tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58381415966978312862024-02-20T11:52:47.616-08:00David RowleyA blog about things that I find interesting, from my adventures around the world from 4 wheel driving around Australia's remote desert areas to motorcycling around in the Arctic or really anything that I feel like sharing!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08659694638232036329noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5838141596697831286.post-72220127691024750922015-03-12T04:11:00.003-07:002015-03-12T04:11:37.264-07:00Working on PostgreSQL (What are join removals)<h2>
What are join removals?</h2>
Since September 2009 PostgreSQL's query planner has supported removal of LEFT JOINs. In order to properly explain what "join removals" are, we'd best look at some examples.<br />
<br />
Let's keep it as simple as possible, say we had 2 tables like:<br />
<br />
<pre class="brush:sql;">CREATE TABLE product (
product_id INT NOT NULL,
description VARCHAR(64) NOT NULL,
PRIMARY KEY (product_id)
);
</pre>
<br />
<pre class="brush:sql;">CREATE TABLE sale (
sale_id INT NOT NULL,
product_id INT NOT NULL,
quantity NUMERIC(10,3) NOT NULL,
PRIMARY KEY (sale_id)
);</pre>
<br />
If someone were to write a query such as;<br />
<br />
<pre class="brush:sql;">SELECT s.product_id,p.description,s.quantity
FROM sale s
LEFT JOIN product p ON s.product_id = p.product_id;</pre>
<br />
The query planner would construct some sort of plan which accessed both sale and product, and joined the two tables together in order to produce the required results.<br />
<br />
Now let's throw a crazy idea out there... What if the query joined to the product table, but the SELECT clause contained no actual columns from the product table...<br />
<br />
<pre class="brush:sql;">SELECT s.product_id,s.quantity
FROM sale s
LEFT JOIN product p ON s.product_id = p.product_id;</pre>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Ok, perhaps it might seem strange to do this. Who would write such a query? Why bother with the join at all?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Well, if you imagine that someone had created a view which made available columns from both tables, but the consumer of the view didn't select any columns from the product table, then would the query executor really need to still make that join?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The answer is: </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It depends on:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
1 We know that with LEFT JOINs, that if the product table happened not to have a matching record for a sale record that the semantic of LEFT JOIN would cause NULL values to appear in the result set for columns from the table being LEFT JOIN. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
2. Another affect that the LEFT JOIN could have would be that, if there happened to be more than 1 record matching a given product ID, then the join would match both of those rows to the sale table's row and cause the row in the sale table to be duplicated.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Item 1 would really not matter to us, since the join would only appear to be surplus to requirements none of the product table's columns were used in either the SELECT clause, WHERE clause etc. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Item 2 really could be a problem as removing the join in if join would cause duplicate sale rows to be produced in the results would cause query results to change, which is obviously not acceptable!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If we were able to prove that these duplicate rows were not possible, then we'd be ok to remove that join. Luckily this is quite easy to prove in this case as in the example above the product_id is the primary key of the product table, therefore there can never be any duplicates product_id values in the table. So we can be certain that he two queries below will produce the same results:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<pre class="brush:sql;">SELECT s.product_id,s.quantity
FROM sale s
LEFT JOIN product p ON s.product_id = p.product_id;</pre>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
and</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<pre class="brush:sql;">SELECT s.product_id,s.quantity
FROM sale s;</pre>
<br />
Any although the join was explicitly asked for, the planner can simply pluck the join out of the plan and nobody should notice any sort of difference, apart from a nice gain in performance!<br />
<br />
The work to implement this was done by Robert Haas and committed by Tom Lane back in September 2009 in commit <a href="http://git.postgresql.org/gitweb/?p=postgresql.git;a=commit;h=488d70ab46311386801c10691196ec8d755f2283" target="_blank">488d70ab46311386801c10691196ec8d755f2283</a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08659694638232036329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5838141596697831286.post-13161082538635703992013-08-02T22:10:00.000-07:002013-08-03T02:21:44.580-07:00Optimising line of sight calculations with caches<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
In a previous blog here <a href="http://davidrowley.blogspot.co.nz/2013/08/calculating-line-of-sight-with-postgis.html">http://davidrowley.blogspot.co.nz/2013/08/calculating-line-of-sight-with-postgis.html</a>
I explained about some functionality I put together to allow line of sight
calculations using elevation rasters along with PostGIS2.1. Before reading on
you should read the previous blog to get yourself up to speed with the problems
which we’re going to try to solve here.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The function which calculated the line of sight could
do it fairly quickly for average line of sight lengths. If we only had to calculate 1 or 2 short lines of sight we could probably get away with the 50 milliseconds it took for the calculations to process, though if many locations need
to be calculated then performance could be a problem. In tests I saw some of my
queries taking up to 3 seconds when I was performing queries to find peaks
within a 150 kilometre radius of a panorama.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For this problem it’s quite practical to cache the results
of the calculations. I by no means have billions of point combinations which I
must store line of sight results for. In my website I have around 300 panoramas
and even if every panorama had 1000 mountains in a 150 kilometre radius, I’d
still only have 300,000 items to cache. Caching seems ideal in this case, our
elevation rasters are not going to be out of date in the near future. It’s far
more likely that a change would be made to the line of sight function to make
it more accurate, but in this case it would be a simple matter of purging the
cache to allow the updated function to re-calculate the results.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The first step we need to take here is to create a table
which can act as the cache.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<pre class="brush:sql;">CREATE TABLE line_of_sight_cache (
viewing_location GEOGRAPHY NOT NULL,
target_location GEOGRAPHY NOT NULL,
isvisible BOOLEAN NOT NULL,
PRIMARY KEY(viewing_location, target_location)
)</pre>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Here we’re just storing 2 locations along with a Boolean variable
to tell us if there is a line of sight between the 2 locations.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
We then need to make a few changes to the line of sight
function to allow it to write to the cache once it calculates a line of sight.<o:p></o:p></div>
<pre class="brush:sql;">CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION pano_is_point_visible_from(IN startloc GEOGRAPHY,
IN endloc GEOGRAPHY,
IN writecache BOOLEAN
) RETURNS BOOLEAN AS
$BODY$
-- This function calculates if there is a line of sight between 2 points.
-- It does this by analysing elevation data along the direct path towards
-- the destination point.
-- The comments in the function describe the process as if a person was standing
-- at the startloc (parameter) and was walking towards the endloc (parameter)
-- the walking process naturally involves steps. These steps are similar to
-- what the function does. It starts by finding the elevation at both the startloc
-- and the endloc and then calculates the pitch/angle of the line of sight.
-- The function then enters a loop, this is the walking loop, where we start
-- taking steps towards the endloc. After every step we calculate the pitch from
-- the starting location to the end location. If this pitch is ever higher or equal
-- to the pitch of the endloc then we know we cannot see the endloc from the startloc
-- as it's being obscured by our current location.
--
-- The function calculates these pitches using trig functions then it takes that
-- angle which has been calculated and subtracts the number of degrees around the
-- world that the object is away. It does this over a fixed sized sphere rather than
-- a complex spheoid. Please note that at this time atmospheric refraction is not
-- taken into account, this means that objects on the horizon could be miscalculated
-- by around half a degree! This means mountains in the distance will actually be
-- visibly slightly higher than they will be said to be by this function.
DECLARE elevationdata RASTER;
DECLARE tot_distance DOUBLE PRECISION;
DECLARE cur_distance DOUBLE PRECISION;
DECLARE bearing DOUBLE PRECISION;
DECLARE start_elevation DOUBLE PRECISION;
DECLARE end_elevation DOUBLE PRECISION;
DECLARE cur_elevation DOUBLE PRECISION;
DECLARE step_size DOUBLE PRECISION;
DECLARE curloc GEOGRAPHY;
DECLARE end_pitch DOUBLE PRECISION;
DECLARE cur_pitch DOUBLE PRECISION;
BEGIN
-- This query builds a raster which contains all of the raster data
-- between 2 points. We use ST_Makeline to create a line between our
-- starting point and our destination. It is quite possible that we'll
-- find no or just partial raster data between our 2 points. Later we
-- do test to see if we got some and return NULL if we found no data.
SELECT ST_UNION(rast) INTO elevationdata
FROM demelevation e
WHERE ST_Intersects(rast, ST_Makeline(CAST(startloc AS GEOMETRY), CAST(endloc AS GEOMETRY)));
-- If we found no data at all then we can quit... At this
-- point we have no idea if there is a line of sight, so we
-- return NULL.
IF elevationdata IS NULL THEN
RAISE NOTICE 'No elevation data found.';
RETURN NULL;
END IF;
-- We now set the elevation of our start point and our end point.
-- Note that there currently is a bit of a fuzz factor here and I'm
-- adding 2 metres to both these values. This is because at least for
-- our start value our eyes are above the ground and not on the ground,
-- so we'll have slightly more things in sight. For the end elevation
-- this is not quite the case but the 2 metres was added due to the
-- shapes of some mountains. If for example the mountain is completely
-- flat at the top and we're standing in a location lower than it, if
-- the summit location is marked in the middle of that flat area then
-- we'll not be able to see it. I did not find this ideal as in reality
-- I could see the mountain, just maybe not quite the middle of the summit,
-- so the 2 meters being added to the end_elevation is fuzz factor, it
-- perhaps should be more complex and be happy enough with seeing a point
-- within X number of meters of the summit. At the time of writing this
-- I could not decide what that value should be, so it remains like this.
start_elevation := ST_Value(elevationdata, CAST(startloc AS GEOMETRY)) + 2;
end_elevation := ST_Value(elevationdata, CAST(endloc AS GEOMETRY)) + 2;
-- Now calculate the bearing which we must "walk" to
-- our far off destination.
bearing := ST_Azimuth(startloc, endloc);
-- A variable to save the total distance we must walk.
tot_distance := ST_Distance(startloc, endloc);
-- Set our step size, smaller steps will mean more loops and slower to calculate.
-- Also there is no point in going in smaller steps than the detail of the raster.
-- This should match the raster resolution or be more than it for if performance
-- is a problem.
step_size = 30; -- metres
-- We must now work out the pitch in degrees of our line of
-- sight from our current location to the destination.
-- Here we use atan which will give us a pitch, or angle on a triangle, since
-- the earth is round we need to reduce the pitch by the number of degrees
-- around the earth that the object is. We use a fixed radius for this which
-- is not quite accurate but it will do for now. Variations caused by
-- Atmospheric Refraction will likely cause much more variation than the shape
-- of the planet.
end_pitch := degrees(atan((end_elevation - start_elevation) / tot_distance)) - (tot_distance / (6370986 * pi() * 2) * 360);
-- We now start a loop to walk to our destination.
-- Note that we stop checking the distance when we're
-- within step_size to the object, as there's no point in
-- checking if we can see the object when we're standing
-- on top of it.
-- First we just need to take our first step...
cur_distance := step_size;
WHILE cur_distance <= (tot_distance - step_size) LOOP
-- Now work out the location of our new step based on
-- our starting location, the current distance we've
-- travelled and the bearing to the destination.
curloc := ST_Project(startloc, cur_distance, bearing);
-- Now let's look at the elevation of the current location.
cur_elevation := ST_Value(elevationdata, CAST(curloc AS GEOMETRY));
--RAISE NOTICE 'start_elevation = %, end_elevation = %, cur_elevation = %, cur_distance = %, bearing = %', start_elevation, end_elevation, cur_elevation, cur_distance, degrees(bearing);
-- Calculate the pitch to our current location, same as we did for
-- the destination before the loop began.
cur_pitch := degrees(atan((cur_elevation - start_elevation) / cur_distance)) - (cur_distance / (6370986 * pi() * 2) * 360);
-- Now we simply check if the pitch to from our starting
-- point to our current location is greater or equal to
-- the pitch we calculated from the start point to the end
-- point. If it is then we can't see the end location due
-- to the current point appearing to be taller from the
-- start point.
IF cur_pitch >= end_pitch THEN
RAISE NOTICE 'Cannot see over object at pitch %. Pitch to destination is %, start elevation %, object elevation = %, distination elevation = %, dist from start = %, dist from end = %',
cur_pitch, end_pitch, start_elevation, cur_elevation, end_elevation, cur_distance, tot_distance - cur_distance;
-- Write to the cache if enabled.
IF writecache = True THEN
-- We only write if the record does not already exist.
INSERT INTO line_of_sight_cache (viewing_location,target_location,isvisible)
SELECT startloc,endloc,false
FROM (VALUES(1)) AS dual
WHERE NOT EXISTS(SELECT 1 FROM line_of_sight_cache WHERE viewing_location = startloc AND target_location = endloc);
END IF;
RETURN FALSE;
END IF;
-- Now we can take another step then start do the whole process again...
-- That is, providing we've not arrived at our destination yet.
cur_distance := cur_distance + step_size;
END LOOP;
-- Write to the cache if enabled.
IF writecache = True THEN
-- We only write if the record does not already exist.
