmed yet, but I'd give my address as:

Ytre Eiganesveien 19

Apartment 308
4022
Stavanger
Norway

Get Directions

The part I'm not sure about is the postal code.

For some reason "Ytre Eiganesveien" does not appear on Google Maps. "Ytre" translates as "outer" or "external". I'm guessing this is an extension to the original road. I found that if I put "177 Eiganesveien, Stavanger, Norway" into Google Maps, the location shown is correct.

If you click on "More..." and add Photos, there is a photo at the nearby major intersection that shows my building.

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/13963769.jpg

I'm in the dark building right in the middle of the photo.

I Win

I've been fighting for two years with the roofing company that did our roof when we first moved in over a warranty claim that they have been ignoring.

Today our roof was redone. Finally.