tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-182473232012-02-06T20:39:39.774+01:00Welcome to P Dot Productions.PErnoreply@blogger.comBlogger3631100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-13981069056709420062012-01-26T13:26:00.002+01:002012-01-26T13:26:28.765+01:00

Who needs Japan Pow when you've got Sogndal!

PErnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-32474528166949897632011-01-24T12:17:00.001+01:002011-01-24T12:19:34.126+01:00

Still alive and kickin...Tapped the reset button, booted up and flying.Its on.Watch this space

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PErnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-33387211378971979952008-09-25T12:25:00.006+02:002008-09-25T12:34:35.409+02:00

30 minutes from my door you will find some of the finest technical and intense riding I have ever experienced. Hour long climb, hour long decent, breathtaking views, intense singletrack, rocks, roots, vibrant moods. Speechless. PS: P. is no longer single. She is fantastic. Life is beautiful!

PErnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-63766353971019026272008-09-15T19:08:00.002+02:002008-09-15T19:10:21.502+02:00

Solid

PErnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-85018389650039154032008-07-30T00:03:00.003+02:002008-07-30T00:12:41.245+02:00

While we wait for something to actually happen with this blog... Oldies, but Goodies.Broken Social SceneAlmost CrimesArts And Crafts RecordsBroken Social SceneFire Eye'd BoyArts And Crafts Records

PErnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-61668542038490184632008-07-17T23:03:00.003+02:002008-12-10T22:22:52.639+01:00

Looking for love in all the wrong places. My brand new eurospec plus plus Cannondale Caffeine F1. Long time coming. New adventures await.

PErnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-14557188581173178232008-07-16T22:00:00.007+02:002008-12-10T22:22:54.216+01:00

My destination from the beach in Voss. I have no idea what its called.On route...Sometimes I don't have the faintest idea and other days I have some grand plans. By the way I am living in Bergen, Norway, making $26 an hour working on some trick jazz at Sykkel Senteret (bike shop), learning to live without bike racing, just bought a mountainbike again, developing a hint of Norwegian accent and

PErnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-8458250055414855012008-05-16T10:18:00.005+02:002008-12-10T22:22:54.767+01:00

Times have changed in so many ways. What have I done since last the last post, since Africa?- Started an electronica group "Connecting People", played two shows.- Rafted whitewater in Voss- Been to my first Brann soccer game (Bergen's team, won the Norwegian Series last year).- Done some hiking in the mountains around town.- Ridden some of the most beautiful terrain on earth- Got a job,

PErnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-84078257399981564152008-03-24T21:11:00.003+01:002008-03-24T21:22:51.905+01:00

I arrived back in Norway on Thursday and went from pearl white beach to...pearl white snow. It is a bit rough and I am experiencing a mild crisis on why on earth I live so far north on this vast globe of our after the Zanzibar experience. However, my return to reality was dampened by a highly anticipated envelope that lie in waiting for me. After owning a cell phone for several weeks I finally

PErnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-54520601465356308002008-03-24T19:25:00.004+01:002008-12-10T22:22:55.455+01:00

Elaborate carving adorn many of the doors and door posts in the old town. A testament to European influence in the days of the slave trade.Incredibly lucky with this little girl's pose in the doorway...Typical

PErnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-65418105644007926902008-03-24T19:02:00.003+01:002008-12-10T22:22:55.569+01:00

Fizzy form spice in a bottle Tanzania is not a place I will remember for the food. According to a solid source there really is no official national food. The one common culinary denominator that unites this nation is unfortunately a simple corn porridge that with varied liquidity can serve as breakfast, lunch and dinner. For me I will always think of Tanzania as a bountiful basket of fresh fruit

PErnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-70681916649792155922008-03-18T11:30:00.008+01:002008-12-10T22:22:56.690+01:00

Yesterday in still shots. Enjoy.I think my back as cancer already. Never snorkle without a shirt in these parts, especially if you albino like me. But I can still take pictures.

PErnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-7375200756973341002008-03-17T10:00:00.003+01:002008-12-10T22:22:56.822+01:00

Tropical fish in their right element... Speargun fishing off the north coast of Zanzibar can get you some fine catch. Just off the shore of where we are staying you can snorkel your way to a tasty meal in minutes. Unfortunately I was sidelined by my now blistering back from the first day of snorkling, but some friends managed to catch these fine specimens of local sea wildlife only a few front

PErnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-19614067499461749052008-03-16T09:08:00.003+01:002008-12-10T22:22:57.026+01:00

The view from where I sitt... I am sitting here at the computer shack with near second degree burns on my back from a few hours of snorkling at a nearby reef yesterday, but I can't complain. This place is incredible. Ever minute of this area is like living in one giant postcard, the scenes are unbelievable. After a 9 hour bus ride from Arusha to Dar Es Salaam we spent a very sweaty night at the

PErnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-33453564175322698402008-03-12T15:12:00.003+01:002008-12-10T22:22:57.239+01:00

Sitting here cramed into an office in a luxury hotel in Arusha Tanzania I am very excited to be heading to the tropical paradise of Zanzibar tomorrow. Henrik, Andres and I have got our flights rebooked and will be heading back to Norway next Wednesday from Dar Es Sallam instead of Kilimanjaro so we save nearly two days of extra travel etc meaning almost 48 extra hours on Zanzibar compared to what

PErnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-89141932673882756142008-03-07T12:56:00.004+01:002008-03-07T13:02:39.082+01:00

Just a few short minutes for a quick update on my trip to Tanzania.After one week I feel like I have been here for a month, we have experienced so much. Everything from the bustling streets of Arusha, to a Safarii in Lake Manyara National Park, incredible natural impressions, unbelievable people, poverty, everything. I have had my fair share of beans and rice, washed with a cold bucket of water

PErnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-60313703810291229372008-02-28T09:54:00.003+01:002008-12-10T22:22:57.702+01:00

Got to go and get some very last minute travel insurance. Its almost a ritual with me and travel to make the purchase minutes before takeoff as a final preparatory act before a new adventure.While I may not be posting much in the coming week due to being in the bush in Africa I would like to take this opportunity to remind you of the other fine blogs listed on the right hand side of this page. Of

PErnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-5998622869100580572008-02-27T19:53:00.000+01:002008-02-27T20:05:40.916+01:00

I have been to a few corners of this fascinating globe we inhabit. I have lived in three countries, visited 4 continents and flown thousands upon thousands of kilometers. But I have never been to Africa. 48 hours from now, after $500 in vaccinations, I will find myself in Arusha, Tanzania...Africa. A place that although vaguely familiar is the most distant place I have ever been to on a

PErnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-86704162112205090682008-02-23T22:19:00.002+01:002008-12-10T22:22:58.063+01:00

We all have addresses in the same country for the first time in nearly 13 years. First Strøm style ski with all three siblings ever... It happened in Drammen in some of the slickest conditions ever experienced. 5.5 hours of ice, speed inspired glee, evergreens and stunning views.Carbon neutral from the door high adventure. From dirty late winter urban streets up into the hills in search of a

PErnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-25542382615283238112008-02-19T18:11:00.003+01:002008-02-19T18:37:17.651+01:00

This week is winter vacation week all over Norway. It is a time for students to escape the perils of education from daycare to university. It is a time for family and friends. Time to relax and also a time to travel. I did just that and set out from Bergen on a wet Sunday morning to make my way from the "Westland" to the "Eastland" by rail.Travelling by train anywhere is an experience I have

PErnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-22501244835035961272008-02-16T10:53:00.008+01:002008-12-10T22:22:58.706+01:00

One day not long ago I took a shower and threw on my Bici band just to see what I could see.To my great surprise an hour later passers by began to squeal with glee.I took off the band and what did I see?My curls had gone straight edge revealing a whole new me.

PErnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-47768474704798859052008-02-11T20:05:00.000+01:002008-12-10T22:22:58.927+01:00

Yesterday I started the day off with a 3 hour ride in vibrant sunshine and plus 10 out on the north portion of the Sotra Island. The views on this ride are absolutely stunning with mutliple bridges revealing scenes of bright blue ocean on either side, colourfull boat houses and chugging sailboats on their way out to a day of salty adventure. All of this with the backdrop of the mountains

PErnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-82474514081477797342008-02-08T19:14:00.000+01:002008-02-09T17:41:35.397+01:00

This past week was spent at the KRIK Hoyfjellssenter with a pile of incredible people from all over the country. It was an incredible week on many fronts, but the definitive highlight was the three days I spent engrossing myself in the delicate art of telemark skiing.I have always been fascinated with telemark and its graceful movements, physical demands and technical challenge. Although I have

PErnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-67719839760679296722008-02-02T16:44:00.000+01:002008-12-10T22:22:59.436+01:00