INSERT INTO line_of_sight_cache (viewing_location,target_location,isvisible)
SELECT startloc,endloc,true
FROM (VALUES(1)) AS dual
WHERE NOT EXISTS(SELECT 1 FROM line_of_sight_cache WHERE viewing_location = startloc AND target_location = endloc);
END IF;
RETURN TRUE;
END;
$BODY$
LANGUAGE plpgsql VOLATILE
COST 1000;
</pre>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
All that’s really changed is, I added an extra parameter
named writecache which tells the function if it’s ok to write to the cache. I
then added some statements just before we return true or false to cache the
result in the cache table before resulting the result back to the calling
function or user.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
All we need to do now is modify the function which gives the visible peaks in the 150km radius from the panoramas location to try to
lookup the cache. Here is a simplified version of what I'm using:<o:p></o:p></div>
<pre class="brush:sql">SELECT osm.name,
osm.description,
osm.alt,
FROM osmdata osm
LEFT OUTER JOIN line_of_sight_cache losc ON loc = losc.viewing_location AND osm.latlong = losc.target_location
WHERE ST_DWithin(osm.latlong, loc, 150000)
AND COALESCE(losc.isvisible,pano_is_point_visible_from(loc,osm.latlong, true)) = true;
</pre>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I have a query like this inside a function. “loc” is a
parameter I pass to the function marking the location of the panorama. You can
see that I’m performing a LEFT OUTER JOIN to attempt a lookup on the cache, if
the lookup fails then losc.isvisible will be NULL, so since we’re using that
column in the call to COALESCE, that value is used when there is a matching
item in the cache, or if nothing is found then we execute the line of sight calculation
function.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
How well does it perform now you say?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Well first I’ll purge the cache to ensure we're going to hit the function each time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">test=# TRUNCATE TABLE line_of_sight_cache;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">TRUNCATE TABLE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Time: 10.033 ms<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">test=# SELECT name,elevation FROM
pano_find_osmdata_points('01010000A0E610000043C5387F1342654038F3AB3940DC45C00000000000309C40',150000);<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">
name | elevation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">------------------+-----------<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> Mount
Cook | 3755<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> Mount
Malte-Brun | 3198<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">(2 rows)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Time: 2023.655 ms<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So you can see we get our results back in around 2
seconds.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The result of executing the function once will have
cached the data into the cache table, so if we query the same query again we
should see our query will execute much faster this time.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">test=# SELECT name,elevation FROM
pano_find_osmdata_points('01010000A0E610000043C5387F1342654038F3AB3940DC45C00000000000309C40',150000);<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">
name | elevation<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">------------------+-----------<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> Mount
Cook | 3755<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"> Mount
Malte-Brun | 3198<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">(2 rows)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Time: 5.312 ms<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In this case we’ve managed to increase performance by
around 380 times. Though calculating more results in a single pass will see
that performance gap increase.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Now since I have elevation data for all of my New Zealand
panoramas I think I’d like to cache results for all of the lines of sight that
I’ll need. So I’ll just execute a quick query to fill the cache for me.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">test=# SELECT
pano_find_osmdata_points(latlong,150000) FROM pano_locations
WHERE countrycode = 'NZ';<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Time: 99265.579 ms<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The cache was filled in just under 100 seconds!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s now time for me to download elevation data for my
panoramas outside of New Zealand.<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08659694638232036329noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5838141596697831286.post-17071755904383244162013-08-02T07:18:00.000-07:002013-08-04T01:01:57.312-07:00Calculating Line of Sight with PostGIS 2.1<!--[if !mso]>
<style>
v\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
o\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
w\:* {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
.shape {behavior:url(#default#VML);}
</style>
<![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="false"
DefSemiHidden="false" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="371">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:107%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
For the past few years I’ve been working a lot with 360
degree panoramic photos and more recently I’ve been putting more and more
effort in to get to harder to reach places to get these photos. It was only
just over 1 month ago now that I decided to do a 3 day walk which was dedicated
to take a single panorama!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Lots of my recent panoramas have been in mountainous
regions and, I’m not sure about you, but when I’m in areas with lots of
mountains I normally find myself wondering, which mountain that is over there
to the North-East. It wasn’t until I discovered the existence of a mobile phone
application which helps with this that I decided to try and implement something
into my panoramas.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
My panoramas can all be viewed on my website at <a href="http://www.davidrowley.co.uk/pano.php">www.davidrowley.co.uk/pano.php</a>
here the panoramas are viewed interactively, so you can scroll around the
panorama, look up, look down, round, zoom in and out. I had already been using
PostGIS 2.0 for calculating distances to other panoramas, this allowed me to
find the nearest panoramas from another panorama accurately.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Once I had seen the mobile application which named the
peaks I decided that I would try to do something similar in my panoramas. The
platform I was using at the time was perfect to allow me to do this. I use some
software called krpano, this allows my flat 360x180 degree panoramas to become
interactive. It also allows many other things to be done, you can have hotspots
to other panoramas and even include video in your panorama to bring things to
life! </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
KRPano is programmed by making reference to XML files which contain setup
information and code to tell the panoramic viewer what to do. For me I write
these XML files dynamically using PHP and I use PHP to read details about the
panorama directly from my PostgreSQL 9.2 database. I was really already half
way to displaying the names of the mountain peaks in my viewer. It was just a
simple matter of gathering up some peak data and writing some code to layer
them onto the pano. Remember I didn’t want to have to name my peaks manually… I
wanted to have this done automatically.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The first step was gathering some peak information from
open street maps. I now had a fairly large list of mountains loaded into a
table in my database. I then added a Geography column to the table and set a
trigger to update this column from the latitude, longitude and elevation
columns. With about 1 day of work my panoramic viewer was showing me mountains.
I had written algorithms to calculate the pitch/angle to the top of the
mountain based on the elevation of the mountain and the elevation of the
panorama along with the distance between the 2. The algorithm takes into
account the curvature of the earth, but still will need some more work to
correct for atmospheric refraction.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--GqD3UP1Lis/UfxZ4mhRkoI/AAAAAAAAAKE/4fqEF5NT8LU/s1600/osmdata_table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/--GqD3UP1Lis/UfxZ4mhRkoI/AAAAAAAAAKE/4fqEF5NT8LU/s1600/osmdata_table.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
With the open street map layer enabled a typical scene
from my panoramic viewer now looked like this</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uVXbbRU_odQ/Ufu3MlpnugI/AAAAAAAAAJc/HfdFtnWLd_A/s1600/panoviewer1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uVXbbRU_odQ/Ufu3MlpnugI/AAAAAAAAAJc/HfdFtnWLd_A/s400/panoviewer1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-no-proof: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
To get this far I created a single function that sits in
the database and when passed a location and radius it returns a list of
mountain peaks which are within that radius, along with the bearing and pitch to that peak.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
When I clicked refresh on my web browser I was really
happy to see the scene above. I had learned a lot about PostGIS on this day and
was fairly happy with what the outcome was. It was just a matter of hovering
over the blue triangle and it would tell you the name and elevation of the peak
behind it!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Now, if you look more closely at the peaks in the above
image then you’ll see that some of the triangles are grouped quite closely
together. Let me zoom in and give you a closer look:</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KIc2jMJfyCw/Ufu3WsCPFeI/AAAAAAAAAJk/R3qWwhKbWRI/s1600/panoviewer2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KIc2jMJfyCw/Ufu3WsCPFeI/AAAAAAAAAJk/R3qWwhKbWRI/s400/panoviewer2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Annoyingly here the mountain named “Tableland” is
slightly lower and further away than the slightly higher “Gordon’s Pyramid”. So
really listing Tableland was wrong here as it could not actually be seen!</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This was not the only problem. I was also hitting
problems were certain panorama the mountains did not line up despite me being
totally accurate with their locations and elevations.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G1WDWSWRUhY/Ufu3hpuPZXI/AAAAAAAAAJs/oe8te17BD5I/s1600/panoviewer3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-G1WDWSWRUhY/Ufu3hpuPZXI/AAAAAAAAAJs/oe8te17BD5I/s400/panoviewer3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In the above image you can see that Mount Cook is much
lower than it’s meant to be. The problem here lies with the panorama not being
perfectly level… Something which is very hard to do in mountainous areas even
after you make sure your tripod is as level as you can get it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So it seems there’s going to be a fair bit more work to
do to get this working as I want it.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<h1>
Calculating Line of Sight</h1>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The first step was to gather up some elevation data.
Thanks to NASA and some hard work from a dedicated man in Scotland most of the
world’s elevation data is available for free here <a href="http://www.viewfinderpanoramas.org/Coverage%20map%20viewfinderpanoramas_org3.htm">http://www.viewfinderpanoramas.org/Coverage%20map%20viewfinderpanoramas_org3.htm</a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I started by downloading all the elevation data for New
Zealand, which when I loaded it into the 3dem software which can be found on
the viewfinderpanorama.org website I got this familiar shape.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S_GEGxPveS4/Ufu3oog-VII/AAAAAAAAAJ0/ecF9KhEViGA/s1600/map.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S_GEGxPveS4/Ufu3oog-VII/AAAAAAAAAJ0/ecF9KhEViGA/s400/map.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-no-proof: yes;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The next step was to figure out some way to load these
files into my PostgreSQL database. Luckily this is very simple as PostGIS comes
with a tool to turn these elevation files into an SQL file which can be
imported with psql.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I put all my .hgt into 1 directory and ran the following
command:</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt;">"C:\Program
Files\PostgreSQL\9.2\bin\raster2pgsql.exe" -s 4326 -I -C -M
"HGT\*.hgt" -F -t 75x75 public.demelevation > elevation.sql</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The above command creates a file called elevation.sql
which contains all the CREATE TABLE command and imports all the data then
properly constraints the tables to help PostgreSQL’s query planner do its job efficiently.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Before working with this elevation data I had no idea
what a raster was. So if you’re in the same boat, then it is basically a raster
when you’re talking about spatial data is a tile or array of data relating to a
patch of the surface of the planet. A raster contains its anchor point and
contains information about the resolution of the raster, and is generally very much like a
bitmap. The remainder if the data is just an array of values. In the case of
the raster’s that we are working with, this array of values is elevation data
in metres.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Once I loaded the above file I could find the elevation
for any point in New Zealand with the following command:</div>
<pre class="brush:sql">SELECT ST_VALUE(e.rast, ST_SetSRID(St_MakePoint(170.1420703, -43.594937), 4326))
FROM demelevation e
WHERE ST_Intersects(e.rast, ST_SetSRID(St_MakePoint(170.1420703, -43.594937), 4326));
</pre>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What’s happening here is, we first need to find the
raster tile for the location that we’re looking in, so ST_Intersects in the
WHERE clause will gather all rasters with data about this location. With the
resulting rasters, in this case, since we have no overlap then we only should
have 1. We then ask that raster for its value for the same location. When I run
this command I get the following:</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">test=# SELECT ST_VALUE(e.rast,
ST_SetSRID(St_MakePoint(170.1420703, -43.594937), 4326))</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">test-# FROM demelevation e</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">test-# WHERE ST_Intersects(e.rast,
ST_SetSRID(St_MakePoint(170.1420703, -43.594937), 4326));</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>st_value</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">----------</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>3712</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">(1 row)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">Time: 1.499 ms</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This is the approximate elevation of Mount Cook, the
highest mountain in New Zealand. Also you might notice that the database
returned this result to me quite quickly at around 1.5 milliseconds. This is amazingly fast and it's made possible by putting a gist index on the rast column.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So now it’s time to build a function which will calculate
if there is a line of sight between 2 points.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The first step we’d need to take here is to get a raster
which contains all of the rasters between 2 points. Since we can merge rasters
with ST_Union we can run a query like the following.</div>
<pre class="brush:sql">SELECT ST_Union(rast)
FROM demelevation
WHERE ST_Intersects(rast, ST_SetSRID(ST_MakeLine(St_MakePoint(171, -43), St_MakePoint(171, -44)), 4326));
</pre>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This will return a single column, single row result
containing a raster with all tiles merged for a line between E171 degrees, S43
degrees and E171 degrees, S44 degrees. We now need to save that raster for
processing so we can determine if there’s something along that line which will
block our line of sight…<br />
<br />
I came up with the following function which takes 2 geography parameters and returns true or false depending on if there is a line of sight between the 2 locations. Null is returns if there is no raster data and currently it's a bit undefined if there is partial raster data. Please note that the function currently does not take into account atmospheric refrations, which can have quite a big effect on objects near the horizon and may very well report things not to have a line of sight when they actually do. Currently I'm not quite sure how these should be calculated as most of the methods I've seen calculated for celestial bodies rather than objects on the face of the earth. I would imagine this also must take into account the distance of the object. If you have any ideas how I could implement this then please leave a comment.<br />
<pre class="brush:sql">CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION pano_is_point_visible_from(IN startloc GEOGRAPHY,
IN endloc GEOGRAPHY
) RETURNS BOOLEAN AS
$BODY$
-- This function calculates if there is a line of sight between 2 points.
-- It does this by analysing elevation data along the direct path towards
-- the destination point.
-- The comments in the function describe the process as if a person was standing
-- at the startloc (parameter) and was walking towards the endloc (parameter)
-- the walking process naturally involves steps. These steps are similar to
-- what the function does. It starts by finding the elevation at both the startloc
-- and the endloc and then calculates the pitch/angle of the line of sight.
-- The function then enters a loop, this is the walking loop, where we start
-- taking steps towards the endloc. After every step we calculate the pitch from
-- the starting location to the end location. If this pitch is ever higher or equal
-- to the pitch of the endloc then we know we cannot see the endloc from the startloc
-- as it's being obscured by our current location.
--
-- The function calculates these pitches using trig functions then it takes that
-- angle which has been calculated and subtracts the number of degrees around the
-- world that the object is away. It does this over a fixed sized sphere rather than
-- a complex spheoid. Please note that at this time atmospheric refraction is not
-- taken into account, this means that objects on the horizon could be miscalculated
-- by around half a degree! This means mountains in the distance will actually be
-- visibly slightly higher than they will be said to be by this function.
DECLARE elevationdata RASTER;
DECLARE tot_distance DOUBLE PRECISION;
DECLARE cur_distance DOUBLE PRECISION;
DECLARE bearing DOUBLE PRECISION;
DECLARE start_elevation DOUBLE PRECISION;
DECLARE end_elevation DOUBLE PRECISION;
DECLARE cur_elevation DOUBLE PRECISION;
DECLARE step_size DOUBLE PRECISION;
DECLARE curloc GEOGRAPHY;
DECLARE end_pitch DOUBLE PRECISION;
DECLARE cur_pitch DOUBLE PRECISION;
BEGIN
-- This query builds a raster which contains all of the raster data
-- between 2 points. We use ST_Makeline to create a line between our
-- starting point and our destination. It is quite possible that we'll
-- find no or just partial raster data between our 2 points. Later we
-- do test to see if we got some and return NULL if we found no data.
SELECT ST_UNION(rast) INTO elevationdata
FROM demelevation e
WHERE ST_Intersects(rast, ST_Makeline(CAST(startloc AS GEOMETRY), CAST(endloc AS GEOMETRY)));
-- If we found no data at all then we can quit... At this
-- point we have no idea if there is a line of sight, so we
-- return NULL.
IF elevationdata IS NULL THEN
RAISE NOTICE 'No elevation data found.';
RETURN NULL;
END IF;
-- We now set the elevation of our start point and our end point.
-- Note that there currently is a bit of a fuzz factor here and I'm
-- adding 2 metres to both these values. This is because at least for
-- our start value our eyes are above the ground and not on the ground,
-- so we'll have slightly more things in sight. For the end elevation
-- this is not quite the case but the 2 metres was added due to the
-- shapes of some mountains. If for example the mountain is completely
-- flat at the top and we're standing in a location lower than it, if
-- the summit location is marked in the middle of that flat area then
-- we'll not be able to see it. I did not find this ideal as in reality
-- I could see the mountain, just maybe not quite the middle of the summit,
-- so the 2 meters being added to the end_elevation is fuzz factor, it
-- perhaps should be more complex and be happy enough with seeing a point
-- within X number of meters of the summit. At the time of writing this
-- I could not decide what that value should be, so it remains like this.
start_elevation := ST_Value(elevationdata, CAST(startloc AS GEOMETRY)) + 2;
end_elevation := ST_Value(elevationdata, CAST(endloc AS GEOMETRY)) + 2;
-- Now calculate the bearing which we must "walk" to
-- our far off destination.
bearing := ST_Azimuth(startloc, endloc);
-- A variable to save the total distance we must walk.
tot_distance := ST_Distance(startloc, endloc);
-- Set our step size, smaller steps will mean more loops and slower to calculate.
-- Also there is no point in going in smaller steps than the detail of the raster.
-- This should match the raster resolution or be more than it for if performance
-- is a problem.
step_size = 30; -- metres
-- We must now work out the pitch in degrees of our line of
-- sight from our current location to the destination.
-- Here we use atan which will give us a pitch, or angle on a triangle, since
-- the earth is round we need to reduce the pitch by the number of degrees
-- around the earth that the object is. We use a fixed radius for this which
-- is not quite accurate but it will do for now. Variations caused by
-- Atmospheric Refraction will likely cause much more variation than the shape
-- of the planet.
end_pitch := degrees(atan((end_elevation - start_elevation) / tot_distance)) - (tot_distance / (6370986 * pi() * 2) * 360);
-- We now start a loop to walk to our destination.
-- Note that we stop checking the distance when we're
-- within step_size to the object, as there's no point in
-- checking if we can see the object when we're standing
-- on top of it.
-- First we just need to take our first step...
cur_distance := step_size;
WHILE cur_distance <= (tot_distance - step_size) LOOP
-- Now work out the location of our new step based on
-- our starting location, the current distance we've
-- travelled and the bearing to the destination.
curloc := ST_Project(startloc, cur_distance, bearing);
-- Now let's look at the elevation of the current location.
cur_elevation := ST_Value(elevationdata, CAST(curloc AS GEOMETRY));
--RAISE NOTICE 'start_elevation = %, end_elevation = %, cur_elevation = %, cur_distance = %, bearing = %', start_elevation, end_elevation, cur_elevation, cur_distance, degrees(bearing);
-- Calculate the pitch to our current location, same as we did for
-- the destination before the loop began.
cur_pitch := degrees(atan((cur_elevation - start_elevation) / cur_distance)) - (cur_distance / (6370986 * pi() * 2) * 360);
-- Now we simply check if the pitch to from our starting
-- point to our current location is greater or equal to
-- the pitch we calculated from the start point to the end
-- point. If it is then we can't see the end location due
-- to the current point appearing to be taller from the
-- start point.
IF cur_pitch >= end_pitch THEN
RAISE NOTICE 'Cannot see over object at pitch %. Pitch to destination is %, start elevation %, object elevation = %, distination elevation = %, dist from start = %, dist from end = %',
cur_pitch, end_pitch, start_elevation, cur_elevation, end_elevation, cur_distance, tot_distance - cur_distance;
RETURN FALSE;
END IF;
-- Now we can take another step then start do the whole process again...
-- That is, providing we've not arrived at our destination yet.
cur_distance := cur_distance + step_size;
END LOOP;
RETURN TRUE;
END;
$BODY$
LANGUAGE plpgsql STABLE
COST 1000;
</pre>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
We can now check if we have a line of sight by using the function like this:<br />
<pre class="brush:sql">SELECT pano_is_point_visible_from(
ST_SetSrid(St_MakePoint(170.06488,-43.72071),4326),
ST_SetSrid(St_MakePoint(170.1420703,-43.594937),4326)
);
</pre>
<br />
<br />
Above I asked the function if it is possible to see the summit of Mount Cook from near mueller hut.<br />
The function tells me that it is.<br />
<br />
Now if I'm standing at the same spot, I know that in reality that I can't see Mount Tasman... So let's check if we're getting the correct results.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">test=# select pano_is_point_visible_from(ST_SETSRID(St_MakePoint(170.06488,-43.72071),4326), ST_SetSrid(St_MakePoint(170.1572352,-43.5657091),4326));</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">NOTICE: Cannot see over object at pitch 4.94936475078937. Pitch to destination is 4.83525382423895, start elevation 1815, object elevation = 3002, distination e</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">levation = 3458, dist from start = 13380, dist from end = 5384.461198757</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> pano_is_point_visible_from</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">----------------------------</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> f</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">(1 row)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Time: 64.390 ms</span><br />
<br />
If we read the notice raised by the function we can see that we've hit land 13.38km from our starting point and the land we hit was at 3002 metres above sea level.<br />
<br />
You can also see that the result was calculated fairly quickly at 64 milliseconds... Though if we need to calculate many points this is likely to become a problem. In the next blog I'll talk about how I optimised the line of slight calculations to cache results in a table. This is practical for my workload and improves performance around 300-400 times. <a href="http://davidrowley.blogspot.co.nz/2013/08/optimising-line-of-sight-calculations.html">http://davidrowley.blogspot.co.nz/2013/08/optimising-line-of-sight-calculations.html</a><br />
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08659694638232036329noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5838141596697831286.post-30173127987888701252012-08-25T17:42:00.003-07:002013-08-08T05:28:19.687-07:00Shetland IslesSo who knew that there was a small Island right in between Orkney and Shetland? <br />
<br />
It wasn't until I was on the ferry going from Orkney to Shetland that I was looking at the map on my GPS, when I discovered there was a small island that sits pretty much right in the middle of the mainland islands of Orkney and Shetland. I had nothing that told me anything about it, just a little dot on my map with the writing "Fair Isle" next to it. I didn't have any other information and had no means of getting any, but I was able to work out that the Ferry would be sailing passed it about 4am.<br />
So I set my alarm.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dagu5Snnhbk/UDfGcWp92EI/AAAAAAAAAEI/vbsyLzYcPHQ/s1600/map3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dagu5Snnhbk/UDfGcWp92EI/AAAAAAAAAEI/vbsyLzYcPHQ/s400/map3.png" width="400" /> </a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The sun had not quite risen yet, but you could see a little bit of light coming from the North East horizon. I didn't know if the island would be flat or have cliffs or even if anyone lived there, but when it appeared I was quite impressed with the big sea cliffs. It really set me off in a good mood for the rest of that day.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AvkFxs9Gk7A/UDfIUCVoQnI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/0JR-zRD7n_g/s1600/fair_isle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AvkFxs9Gk7A/UDfIUCVoQnI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/0JR-zRD7n_g/s400/fair_isle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A few hours later the ferry arrived in Lerwick and I was on my way North to the most Northerly point in the UK, which is close to an area that I sailed passed a short time before while on the way back from Iceland.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I had 2 more ferry crossings before I could get to this most Northerly point. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
My mood for the day was about as laid back as you can get. I arrived at the ferry port at the North end of the mainland of Shetland to take the ferry to and island called Yell. It was about then I discover I had no cash left, so I headed south again in search of a cash point. Back at the ferry port now with some cash, some bacon and some eggs for breakfast. I relaxed in the sun and cooked and replied to a back log of emails with the free WIFI at the ferry port. I probably missed 6 or so ferries in the process.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<iframe bgcolor="#000000" frameborder="0" height="400" src="http://www.360cities.net/embed_iframe/waiting-for-the-ferry-to-yell-scotland" target="_blank" width="560"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://www.360cities.net/image/waiting-for-the-ferry-to-yell-scotland" title="Panorama photos of Waiting For The Ferry To Yell on 360cities.net">Waiting For The Ferry To Yell</a> in <a href="http://www.360cities.net/area/Scotland" title="Panoramic images from scotland">scotland</a>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It was early afternoon before took the short 15 minute ferry ride over to Yell. I rode to the North end of the island and took another ferry over to another Island, Unst, and rode to the North side of it. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It's times like these that I envy car drivers a bit. When it comes to leaving my bike to go walking, it is never a simple operation. My camera gear always comes with me and the empty space it leaves is taken up by my motorbike clothes. It sounds simple enough to say here, but the whole operation of moving this gear over and getting changed never seems to happen as quickly as I think it should. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I was walking towards the most Northerly Lighthouse in the UK. I had no way to actually get to the lighthouse as it was built on top of a rock which is several hundred metres North of the most Northerly part of Unst. The path I followed took me around the west side of the peninsula. Puffins! Wow, I saw hundreds of Puffins. They also don't seem to be too bothered by human presense as you can get quite close without them getting scared. Of course you should always respect them and give them some room to do their nesting chores.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zoi5s4SBi0M/UDfimRkHirI/AAAAAAAAAEg/LHKAMRZicEw/s1600/puffins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Zoi5s4SBi0M/UDfimRkHirI/AAAAAAAAAEg/LHKAMRZicEw/s400/puffins.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This place is a haven for sea birds, there are thousands of them! Some large rocks off shore are completely covered in nesting birds. Puffins have got to be the most entertaining of them to watch.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<iframe bgcolor="#000000" frameborder="0" height="400" src="http://www.360cities.net/embed_iframe/puffins-near-muckle-flugga-scotland" target="_blank" width="560"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://www.360cities.net/image/puffins-near-muckle-flugga-scotland" title="Panorama photos of Puffins near Muckle Flugga on 360cities.net">Puffins near Muckle Flugga</a> in <a href="http://www.360cities.net/area/Scotland" title="Panoramic images from scotland">scotland</a>
<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08659694638232036329noreply@blogger.com0Shetland Islands, UK60.5296507 -1.265940859.529891199999994 -3.7927963 61.5294102 1.2609146999999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5838141596697831286.post-2033586700058490852012-08-24T07:46:00.002-07:002013-08-08T05:24:48.905-07:00The long way to Shetland<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CDkhgteNOp4/UDeakXu9-sI/AAAAAAAAAD4/E15BluNc088/s1600/map.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CDkhgteNOp4/UDeakXu9-sI/AAAAAAAAAD4/E15BluNc088/s400/map.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
It was only a little over a month ago that I was on my way back from Iceland on the ferry. I had been travelling on my motorbike around Iceland and it was now time to start the slow journey home to Scotland. It takes 2 days for this Ferry to get from Iceland to Denmark! 2 days! Not that the ferry is slow or anything, it is just a long way. I found the most depressing part of the journey, for me was that we sailed right passed Shetland, a group of islands just off the North coast of Scotland. Now... when I say sailed passed, actually the islands are in the way and the ferry has to make a small detour from a direct route to Denmark to avoid crashing into them. I woke up in the morning the day after the ferry left the Faroe Islands only to see that we were sailing right passed Muckle Flugga Lighthouse, at the most Northerly point in the UK. I picked up a mobile phone signal from Shetland and phoned my brother, for free for the first time in months. The whole experience of watching your destination country disappear over the horizon made me a little uneasy, if the ferry could have just let me off I could have been home the next day instead of in 4 days. As the islands finally disappeared and my phone signal dropped out I began to think about Shetland... despite having been born in Scotland and having lived there most of my
life... the furthest North I had been was Dunnet Head, which is the most
Northerly point of the <b>mainland </b>of the UK.... I've never been to Shetland before!<br />
<br />
I really wanted to get to Shetland to see what was there, but also find out if there was some way I could, one day, get on a boat there and get myself to the Faroe Islands so that I could get the ship back to Iceland and see some of the places that I missed.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
Finally I arrived home 4 days later having ridden 1000km (600 miles) from the Ferry terminal in Denmark to the Ferry port near Amsterdam in Holland and taking the overnight Ferry to Newcastle in the North of England then riding home (another 250 km (150 miles)). <br />
<br />
Once home, I found I didn't really have much to do there... I had a day to be photographer at a friend's wedding, then another few days to finish working on all the photos. I was bored by that time and decided that it is still summer time... I shouldn't waste too much more of it at home. I decided it was time to get back on the bike again and visit that little group of Islands that I had sailed passed just a week or so before. <br />
<br />
<br />
My home in the South West of Scotland is about as far away from Shetland as you'll get and still be in Scotland. I really didn't want to just ride passed everything in between, so I rode up the West coast of Scotland taking a week before I got on the Ferry to the Orkney Isles. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LnqT2HN_mX0/UDd7N4qK9-I/AAAAAAAAADA/Yg0Plr25Vc0/s1600/map2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="365" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LnqT2HN_mX0/UDd7N4qK9-I/AAAAAAAAADA/Yg0Plr25Vc0/s400/map2.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
As always I didn't really have much of a plan. I knew very little about Orkney and Shetland. The whole point of going there was to find out what was there.<br />
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->About a week after leaving home, I finally reached a little town called Scrabster in the North of the mainland of Scotland. Going by my map there was a ferry link from here to Orkney, then another one from Orkney to Shetland. Visiting the ferry office I found out there was a ferry in a few hours and I managed to get myself and my motorbike booked onto that ferry despite it being one of Orkney's busiest weekends. While on the Ferry I learnt that some of the UK's biggest sea cliffs are here and that the tallest sea stack.. "The old man of Hoy" is here too.... I just had to go and see it! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fwgL9kXI_ho/UDd_DKbMshI/AAAAAAAAADQ/ihmvPyb43Z4/s1600/old_man_of_hoy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Old man of hoy from the Ferry to Orkney" border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fwgL9kXI_ho/UDd_DKbMshI/AAAAAAAAADQ/ihmvPyb43Z4/s400/old_man_of_hoy.jpg" title="St John's head and the Old man of Hoy from the Ferry to Orkney" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I spent that night in Stromness in Orkney and made some plans to get to a smaller Island called Hoy. This is Hoy, home to the "Old man of hoy".<br />
<br />
At 11am the next day I was on Hoy with my Motorbike looking up towards the hills. Hoy seems to be the only island out of all of islands that make up Orkney that has any sort of hills. I wanted to climb to the top of Ward Hill, which is the highest hill on Orkney, but it was pointless as the cloud was down at about 100 metres and even the old man of Hoy would have been hidden. Today was just not a good day. I made an attempt to kill some time in order to give the weather a chance to improve.<br />
<br />
I set off to explore the island, making it to the far west side, then the far east side. I felt like a fly in a jam jar. The island felt too small and I couldn't get in the right frame of mind to want to explore. Later in the day rode over a causeway onto another smaller island (Longhope) and found myself at a lighthouse. By this time I was not feeling great, I had picked up a cold or some sort of bug while at my friends wedding and it was still haunting me. I felt like I had no energy and to avoid falling asleep while riding my bike I decided to park and rest for a while. I woke up several hours later still on the seat but hunched over the petrol tank using my hands with the gloves still on as a pillow between the handle bars and the petrol tank. I was still feeling tired, but just didn't have the energy to put up my tent. I was also worried that if I fell asleep on the bike again, I'd end up falling over and the bike landing on top of me in my sleep. This time instead of staying on the bike, I lay down on the ground and used the front wheel as a pillow and slept for another few hours.<br />
<br />
It was now 8pm, still light. I had been sleeping for 4 hours total. I quickly put up my tent and crawled inside.<br />
<br />
I woke the next day at 11am having slept for about 21 hours. I felt better but still not 100%. The good news was that the cloud had lifted in the night and the sun was out. After packing up I made my way over to Rackwick, where the walking path starts for the old man of hoy. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d12xH4LVKIg/UDeKRzQZQnI/AAAAAAAAADg/oD4lrz1lYF0/s1600/climbing_the_old_man.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d12xH4LVKIg/UDeKRzQZQnI/AAAAAAAAADg/oD4lrz1lYF0/s640/climbing_the_old_man.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
One hour later I was sitting at the top of a 100 meter cliff watching some climbers climbing to the top of the old man. I watched them for a few hours and in the meantime I managed to work out the path they had taken down the cliff to get to the base. Once the climbers made it to the top and were on their way back down I made my way down the cliff to set up my camera on the tripod and get a panoramic photo of the scene. By this time the sun had come around to the west a bit more and lowered in the sky. The sun was lighting up the sea cliffs and the sandstone walls of the old man. <br />
<br />
<iframe bgcolor="#000000" frameborder="0" height="400" src="http://www.360cities.net/embed_iframe/the-old-man-of-hoy-scotland" target="_blank" width="560"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://www.360cities.net/image/the-old-man-of-hoy-scotland" title="Panorama photos of The Old Man Of Hoy on 360cities.net">The Old Man Of Hoy</a> in <a href="http://www.360cities.net/area/Scotland" title="Panoramic images from scotland">scotland</a>
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.360cities.net/image/the-old-man-of-hoy-scotland" title="panorama photos of The Old Man Of Hoy on 360cities.net">The Old Man Of Hoy</a> in <a href="http://www.360cities.net/area/scotland" title="panoramic images from Scotland">Scotland</a><br />
<br />
The following morning I made my way back to the mainland of Orkney and explored some more. I learnt about the Churchill Barriers and how the British naval fleet had used Orkney as a base during World War 2. I visited a small chapel which was built by some Italian prisoners of war.<br />
<br />
<iframe bgcolor="#000000" frameborder="0" height="400" src="http://www.360cities.net/embed_iframe/italian-chapel-scotland" target="_blank" width="560"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://www.360cities.net/image/italian-chapel-scotland" title="Panorama photos of Italian Chapel on 360cities.net">Italian Chapel</a> in <a href="http://www.360cities.net/area/Scotland" title="Panoramic images from scotland">scotland</a>
<br />
<br />
Evening came and it got to that time of day that I felt like I should find a place to sleep for the night. I glanced at the Ferry timetable that I had picked up while waiting for the Ferry to Orkney and discovered that I could get the ferry to Shetland either tonight or I'd have to wait for 2 more days. Not really knowing what the rest of Orkney had in store for me and looking at the calendar and seeing that time was not really on my side, I decided to try to get myself on the Shetland Ferry which was due to arrive in Kirkwall just before midnight.<br />
<br />
On arriving at the Ferry terminal I discovered that due to the busy weekend of events that were on in Orkney the ferry was fully booked. They said I could go on standby and if there was any space then I could travel.... I agreed to risk it and I waited around, the Ferry arrived about 11pm. It was very dark by this time and I wondered where I could sleep if I didn't get on the ferry. I watched as the ferry was loaded, having no idea if I would be getting on it or not. I had always thought that there was always space for motorbikes, they take up so little room! But these thoughts had been crushed when I was turned away from the "full" ferry to Skye only 1 week before.<br />
<br />
I had no idea if I'd be on Shetland the following day and no idea what to do if I had to stay on Orkney... <br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08659694638232036329noreply@blogger.com0Shetland Islands, UK60.5296507 -1.265940859.529891199999994 -3.7927963 61.5294102 1.2609146999999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5838141596697831286.post-76051014242971275062012-07-24T14:02:00.000-07:002013-08-08T05:22:01.269-07:00Iceland Part 3<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="false"
DefSemiHidden="false" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="371">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next day the only rain I experienced was walking to the
base of the waterfall. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes it’s hard to make the decision… Do I take off my
motorbike gear or keep it on when going for walks… It’s sometimes a simple
decision and sometimes impossible to know which is best. If it’s hot weather
than it’s quite an easy decision, but when it’s cold then it seems to depend on
how long the walk is. I’d take a wild guess that I use 4 times more energy
walking with the motorbike gear on, but then I take up a lot of time taking it
off and packing it away into the boxes on the bike. I sometimes feel like an
old man when I walk with my motorbike gear on. I get tired so quickly, my legs
overheat and I have to rest lots to cool down. I don’t feel out of breath, I
just feel too hot. I’m glad it’s not a hot climate, but then if it was I’d have
taken my gear off…. Probably…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There can’t be anywhere else in the world like it… Well,
maybe I’ve just never been anywhere like it. I would ride for what seemed like
ages but only make it a few kilometres. In and out, in and out. The Fjords made
the travelling slow around here. Sometimes I’d ride 40 kilometres and only make
a few kilometres in actual distance,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>because I’d just ridding around to the other side other the fjord. But
it’s not just once… this was happening all day, and all the next day. It really
was slow going. When I travel like this I sometimes feel like it’s pointless.
I’m just sitting on the bike all day looking at things passing by. I feel bad
sometimes, I should be stopping and exploring, but then what could I see that I
couldn’t see from the road? Well, I won’t know unless I stop!, but where should
I stop? It’s all so amazing. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<iframe bgcolor="#000000" frameborder="0" height="400" src="http://www.360cities.net/embed_iframe/arnarfjrur-iceland" target="_blank" width="560"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://www.360cities.net/image/arnarfjrur-iceland" title="Panorama photos of Arnarfjörður on 360cities.net">Arnarfjörður</a> in <a href="http://www.360cities.net/area/Iceland" title="Panoramic images from iceland">iceland</a>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<iframe bgcolor="#000000" frameborder="0" height="400" src="http://www.360cities.net/embed_iframe/dyrafjordur-iceland" target="_blank" width="560"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://www.360cities.net/image/dyrafjordur-iceland" title="Panorama photos of Dýrafjörður on 360cities.net">Dýrafjörður</a> in <a href="http://www.360cities.net/area/Iceland" title="Panoramic images from iceland">iceland</a>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Days later I came out of the area of the Western Fjords
feeling like I had got the lay of the land. I now knew roughly what it looked
like but I failed to feel like I had explored. I sometimes don’t mind that
because it allows me to look at a map and then have a mental picture of what an
area looks like, but then could I not do that by looking at pictures of the
area on the internet? Maybe… but it’s not the same. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When the roads are quiet and the surface is good I always
find myself passing the time by thinking about something other than riding the
bike. Today I was starting to realise that my time in Iceland was running out.
I really wanted to take a panoramic photo that summed the country up in 1 go. I
tried to imagine what the photo would look like… Surely it would need to have a
glacier in it… Oh and a volcano… I thought that was good as they go hand in
hand in Iceland, but it will need something else since they do go hand in hand.
I wondered what that thing was… I didn’t want it to be anything man made as the
country cries out “Wild wild wild”. I wondered if it should be horses, then
after a while decided that was a good idea… So I need to find a place with a
glacier, volcano and some horses. I liked the idea… the horses would take up
the foreground and the glacier and volcano the background. The problem was that
I had already passed the area of Iceland where I could have probably got that
photo, there were no glaciers where I was and the closest ones were too remote
for there to be any fields with horses in them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was now feeling like I was starting to have deadlines
again. I followed the main highway 1 east along the North side of the country
all the way to an area called Myvatn. Tonight was the night I would finally fit
my off road tyres, for tomorrow I’m doing my first real off road in Iceland. I
now had mentally planned out each day that was left in my trip and I had set
myself a strict face paced schedule to keep until I got on the ferry.<br />
<br />
<iframe bgcolor="#000000" frameborder="0" height="400" src="http://www.360cities.net/embed_iframe/horses-near-myvatn-iceland" target="_blank" width="560"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://www.360cities.net/image/horses-near-myvatn-iceland" title="Panorama photos of Horses Near Myvatn on 360cities.net">Horses Near Myvatn</a> in <a href="http://www.360cities.net/area/Iceland" title="Panoramic images from iceland">iceland</a>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I found a camp next the Myvatn late and set up my tent. Once
my tent was up my bike was hauled onto the centre stand again and the back
wheel was removed and the tyre was let down. Ever since my days of travelling
bike motorbike in Australia I’ve been self-sufficient with tyres. I always fit
my own tyres and I always fix my own punctures. I always carry tyre leavers,
patches, spare tubes and a pump. I wouldn’t say I’m amazing at fitting them as
I always struggle at lining the inner tube valve up with the hole in the rim
while trying to give myself room for my fingers with the tyre levers. 1 hour
and 15 minutes later my bike was looking extra mean with brand new off road
tyres. I was now excited and couldn’t wait for tomorrow to come!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EGfKcWId3ts/UPMt7U1eUtI/AAAAAAAAAIo/qyrDurLE1BU/s1600/offroadtyres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EGfKcWId3ts/UPMt7U1eUtI/AAAAAAAAAIo/qyrDurLE1BU/s400/offroadtyres.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The following day was pretty fast paced. I was at the top of
a volcano, or more accurately a cinder cone looking over the lake, Myvatn. Then
a bit later I was looking mud pools and volcanic vents forcing stream up out
into the atmosphere while trying not to gag at the awful sulphur smell, before
I knew it I was standing at mightiest waterfall that I’ve ever seen. (I later
learned it was likely Europe’s most powerful). By late evening I was behind in
my schedule. I worked out that I needed to double back to Myvatn to get fuel as
I had wasted enough to put me in danger of running out before the next time I
could get fuel. This set me back a fair bit. I had planned to be as close as I
could get to a place called Askja.<br />
<br />
<iframe bgcolor="#000000" frameborder="0" height="400" src="http://www.360cities.net/embed_iframe/hverfjall-iceland" target="_blank" width="560"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://www.360cities.net/image/hverfjall-iceland" title="Panorama photos of Hverfjall on 360cities.net">Hverfjall</a> in <a href="http://www.360cities.net/area/Iceland" title="Panoramic images from iceland">iceland</a>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My bike was now fully fuelled up, probably quite dangerously
I even had filled up the part of the tank that is meant to allow the fuel to
expand on a hot day… But I didn’t expect any of those so I put fuel there
instead and headed East. I pulled off the highway into the turn off for road
F88. The “F” means it’s for four wheel drives only. I stopped the bike and
started reading the array of signs that had been put up with information about
the road. No hire cars allowed, I got that… But I wanted information about any
river crossings on the road, I then found a sign for that, it showed me where
they all were, but I had no idea how deep they would be.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It had been a while since I had been on rough roads with a
motorbike. I felt out of my depth riding this heavy bike up this badly
corrugated track. I was introduced to these “Corrugations” when I was 20 years
old when I was riding my motorbike Cape York in the very North of Australia.
Ok, so you might ask…. What are they? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, think of walking along a sandy beach at
low tide and seeing the ripples in the sand that the sea left as it went out,
or think of an old fashioned washboard that was used to scrub clothes clean.
Basically on gravel roads, sandy roads, or clay roads it’s possible for a
similar thing to form. The corrugations are always run left to right along the
width of the road, so riding down the road means riding over the corrugations.
The size of them varies wildly where sometimes they’re small enough not to
notice, and sometimes riding over them is almost impossible. The corrugations I
found on F88 I found were more towards the impossible end of the scale.
Normally I keep my map neatly tucked in between the seat and petrol tank the
corrugations soon made that disappear. I had to stop and drop me tyre pressures
down to try to flatten the tyre enough to not go as deep into them and soften
the blow when I hit the peaks of the next one. Speed is an issue, going slowly
enough to not get the vibration means you’ll be going slower than walking speed
and if you go faster than 50 mph (80km/h) you can start to skip over them. The
problem with that is that the tyres are not 100% on the ground all the time and
steering gets to be a problem sometimes.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
An hour or so down the track the corrugations were starting
to feel more normal. It made me remember about how my own standards of a track
would change wildly depending on what I had been riding over before I got to
the track, and since I had just come from a nice highway onto this track then
it’s no wonder I thought it was rough. If I had come off a track with deep rutted
soft sand then I’d probably have thought this was easy!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The first of the river crossings didn’t slow me down too
much. I parked the bike a few metres from the edge and jumped off. I had bought
some black bin bags when I filled up with fuel. I had seen a man on a motorbike
about a week before who had the remains of some bin bags around his legs… The
idea clicked at the time, I thought it would be a great way of making temporary
waders to walk into deep water with without getting my legs wet. I unrolled 2
bags from the roll, one for each leg and walked into the water holding onto one
with each hand so they didn’t fall down to my ankles. My feet were soaked
within seconds as the small stones pierced their way into the bags. The water
was not too deep and the bottom was not too rough. I walked back to the bike
and carefully rode it into the river. The water came over the foot rests but it
didn’t bother me as my feet were already wet. The water was nowhere near as
cold as I’d have imagined it would have been either!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It was getting late by this time. I didn’t see any other
traffic on the road. It made the whole thing feel like a bit more of an
adventure. I always find it disappointing when I’m travelling somewhere that I
think is remote then when I arrive I find there is 100’s of people already
there… I remembering when I had travelled with my motorbike in Australia, I had
made it to a waterfall called Mitchell Falls which is in a remote area in the
Kimberley region of Western Australia, I parked the bike up next to 2 4 wheel
drives, which were the only 2 in site and walked the 3 kilometres to the falls
only to find over 100 people sitting in a pool at the top of the falls… It
didn’t add up… 2 4 wheel drives with 100 people?? It turned out a cruise ship
was off the coast and all these people were brought in via helicopter.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I soon came to another river crossing. It was now passed
10pm and I thought there was probably no chance that I’d meet other traffic on
this track. I once again stopped the bike before the edge of the river, this
time I didn’t bother with the black bags, I just walked right in. In the middle
the water was almost at the level where men think twice to go any deeper,
especially in Iceland. This time the water was cold, I was uncontrollably
making screeching noises at the cold! I thought that it must be fresh glacial
melt water as it felt like it was bearly above freezing. I found that if I
walked down river a little that the water was a bit more shallow. It would have
been crazy to try and cross in the middle as the water would have come over the
motorbike’s seat and dropping it in that depth would have given me massive
problems, especially since it was likely nobody would come to my aid at that
time of night. Downriver the water was just over knee deep, which I remembered
to be just over 60cm from my days in Australia. I knew that was about my limit
for my old Yamaha Tenere, but I’d never taken my Africa Twin into water
anywhere near this deep before. I thought maybe I should camp and see if the water
was any lower in the morning, It’s quite common for rivers with glacial melt
water to be high at the end of the day as the glaciers melt much more in the
day than at night. A sign quite clearly stated I was not allowed to camp. But
not through wanting to obey the sign I decided to continue and see what
happens… After all if anything was to go wrong, then it would “all just be part
of the adventure”.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I jumped on the bike, started the engine and slowly let go
of the clutch lever. The front wheel was about completely under the water, as
the back made it to the same depth I could feel my panniers dragging in the
water. I kept the revs steady but kept my hand on the clutch just a little so
if I hit anything under the water I wouldn’t stall the engine, doing this also
let me ride a bit slower. The back wheel started to spin in the soft gravel
riverbed and the bike, though it didn’t stop moving dug its way in a little
deeper under the water. Just as I was at the stage of panic that I was going to
be stuck in the middle, the bike started to rise out of the other side….. front
wheel out... back wheel out… cough! And the engine just died.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was now freezing! That water was much colder than the
first river I crossed. I was at the stage of not being able to think clearly,
taking badly thought out risks, the whole idea of crossing at this time of
night was a badly thought out idea. I could have camped and waited for the
first 4 wheel drive in the morning to watch me cross and help tow the bike out
if I dropped it or drowned the engine. But instead now I was sitting with the
back wheel barely out the water with a bike that just stopped running. All this
went through my head in about a millisecond as that one millisecond later I had
pressed the start button and the bike burst into life again, I gave it a rev
and let go the clutch and wheel span all the way up the far side back onto the
level ground again. Phew!<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08659694638232036329noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5838141596697831286.post-56522342059378657412012-07-23T15:07:00.000-07:002013-08-08T05:17:22.885-07:00Iceland Part 2I was now travelling by myself for the first time in almost 2 months. I had no travel buddy, no deadlines to meet but I only had 9 days left in Iceland before I had to be back at the ferry to head home again.<br />
<br />
After I dropped Kiya off at the airport I went back to pick up my off road tyres from the camp ground where I had left them 1 week before. The road tyres on the bike now had done almost 10,000 miles (16,000 km) and were looking quite slick.<br />
<br />
I was not dealing with being alone very well, my motivation was low. Normally I’d be excited at the thought of another chapter starting. Thinking back to how excited I was the day I arrived in Iceland my mood today just did not make sense. I thought back to when Mila and I rode up the pass after leaving the ferry and how amazing I thought everything looked through my fresh eyes. Why can’t I feel that way again? Is Iceland getting old this quickly?<br />
<br />
Looking at the map and I picked a direction to travel in. I wanted to ride up the west coast from Reykjavik and try to get myself as far west in Iceland as I could. <br />
<br />
The following day I rode through Reykjavik. As I rode I wondered if I should stop in and see a little bit of the city. I felt a bit torn between two things and wondered to myself which I would regret more, leave the capital without seeing what is has to offer, or would I regret wasting the time doing that when I could be out in more remote areas while I had the means to do so. After all if I really want to see Reykjavik sometime then I could fly there and walk around the city, but then I’ve never been a big fan of cities.<br />
<br />
By this time the city was slowly disappearing in my rear view mirrors. I was riding up main coastal road to the North. The weather was dry but the sky was full of grey clouds which hugged the mountains just to the east. The rock of the mountains was quite black looking but there were bright green moss or grass patches which really give the scene an amazing contrast. The road is quite busy with cars, though they don’t look like tourist cars, more local traffic. I soon get fed up of being in a queue of traffic and I find a place to stop. I was a bit sore as it had been a few hours since I got on the bike… 2 hours seems to be the norm for this, though I often do more when I feel the need, but today there is no need. My sudden lack of deadlines and lack of destination was causing my pace and enthusiasm to slow down. It didn’t seem to matter how long I stopped for or how fast I rode, as nothing or nobody was waiting for me at the other end.<br />
<br />
I man handle my bike onto the centre stand to do some checks... Engine oil… ok. The chain is starting to get tight spots, but it’s not getting too noisy yet, so it should be ok for getting home. I fill up my chain oiler with fresh oil and remove the nozzle that drips the oil onto the chain. Sometimes after rain it seems to gunge up when the oil mixes with water causing the oiler to stop working. Its maintenance and I DO need to do it, but it just feels like I’m wasting time, I have no drive and once I complete one thing, I start looking for something else that might need attention. It feels like I’m just making excuses, I feel like I should be somewhere else, but I just don’t know where that place is. Why can’t I make the most of this?<br />
<br />
I continue North thinking some distance might help my mood. After looking at the map I discovered that the highest waterfall in Iceland was only a 30 minutes ride away. I turned off the main highway and head east up what would once have been the main highway before they built the road tunnel under the Fjord. <br />
<br />
I really feel like I’m off of the tourist route now. All along the south coast of Iceland there were tour busses, big 4x4s, motorhomes, motorbikes, hire cars, but now there was very little traffic. I park in the car park where the walking path starts for the waterfall. It is now lunch time so I eat a few boiled eggs that I had boiled earlier in the day, then a few cookies… The cookies were the same brand as Mila and I had bought when we travelled together, eating them made me think of her and wonder how she was getting on with her new job. It was now raining quite heavily and there is no place to shelter so I made do with the luxury of wearing my motorbike jacket and helmet to keep dry and I sit on the bike. I wish I had an umbrella, I then thought about somehow rigging my tent over the bike to keep dry while I waited for the rain to stop. I noticed that some children were watching me from a car that was parked a few metres away, they must have been left by their parents while they walked to the waterfall. I was jealous they had somewhere dry and comfortable to sit. <br />
<br />
The rain would just not give up! I waited for as long as my patience would allow before I decided that I needed to find a place to stay for the night. I didn’t want to ride in this rain as it was heavy enough to soak me if I rode too far. I finally decided to put on a brave face and 40 kilometres later I was in Akranes. I had seen clear skies off to the west so I kept going in that direction hoping the distance would cause the rain to stop. By the time I made it to Akranes it was sunny and late enough to not feel too bad about stopping for the day. I found a camp ground, but didn’t find anyone to pay for the privilege of staying there. The camp ground was beside the sea and was full of caravan and motorhomes, it looked more like a grassy place you might have a picnic on a warm summer’s day rather than a place to sleep in a tent for the night. There were toilets and showers but they were in a portacabin. Everything looked quite temporary.<br />
<br />
<br />
<iframe bgcolor="#000000" frameborder="0" height="400" src="http://www.360cities.net/embed_iframe/glymur-iceland" target="_blank" width="560"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://www.360cities.net/image/glymur-iceland" title="Panorama photos of Glymur on 360cities.net">Glymur</a> in <a href="http://www.360cities.net/area/Iceland" title="Panoramic images from iceland">iceland</a>
<br />
<br />
I now had my tent up and I was sitting in it feeling glad that I didn’t have to put it up in that heavy rain. I was still feeling quite blue and isolated. I remembered that I often feel more isolated when I camp by myself in a busy camping area than if I camp alone in the mountains. I never seem to feel lonely when I camp in remote places by myself, but often when I come out of remote areas and camp again near others I end up feeling really lonely and disconnected. It seems so strange to feel alone when there are other people just metres away and not when people are 100’s of kilometres away.<br />
<br />
I had not managed to find any sort of attendant or manager for the camp ground, not even a sign to say how I should pay for the privilege of sleeping on their grass. Maybe someone will come around later looking for some money at a more normal stopping time for the night. My mood made me feel something was missing… was it really just the fact that I had gotten unused to travelling by myself? I really didn’t know… but I hated feeling this way because I knew when I thought about it later I wouldn’t understand why I did feel that way and I’d just feel like I’d wasted time for no reason. I phoned home to see if there was any news that would change my mood. I phoned my brother first, then a few friends, one told me a funny story about something that had happened at which cheered me up a bit.<br />
<br />
In the morning I rode back to the waterfall car park and started walking up the path towards it. The path was quite flat for a few kilometres but then dropped away and disappeared into a lava tunnel. I crossed the river by walking over a steel cable that someone had kindly put there for that purpose. It was a bit like a tight rope walk, but there was also a normal rope at hand height to help balance with. I trusted myself enough to not fall in but didn’t completely rule it out. Over the past few years I seem to care less and less about things going wrong while travelling and I’ve managed come up with something to say when it does… “It’s all part of the adventure”, today I didn’t need to use the phrase as I managed to get myself and my bag of camera equipment over the river without getting it or myself wet.
<br />
<br />
As I stood looking over the highest waterfall in the country I tried hard to be impressed. I thought about the first waterfall that I had seen in Iceland when Mila and I were riding up the pass away from the ferry. I didn’t stop for a photo, but I was impressed, everything was impressive that day! Why is nothing impressive today? Its times like these that reminds me why I always take people’s travel advice with a pinch of salt. If someone didn’t recommend I went to a certain place then they’re likely basing that advice on the experience that they had when they went to that place, but what if they were in the same mood I was in when they went there. This scene should have impressed me, I knew it! But it didn’t, was it the weather?<br />
<br />
It was a few days later that I started coming out the mood and started seeing things in a different light. I was riding up a pass over a mountain and once I got to the top I saw a red survival shelter. These seem to be quite common in Iceland, though I’ve not seen one like this before, it looks like some sort of life boat perched on top of a mountain, or some sort of survival pod that might see in some science fiction film. I went inside to have a look and found a set of bunk beds and a few tins of food laying around, there was also a log book that a few people had written in. <br />
<br />
I was now riding the bike West towards the most Westerly point of Iceland, which really is not very far from Greenland. I passed fairly big boat that was washed up on the beach which had a sign next to it saying it was the oldest steel built ship in all of Iceland. The road turned gravel after this and started following the coast. The track was cut into the side of a hill and as I rode along the right side of it I could look down 50 metres or so down to the sea. I was glad I trusted my abilities on the bike on the gravel but I couldn’t ignore how bald my back tyre had become now and thought that there would always be a chance I could underestimate the grip and drop the 50 metres down to the sea.
<br />
<br />
Bjargtangar; well I didn’t know the name of it before I got there, but I saw it written on a sign when I arrived. It said something about being the most westerly point of, not only Iceland, but Europe too. I didn’t really think that it might be the most westerly point of Europe when I planned to go. I walked along the cliff for a while and soon spotted some Puffins. I’d never seen a Puffin before. They’re such weird looking birds. This place really was a haven for them, there were hundred’s! I guess there must be a lot of fish in the sea here. I set up my camera to see if I could take a panoramic photo that included some puffins. With the lens I use for a panorama I really do need to get close to them to see any detail, but I just couldn’t get close enough and I didn’t want to disturb them too much in their territory. I changed the lens back to the longest one I had and took a few photos. I was amazed how laid back they were, yet how worried they looked at the same time. Their beaks were like rainbows! I finally saw some in flight, it really does not look all that natural, their wings look far too small to keep them up in the air. I’m far from an expert on them, but I thought the wings must be small so they can dive into the water more easily. What an amazing bird that can walk, fly and swim!<br />
<br />
<iframe bgcolor="#000000" frameborder="0" height="400" src="http://www.360cities.net/embed_iframe/bjargtangar-iceland" target="_blank" width="560"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://www.360cities.net/image/bjargtangar-iceland" title="Panorama photos of Puffins at Bjargtangar on 360cities.net">Puffins at Bjargtangar</a> in <a href="http://www.360cities.net/area/Iceland" title="Panoramic images from iceland">iceland</a>
<br />
<br />
I followed the track back to the main road then began to follow the coast around the North-West corner of the country. Progress is slow, the roads are gravel. I overtake cars as most of them are going too slowly for me to follow them. I try to be careful so I don’t create too much dust or throw any stones up, but become impatient when some drivers don’t let me pass safely. I wonder if they want stones in their windscreen? Eventually the road is strait enough and I can creep passed without too much excess speed. I resist the temptation to open the throttle wide as I pass after the driver had not slowed to allow me to pass for over 20 minutes and it was only out of sheer respect that I didn’t just pass before anyway.<br />
<br />
I didn’t really have a plan now, I didn’t have anywhere in particular that I wanted to be, but I was now quite happy and satisfied with everything that appeared over the horizon. The bike eats up the distance of these Western Fjords so quickly. Tonight I decided to just keep riding passed my normal stopping time. There was not much danger of it getting too dark to ride on, for it does not get dark at this time of year this far North. Normally I think 10pm is too late to pull into a paid camping ground as other people might be sleeping by that time, I’d normally want to be stopped somewhere between 8 and 9pm. This was a pretty remote area and I didn’t see any towns for a long time and I didn’t see anywhere I could put my tent up but I didn’t really mind. I stopped to eat about 10pm and continued on until much later before stopping at a big waterfall that pours down the side of a mountain then cascades through a series of other falls down into the fjord. There was a yacht anchored out in the bay and there were some other people camping near the beach. It was late now, but I didn’t worry too much about my bike making too much noise as I rode in as the waterfall would have drowned out the bike easily. <br />
<br />
It was not raining, but the sky was grey and the cloud didn’t seem to be too far above the mountains. It was quite cold too, but then I wasn’t surprised as it was after midnight and I was just a dozen miles south of the Arctic Circle.<br />
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08659694638232036329noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5838141596697831286.post-51922118045877134882012-07-19T14:37:00.000-07:002013-08-08T05:14:52.202-07:00Iceland Part 1<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
DefSemiHidden="true" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="267">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="59" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false"
UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0cm;
mso-para-margin-right:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0cm;
line-height:115%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-fareast-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
I arrived in Iceland the day after midsummer. I had been
aboard the MS<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Norröna for 2 days, all
the way from Denmark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally the Ferry
arrived in Seyðisfjörður on the East coast of the country. It seemed like a
prison sentence was complete and I was now free again!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T8dQBXN2eKo/UEUhJefeL3I/AAAAAAAAAIA/tPCPomD1bHk/s1600/map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T8dQBXN2eKo/UEUhJefeL3I/AAAAAAAAAIA/tPCPomD1bHk/s400/map.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My introduction to Iceland was clear skies and warm weather
and amazing scenery. I was out on deck to get my first look while the Ferry
sailed down Seyðisfjörður and into the harbour.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There’s something about getting to a new country that just
excites me. It seemed like an eternity as I waited to get my motorbike off of
the Ferry. The motorbikes were right at the front of the Ferry and the exit was
right at the back and there were about 800 cars and motorhomes in between me
and the door. The car deck was packed. I had made my way squeezing in between cars
and motorhomes, <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>down various dead ends
as cars were almost touching in some places, only to realise that I had gone to
the wrong end of the ship and had to make my way all the way back again with my
bag carefully balanced on my head so not to scratch cars on the way passed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The town of Seyðisfjörður was unnaturally busy. It felt like
the area had just been invaded by tourists. After an immigration officer stuck
some weird sticker to my front mudguard I was free to explore Iceland at my own
pace…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It felt like some sort of rat race, there were cars
everywhere, bumper to bumper, as they waited to pull out onto the main road. I
stopped at the first place that I could once I got on the main road. This just
happened to be right opposite the junction that I just pulled out of. There was
somewhere to park my bike and there was a little piece of grass to look at my
map on. I jumped off the bike and began talking with some other bikers that had
done the same. A minute later Mila pulled up on her Suzuki Bandit. I had briefly
met Mila on the ferry while we were searching for where we were meant to sleep.
She was from Holland, that’s all I had learned about her at the time. We both
talked to the other bikers for a while before they left. Now it was just the
two of us looking at my map spread out on the grass talking about our travel
plans. By this time Mila’s chain lube was helping to stop the map from being
blown away in the wind. We talked about what we had planned to do in Iceland, I
learned that she had almost 1 week to travel before she had to start her summer
job and had decided to take the ferry here rather than fly so that she had some
transport.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The small town slowly
settled back to its sleepy norm as the tourists slowly dispersed and moved in
the direction of their onward destinations. It was all quite relaxed at this
time. The warm weather was quite welcome. I had been getting bad weather in my
last few days in Norway and the day I had spent in Denmark was terrible! We sat
talking about places in Iceland, pointing at the map. I started to draw things
on my map so as to remind myself of what was there, rather than just draw a circle
then forget what’s there a few days later. It was about at that time that I
realised that though I’d planned to come to Iceland for several years, I had
not managed to actually make plans on what to do or see once I got there. I
knew very little about the place. Mila seemed to have quite a few good ideas. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The day just seemed to be filled with random encounters…. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZzQ6rr1tLg/UEUab8f1GWI/AAAAAAAAAGw/JytFvOZk97g/s1600/1.+On+the+ferry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZzQ6rr1tLg/UEUab8f1GWI/AAAAAAAAAGw/JytFvOZk97g/s400/1.+On+the+ferry.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the Ferry</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wy0R9SeH-jE/UEUamIto-SI/AAAAAAAAAHo/6K0qIY_ytCs/s1600/first_look_of_Iceland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wy0R9SeH-jE/UEUamIto-SI/AAAAAAAAAHo/6K0qIY_ytCs/s400/first_look_of_Iceland.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First look at Iceland at Seyðisfjörður</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<object height="315" width="560"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"></param>
<param name="movie" value="https://www.facebook.com/v/355326491207655"></param>
<embed src="https://www.facebook.com/v/355326491207655" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="1" width="560" height="315"></embed></object>
The interview
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
We must have looked quite interesting sitting on the grass
looking at the map, complete with a tin of chain lube and WD40 to hold it down.
A man walked up to us and asked us if we would mind getting interviewed about
our travel plans for Iceland. Mila and I looked at each other and both shrugged
and told him, “Why not”. Minutes later there was a camera on a tripod pointing
at us and a man with a South African accent was asking us questions about our
travel plans. It was only during the interview that they learned from us that
we were not travelling together and that we had only just met on the ferry. It
was quite difficult to make the interview interesting when I actually had no
plans to tell them! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Once the cameras were off and we were left on our own again
we decided that we might as well travel together for a while. We decided to go south
to the general direction of where Mila was going to work.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There’s nothing quite like the first few hours in a new
country, especially while riding a motorbike. Anything remotely interesting
gets a double take as I ride passed as everything feels new. I feel like I have
the curiosity of a small child while they learn about this new world they’re
in. We stop and take photos of the jagged mountains that seem to all have
spires like cathedrals. The sheep, some black, some white and some more like
collie dogs with black and white together. We saw gorges, waterfalls and some
massive 4x4s that looked like monster trucks.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LKL0w0cZyvI/UEUafTKSwVI/AAAAAAAAAHA/ZExJUJIzniE/s1600/_MG_8601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LKL0w0cZyvI/UEUafTKSwVI/AAAAAAAAAHA/ZExJUJIzniE/s400/_MG_8601.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mila getting attacked by a horse in Vik</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rJfXO8pqFHk/UEUadUGIDmI/AAAAAAAAAG4/yaCbZKEcFrY/s1600/_MG_0147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rJfXO8pqFHk/UEUadUGIDmI/AAAAAAAAAG4/yaCbZKEcFrY/s400/_MG_0147.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A big 4x4</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ppiyr6th7r0/UEUantM9IBI/AAAAAAAAAHw/4NBF5C5V64M/s1600/mountains.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ppiyr6th7r0/UEUantM9IBI/AAAAAAAAAHw/4NBF5C5V64M/s400/mountains.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountains in South East Iceland</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6lwCu-ftJ_A/UEUagy369YI/AAAAAAAAAHI/TEGMSWUJY6U/s1600/_MG_8747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6lwCu-ftJ_A/UEUagy369YI/AAAAAAAAAHI/TEGMSWUJY6U/s400/_MG_8747.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Africa Twin and Bandit</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’d now been away from home for about 5 weeks. I had left
home alone but in the whole time I had only travelled alone for a few days. I
had mixed feelings about having a travel buddy again. During my 4 weeks in
Norway I had travelled with Peter, who I’d met while waiting for the Ferry in
Denmark. At the time Peter and I had also talked about travel plans and both
realised we didn’t have any, so decided to make some together. It really is a
mixed bag. It always feels amazing to share amazing experiences with people,
but from a more selfish point of view you have compromise with your ideas. It
works with some and it does not work with others. I was lucky enough that it
worked for me both times! The only thing I really had to compromise on with
Mila was not sleeping in my tent. We stayed in Guest houses or hostels the
entire time.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I had 3 weeks to spend in Iceland. The plans I did manage to
make before leaving home where that I should see the more easy to access places
around the ring road that circles the country, then later in the trip I’d head
inland to the more remote interior. This worked out well as Mila’s motorbike wouldn’t
have coped well with the gravel roads and deep river crossings of the interior,
whereas my Honda Africa Twin was built for that sort of thing.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After several days we arrived in the area of Eyjafjallajökull,
the volcano that made its name in Europe in 2010 during the eruption that
grounded 1000’s of flights around Europe. We planned to walk up the Volcano
towards the Glacier to see what we could see. The problem was that I had run
out of time. My girlfriend was due to arrive in Reykjavik later that day and I
couldn’t have possibly fit in walking up the Volcano and the 4 hour ride to the
airport in 1 day.<br />
<br />
<iframe bgcolor="#000000" frameborder="0" height="400" src="http://www.360cities.net/embed_iframe/skogarfoss-iceland" target="_blank" width="560"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://www.360cities.net/image/skogarfoss-iceland" title="Panorama photos of Skógafoss on 360cities.net">Skógafoss</a> in <a href="http://www.360cities.net/area/iceland" title="Panoramic images from Iceland">Iceland</a>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We packed up our bikes together for the last time, put our
helmets on and got ready to go. I looked at Mila and we gave each other a hug.
Our helmets banged into each other… It sounds quite clumsy, but it felt quite
natural. I was sad to leave as we had a really fun time together.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That day just seemed to go so slowly. I was not quite in the
mood to spend time seeing or doing too much. I seem to be such a bad traveller
when I have a destination and a deadline to get there. When I’m free to do as I
please then I feel like I can make the most of being somewhere. The constraint
I had forced me just to ride. I arrived in the area of the airport about 4
hours too early, so I thought I’d use the extra time to find us somewhere nice
to stay on that first night together again. The best I managed was a wooden
cabin only a few kilometres from the airport. It was small, but it was clean
and had everything we needed. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Of course, me being me, I wanted to sneak up on Kiya at the
airport. I had not seen her for about 6 weeks. I just wanted to tap her on the
shoulder and give her a chance to smile before she turned around so I’d just
see her smiling face looking back at me. When the time came it was the opposite
that did happen. She sneaked up on me and I was the one who had to turn around.
It was a new relationship. I had met Kiya while travelling in Australia about 9
months before and we only started to see each other in March when we were both
back in Scotland. It was now the end of June and I had been away half of the
time since March. The only time Kiya had ever been on a motorbike was when I
took her for a 30 second ride around a car park a few days after I had finished
getting my bike ready for this trip. I had given her careful instructions about
what to bring and how to carry it as luggage space was really limited already
and it would now be extra limited with two people on the bike. Most importantly
Kiya had brought with her the heated grips that the freezing Norway weather
forced me to buy. That was a horrible experience, but not horrible enough for
me to pay the crazy Norwegian prices for a set of grips while I was there.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The following morning, it took a while to get things
organised. I had to leave the off-road tyres that I had been carrying since
home at the camp ground with plans to pick them up again when I dropped Kiya
off 1 week later. Finally when we managed to work out how to fit our gear and
ourselves on the bike we headed back to see Eyjafjallajökull. I really wanted
to do the walk now as Mila had told me all about via SMS. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Kiya was a bit nervous at first on the bike. I could feel
her tense up when I leaned the bike into corners. As the day progressed she did
ease up a bit and get used to it. It was evening time when we made it to Skógar.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Skógar is a place that’s pretty hard to drive passed.
Highway 1, the highway that circles Iceland goes right passed it, but I’m sure
most tourists must stop there as there is a huge waterfall that is easily seen
from the road. This is the place where Mila and I stayed the night before we
said our goodbyes to each other. Kiya and I walked to the waterfall the same as
Mila and I had done just days before. It’s hard for me not to feel like a tour
guide when I take someone to a place that I’ve been before and they’ve not. I
put on a brave face and try to maintain the same excitement that I had about the
place when I was there first and try not to reference the fact that I’d been
there before so that we’re sharing the same thing. I even took the same
panoramic photo too.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The following day we made our way towards the Volcano, it
was very relaxed walk. We stopped to take photos quite a lot and we made very
slow progress because of that. We didn’t make it as far as the Glacier before
we decided to turn back and move west again.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--Tp6fyFfGcY/UEUaisaorLI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/bDjwEVh_9iI/s1600/_MG_8976.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--Tp6fyFfGcY/UEUaisaorLI/AAAAAAAAAHQ/bDjwEVh_9iI/s400/_MG_8976.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kiya on our walk up Eyjafjallajökull</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We talked about where to go next. I wanted her to see as
much as possible in the week she had as I felt bad about leaving her as she
spent the 2 months working while I was away enjoying myself. Kiya was quite
jealous of my plans to go inland once she was back in Scotland. I told her that
I didn’t think I could ride the bike well enough to take it over the rough
roads with both of us on it. Despite my arguments and my concern that I wouldn’t
be able to handle the bike with the extra weight, she managed to convince me we
should go to a place called Laki.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Laki or Lakagígar made itself famous for its 8 month long
eruption in 1783 – 84. It’s a major part of Europe’s history. The eruption and
the consequences caused by it killed around 25% of Icelanders and around 6
million people around the world. The famine caused is believed to have caused
the French revolution. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The track out to Laki was not as bad as had been described
to me. It did slowly get more and more rough the closer we got. The river
crossings were the part that I really was not looking forward to. I remember
them from when I rode a Motorbike around and through Australia, but I knew that
Iceland would not be quite the same. Often in Australia I was quite glad to
cool my feet off as I walked through to check the depth and the best route.
With Iceland this was certainly something that didn’t have the same appeal. I
made the first crossing with Kiya still on the back. It was quite difficult to
keep the bike going in the direction I wanted it to because of the river bed
being uneven. There was a cheer from the back as the wheels rolled onto the
opposite side and accelerated up the track again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It had started to rain by this time and my feet were getting
cold from walking through the river. On the rougher sections of the road the
bike’s suspension would bottom out and sometimes I’d hit the engine’s sump
guard off of rocks. It was not a fun ride, but I still enjoyed it for the
challenge. We arrived at the base of Mount Laki, where you can get a good view
of all 130 craters that opened up during the eruption, though we couldn’t get
motivated to climb it as the top was covered in cloud and we’d likely have seen
nothing if we went to the top. Instead we found a lookout that was not in cloud
but not as high as Mount Laki, that we could ride the motorbike up. A friendly
German couple that had arrived in a 4x4 took one look at us and offered us hot
tea and asked how we made it over the rivers. I told them about me walking
first before riding them… then before we knew it our cups were full again with
fresh tea. I had wished that I had spent the morning putting on the heated
grips that Kiya brought from Scotland, but I just didn’t want to waste the time
while she was there. The elevation made the weather far colder than it had been
in the morning. My feet felt numb with the cold as they were soaking wet from
the river crossings. After taking a photo from the lookout we continued on
around the track which circles the area. I was glad to be on the bike again as
I could wedge my feet in between the petrol tank and the engine. It took a
while, but they started to feel a little warmer.<br />
<br />
<iframe bgcolor="#000000" frameborder="0" height="400" src="http://www.360cities.net/embed_iframe/laki-iceland" target="_blank" width="560"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://www.360cities.net/image/laki-iceland" title="Panorama photos of Lakagígar. Iceland on 360cities.net">Lakagígar. Iceland</a> in <a href="http://www.360cities.net/area/Iceland" title="Panoramic images from iceland">iceland</a>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My vision felt like something was broken. Everything felt so
black and white. The clouds were grey and the ground was black from the
volcanic ash. The surface of the track was just ash from the volcano eruption.
Sometimes it was hard and sometimes it was a bit soft. A small stream crossing
that I didn’t bother to walk across almost made us fall. There was a sharp
right hand corner after the crossing that almost swallowed my front wheel. We managed
to stay on the bike, but only just. The final river crossing before we headed
back was the worst. I stood on the side looking down on the river trying to
guess the depth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kiya was scouting around
looking for a shallow place that she could cross so she didn’t have to stay on
the bike. A little way upstream the river was faster and had small islands that
she thought she could get over without getting her feet too wet. By this time I
was pretty cold and just starting to wish my feet were dry again, I really didn’t
like the thought of having to wade through again to check the depth and route,
but I knew I had to as the river looked to be about border line with what I was
willing to risk riding over. Kiya told me about her plan to cross up steam. I
said that I could take her over at the crossing as I had to walk over anyway.
She insisted that I didn’t have to as she could make it over herself. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nQTNTnrxh5A/UEUaj4uGBZI/AAAAAAAAAHY/xbyHlyVRldQ/s1600/_MG_9053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nQTNTnrxh5A/UEUaj4uGBZI/AAAAAAAAAHY/xbyHlyVRldQ/s400/_MG_9053.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kiya on the Africa Twin at Laki</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I cast my mind back to when I was talking to Kiya’s family
about motorbikes, which they forwardly told me that they hated and thought they
were one of the most dangerous things ever invented. The day had stressed me
out enough already. My mind kept flashing back to Kiya’s family and what they would
say if we had fallen of the bike and injured ourselves. I felt totally
responsible for everything that was happening that day. I told Kiya that she
had to come down and cross the river with me. I didn’t see the sense in both of
us having wet feet. She took a bit of convincing, but only because she felt bad
that I had to take her, whereas I looked at it from a more logical point of
view. The water was right enough, up to my knees as I crossed with Kiya on my
back. I double checked my route on the way back to the bike before I started
the bike and slowly let go of the clutch to drive it into the river. The water
came well over my feet as they stood on the foot rests and I started to feel
the drag on the panniers as they entered the water too. The crossing was not
very wide, but it seemed to take a long time to get to the other side. I had
read so much about how to restart a drowned motorbike… Things like standing the
bike up on its back to drain the exhaust and taking the spark plugs out to get
the water out of the cylinders. I just couldn’t face doing something like that
while I was this cold. So much went through my head in that short space of time…
The front wheel started making its way onto the high and dry and I was out! I
just hoped that there were no more deeper crossings before we were back on the
main track again.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our week together really flew in. We managed to make our way
up another inland road and see the sunset over a glacier. We saw “Geysir”, the
original Geysir which Geysir’s got their name from and saw huge waterfalls.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JJVhAT2BsqM/UEUak_lSkcI/AAAAAAAAAHg/tzDo3kABTwA/s1600/_MG_9278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JJVhAT2BsqM/UEUak_lSkcI/AAAAAAAAAHg/tzDo3kABTwA/s400/_MG_9278.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Geysir at Geysir</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I dropped Kiya off at the airport safe and sound and I was
back on my own again. I was glad I managed not to make it into the bad books of
her family and proud that I’d managed to take her into the highlands of Iceland
on the bike. There was so much still to see, but not that much time to see it
in now.<br />
<iframe bgcolor="#000000" frameborder="0" height="400" src="http://www.360cities.net/embed_iframe/navigation-on-f35-iceland" target="_blank" width="560"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://www.360cities.net/image/navigation-on-f35-iceland" title="Panorama photos of Navigation on road F35 on 360cities.net">Navigation on road F35</a> in <a href="http://www.360cities.net/area/Iceland" title="Panoramic images from iceland">iceland</a>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I only had 9 days before I had
to leave head for home...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08659694638232036329noreply@blogger.com2Iceland64.963051 -19.02083561.517170499999992 -29.128257 68.4089315 -8.913413000000002tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5838141596697831286.post-53497689644351152322011-07-31T10:11:00.000-07:002016-01-04T14:39:11.771-08:00Why it took 100 litres of water to start a 4x4<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-30lFpb5JDmA/UDkFXVn7_pI/AAAAAAAAAEw/-VFmxusK4xM/s1600/Gary_Highway_Map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The Gary Highway crosses the Gibson Desert" border="0" height="241" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-30lFpb5JDmA/UDkFXVn7_pI/AAAAAAAAAEw/-VFmxusK4xM/s400/Gary_Highway_Map.jpg" title="The Gary Highway crosses the Gibson Desert" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Gary Highway crosses the Gibson Desert</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
The “Gary Highway”, as it was so named on the map, might give someone some false illusion that the road is a well used and busy road with maybe 4 or 6 lanes for traffic, but to properly picture the scene you have to get that vision out of your head. What I saw before me was 2 wheel tracks that disappeared into a lake and came out the other side about 1 kilometre in the distance.<br />
<br />
Before I left Alice Springs I had been told that there had been quite a bit of rain in this area in the past few months, and the scene before me was backing that up quite nicely. The land around the “highway” which is really just a “way” was covered in wild flowers of many colours, white, purple and yellow. I was really finding it hard to believe that this area was almost the exact centre of the Gibson Desert, so named after the first white man to have died there, Alfred Gibson. There was no way I was going to attempt to drive through the lake to the other side by myself, it was really too far to walk to test the bottom to see how deep or solid it was and I couldn’t afford to risk getting bogged in there as I had not seen a single human being for about 1 week.<br />
<br />
Today had already been quite an interesting day due to some events that had taken place in the morning…<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u8gsRT9LrDk/UDkIUG2FNiI/AAAAAAAAAFA/_XgpYX9IXwY/s1600/gary_highway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The Gary "Highway"" border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u8gsRT9LrDk/UDkIUG2FNiI/AAAAAAAAAFA/_XgpYX9IXwY/s400/gary_highway.jpg" title="The Gary "Highway"" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Gary "Highway"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
It had been an unusually warm night for the time of year and the fridge in my car was working overtime keeping itself cool. In the morning I hadn’t notice that the fridge had stopped working until I had finished packing up and went to start the engine. The old bus just responded to my turning of the ignition key with a few clicks. I instantly recognised the sound, it was the sound of the starter motor’s solenoid clicking. Normally this sound is drowned out by the sound of the starter motor, but today the starter motor did nothing, I know the cause of this too, the battery was too flat to start the engine! Some people claim that your life flashes before your eyes just before you die, this is probably something that is difficult to prove, for me in the few seconds after I tried to start the engine many many things went through my brain, and maybe the best way to describe it was my life flashing before my eyes. Something like this in life is normally not too big a problem… For most people it might mean being a bit late for work while you wait on someone coming to help, perhaps a neighbour with a set of jump cables that he or she can connect to their car to allow yours to start. For me the problem was a bit bigger.<br />
<br />
Many things went through my head when I again tried to turn the ignition key, which is normally followed up by the noise of a 4.2 litre diesel engine bursting into life, yet again only some clicking noises. I thought then about how long ago it had been since I had seen anyone else. I remembered 2 cars about 7 days earlier on another more commonly used track, but I had seen nobody on the Gary Highway yet. I spent some time thinking about what I could do to pass the time while I waited for help and I started building myself up for what I thought could be up to a 2 week wait for any help. I sat in the driver’s seat while I thought about my future. My water supply would have allowed me to stay alive for over 1 month in this heat and my food would last around 2 months, yet I would just have been eating rice in the end. I tried to think of a few games I could play to pass the time, “eye spy” didn’t seem to work with just 1 person so I moved on to thinking of a way to count how many grains of sand there were in the Gibson Desert, but that I failed on as I didn’t know how deep the sand goes! After a few hours I got pretty bored of sitting waiting and not knowing how long until someone would drive passed, and it was about that time that I came up with a fantastic idea!<br />
<br />
<br />
In the car I had 60 metres of climbing rope, a climbing harness, several pulleys and a set of rope ascenders. All this equipment was a mix of 4 wheel drive recovery gear and my rock climbing gear. I was parked in what turned out to be a really great spot as there was a nice looking ghost gum tree just a few metres behind the Landcruiser and an even more perfectly placed branch that was to help me execute my plan...<br />
<br />
I started by throwing a light rope over the branch, I then used that to pull the climbing rope over the branch and back down, I tied the lose end around the trunk and then I climbed to the top of the tree with the ascenders, taking with me a pulley from the recovery gear, which I attached to the branch with a sling from my climbing gear. I pulled the other end of the climbing rope up the tree and fed it through the pulley. After abseiling down I set about finding the heaviest of all my belongings to which I could use as counter weights to help me tow the Landcruiser backwards at a fast enough pace to allow me to “bump start” it. To do this I would have to move the car fast enough forwards or backwards and then select a gear and quickly let go the clutch to allow the wheels to turn the engine and therefore start the engine.<br />
<br />
I had 100 litres of fuel and 100 litres of water, all in 20 litre containers. I set about attaching what I thought I could pull up the tree in 1 go. 80 litres of water was the first to make it up to the top of the tree then I pulled another 20 litres of water and 60 litres of diesel. Total weight, about 150 kg all suspended from a frail looking Ghost Gum in the middle of the Gibson Desert with a rope running from the counter weights which were now about 5 or 6 metres above the ground and now attached by rope to the back of my Landcruiser where the rope went through another pulley and back onto the base of the tree. Going by my calculations this would give me 300 kg of pulling power to pull me in reverse towards the tree. I had no idea if this was going to work but I was about to find out.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-swNahf4qJcA/UDkJ6d0e6aI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/pMjNHF8jm_8/s1600/climbing_stuff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Climbing and 4x4 recovery gear used to help start the 4x4" border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-swNahf4qJcA/UDkJ6d0e6aI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/pMjNHF8jm_8/s400/climbing_stuff.jpg" title="Climbing and 4x4 recovery gear used to help start the 4x4" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Climbing and 4x4 recovery gear used to help start the 4x4</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oiSKwCM77Ik/UDkLJUKt9SI/AAAAAAAAAFY/arc4fVJy4Lc/s1600/climbing_harness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Putting on my climbing harness ready to climb the tree" border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oiSKwCM77Ik/UDkLJUKt9SI/AAAAAAAAAFY/arc4fVJy4Lc/s400/climbing_harness.jpg" title="Putting on my climbing harness ready to climb the tree" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Putting on my climbing harness ready to climb the tree</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oWICRsqiyRQ/UDkLxJVkkwI/AAAAAAAAAFg/01xOkh2FUW4/s1600/Climbing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Climbing the tree to rid the rope through the pulley" border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oWICRsqiyRQ/UDkLxJVkkwI/AAAAAAAAAFg/01xOkh2FUW4/s400/Climbing.jpg" title="Climbing the tree to rid the rope through the pulley" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Climbing the tree to rid the rope through the pulley</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RAxB3ugTd0k/UDkOhwgkSfI/AAAAAAAAAGA/VcFJAoZf0XM/s1600/rigged.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Climbing rope rigged to the tow bar with a pulley" border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RAxB3ugTd0k/UDkOhwgkSfI/AAAAAAAAAGA/VcFJAoZf0XM/s400/rigged.jpg" title="Climbing rope rigged to the tow bar with a pulley" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Climbing rope rigged to the tow bar with a pulley</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WJ48Zc-ZMmw/UDkNW0h6SqI/AAAAAAAAAFw/imtlDJRUHeo/s1600/pulling_water_up_tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Pulling 80 litres of water up the tree (still 20 litres to go and 60 litres of diesel)" border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WJ48Zc-ZMmw/UDkNW0h6SqI/AAAAAAAAAFw/imtlDJRUHeo/s400/pulling_water_up_tree.jpg" title="Pulling 80 litres of water up the tree (still 20 litres to go and 60 litres of diesel)" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pulling 80 litres of water up the tree (still 20 litres to go, and 60 litres of diesel)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nCPiBA69Evs/UDkN42E16JI/AAAAAAAAAF4/MBUgOLuIAWc/s1600/rope_rig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="80 litres of water up the tree" border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nCPiBA69Evs/UDkN42E16JI/AAAAAAAAAF4/MBUgOLuIAWc/s400/rope_rig.jpg" title="80 litres of water up the tree" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">80 litres of water up the tree</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
I jumped back into the driver’s seat and switched on the ignition. In the past when “bump starting” motorbikes or cars I always wonder which gear should be selected. Too low a gear and the wheels might just skid and too high a gear and the engine might not turn fast enough to start, but since I was pulling the car backwards I really only had 1 choice of gear and that was reverse, but then I remembered about low range and carefully thought about if I should use it or not… In the end I stuck with high range and let off the handbrake and allowed the car to start rolling backwards, driven totally by the gravity of the water and fuel… Now the timing here had to be perfect, if I let the clutch out too soon the car would not be going fast enough to start the engine and it would probably have the same effect as pressing the brakes, or too late and the fuel and water would hit the ground and the car would roll to a stop at the base of the tree. I carefully watched my 20 litre container and waited until they were about to hit the ground and just at that very moment I lifted my foot off of the clutch pedal and just as I heard that big diesel engine burst into life! I quickly pressed my foot on the clutch again before I crashed into the tree.<br />
<br />
One thing I was always told about travelling in the Desert was to make sure you always carry enough water, at the end of the day that’s what keeps you alive, I just always had it in mind that it would have been used for drinking, I didn’t ever think that water would help me start my car, but this amazing stuff did just that!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SDsWPJ8O9xs/UDkPr3cecVI/AAAAAAAAAGI/UO3UIiSV5oo/s1600/moment_of_truth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Water and Diesel pulling 4x4 backwards... The moment of truth!" border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SDsWPJ8O9xs/UDkPr3cecVI/AAAAAAAAAGI/UO3UIiSV5oo/s400/moment_of_truth.jpg" title="Water and Diesel pulling 4x4 backwards... The moment of truth!" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water and Diesel pulling 4x4 backwards... The moment of truth!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
Well those were the events that had taken place in the morning, back to the present. I was now standing in front of a lake that the road disappeared into. This was certainly the most water I had seen in months. I turned around from that seemingly endless mass of water which the 2 wheel tracks that I was following disappeared into. In my past experience of these things there was always some other way to get around, I just needed to search for it. After a while I found a track which headed to the East. I decided that this must be the bypass track. I followed this rough little track for a few kilometres. The track was rough as it had never been "made", it looked like only a few vehicles had made it into what it was by driving over it. Just then I saw a man running towards me on an intercept course for where I would likely be in the time it took him to run as fast as he could in my direction. The man had light facial hair and was wearing a shirt which seemed a bit like something Robinson Crusoe may have worn while he was stranded on his desert island. By this time I had pretty much decided that something was wrong, at least I hoped it was that, my other thoughts were that of getting brutally murdered in the middle of the Gibson Desert, but decided that only happens in the movies.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K6Oi__oKysY/UDkIVV_la3I/AAAAAAAAAFI/UCixk4g3Y2U/s1600/lake_cohen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Gary Highway meets Lake Cohen in flood" border="0" height="225" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-K6Oi__oKysY/UDkIVV_la3I/AAAAAAAAAFI/UCixk4g3Y2U/s400/lake_cohen.jpg" title="Gary Highway meets Lake Cohen in flood" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gary Highway meets Lake Cohen in flood</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aXdqdO9oGeQ/UDkRW4dT_cI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/KIKBM8O1Ue8/s1600/pulled_out_the_bog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Alex and his brother David had encountered the very same obstacle on the road as I had, but they had become bogged in their 4wd trying to get around the lake, after learning about this the next question which had not quite reached the tip of my tong was how long they had been stuck here for. I made a few guesses to myself and tried to judge it on Alex’s facial hair length and the colour of his white and mud stained shirt, the extreme lack of anyone else around and his cat like reaction of running towards the sound of my Landcruiser as it bashed its way through the bush of the bypass track, I put my guess at 2 weeks that they had been stuck for just before I asked the question, which to the reply was, “about 2 hours”.<br />
<br />
They were heading North the same as me and must have passed by me while I was off looking at something on a side road earlier in the afternoon.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Alex jumped into the passenger’s seat and we drove back to close to his car. I didn’t want to drive too close as the ground was pretty soft and it was no use having 2 cars bogged up to the axels in mud. We both thought one was more than enough! We linked all of the towing straps we had together and attached one end to the back of Alex’s car and the other end to the front of my car. Both of us tuned into channel 40 on our radios and when I said go Alex was to drive backwards, in the meantime I would do the same and hopefully the end result would be Alex’s car being freed from the bog. The plan worked perfectly and we both drove backwards together to get to harder ground and didn’t stop until we were both back firmly on the track.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aXdqdO9oGeQ/UDkRW4dT_cI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/KIKBM8O1Ue8/s1600/pulled_out_the_bog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aXdqdO9oGeQ/UDkRW4dT_cI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/KIKBM8O1Ue8/s400/pulled_out_the_bog.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
By this time the sun had almost set and I said we should just setup camp somewhere close by and tackle the lake in the morning, both Alex and David agreed and we drove a short distance to our camp for the night. One thing I love about travelling in these remote regions is the not knowing what was going to happen next. I found it quite unusual that water had started my car that very morning, but later in the day the very same substance had stopped Alex’s car only to be allowed to move again by the very car that had been started by water that morning. Life most certainly is weird.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08659694638232036329noreply@blogger.com0Gibson Desert South WA 0872, Australia-25.165173368663943 125.244140625-32.533556868663943 115.136718625 -17.796789868663943 135.35156262499999