I was shocked to see the temperatures Calgary has been facing. With -30 degrees on the thermometer the rather gimpy +2 and +3 we see here seems nearly tropical. The weather has been fantastic since I got come to think of it. Considering that it is mid winter, the days are reasonably mild, catastrophic wind is a rarity and although it rains often it hasn't become a bother.Last night the

PErnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-47884898186258992172008-01-29T21:38:00.000+01:002008-01-29T21:57:03.482+01:00

Running is something I have always done. It is an easy way to get in a nice training session when time, weather or conditions don't warrant a ride. Normally, running is an activity that doesn't last longer than an hour before I call it quits due to boredom, the sheer discomfort involved or most often laziness. On occasion the running experience can be described euphoric with runners high taking

PErnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-75546966548362575262008-01-23T18:18:00.000+01:002008-12-10T22:22:59.702+01:00

This past week I had the great pleasure of traveling north in this fine country to the area known as Sunnmore. Driving from Bergen involves a number of ferry crossings, narrow winding roads and much gawking at some of the most spectacular natural surroundings I have ever witnessed. We traveled through some of this country's finest ski terrain regions with towering peaks and narrow winding fjords

PErnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-26472977078911159132008-01-21T18:00:00.000+01:002008-01-21T18:24:10.728+01:00

It has been far too long. I appoligize, but much has happened in the last month. Where will I begin? My sister was in Calgary for the Christmas holiday arriving at the start of the month. It was nice to have here around again. I finished my last UofC exam of life mid December. It was strange to think I wont have anything to do with that place again. It has been an enjoyable 4,5 years, but I felt

PErnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-64543120332869962372007-12-18T21:32:00.000+01:002007-12-19T00:35:50.636+01:00

Daft Punk has done it again. After changing the way the world perceives house music they have put the best of their career together into one live set to sum up why they are who they are. Alive 2007 is the compilation and was released a few weeks back. This live set from Paris showcases the finest the famed duo of Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo and Thomas Bangalter have to offer with the

PErnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-54382974453131853492007-12-18T20:54:00.000+01:002008-12-10T22:23:00.395+01:00

Doing some modeling work for MEC. 2007 is coming to a close, as is one of the most memorable fall seasons on record. With 13 hikes and 10 peaks bagged it has been epic, but it isn't over yet. This past weekend we did it again and simply drove to the end of Route 66, parked the Durango, jumped the ditch and went up the hill to the right.It should be noted that although Sparling originally

PErnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-40677892350808743342007-12-13T18:23:00.000+01:002007-12-13T18:39:16.790+01:00

It has been a while. I have been writing some exams, taking care of business and not to fear I have been to the mountains. With group projects, exams, papers etc. computer time has been work time. I'll get you back in the loop. Two weekends ago four of us took the North Over from the opposite direction from about a month ago to see what this side of the ridge looked like. It ended up turning into

PErnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-86579578884113910542007-11-26T06:42:00.000+01:002008-12-10T22:23:01.311+01:00

Scramble at 2900mIn step with keeping the weekly escapes fresh it was time to hit some serious peaks again and high time to tread some rocky slopes after weeks of mostly snow. Sparling , Brooks and I hit the Ribbon Creek parking lot late morning with clear skies , a light breeze and ambitions of ascending the highest established trail in all of Canada. Yet again we were the only ones in the

PErnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-67249886676636774172007-11-25T00:00:00.001+01:002008-12-10T22:23:02.267+01:00

Last weekend J Sparls had in true form planned a route in stride with the progressive nature of the season's outdoor pursuits. Following the multiday adventure the week before it was time to take proceedings to the next level and pursue the near impossible. Experts rate the Northover Ridge Loop at just over 30 km and recommend that the route be divided into a two day trip, in summer. This is

PErnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-60447406420799939142007-11-15T17:29:00.000+01:002008-12-10T22:23:03.781+01:00

One of many log creek crossings on the out and back route to Fay Hut.The adventures are piling on so fast I can't keep up. The most epic journey of the fall happened this past weekend with an attempt at a 33 km Northover Ridge assault, but I will have to fill you in on that after a summary of Fay Hut.In the spirit of steady progression the next step was naturally a multi day adventure. After some

PErnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-59123370907089640092007-11-15T17:03:00.000+01:002008-12-10T22:23:04.742+01:00

Go Go GadgetAdventure Man does it right with GPS navigation, bear bangers, knives...all at his finger tips.PlaytimeI am now a few adventures behind, but by the end of today I hope to be all caught up. Photos from the adventure two weekends ago are unavailable as my camera froze. Here is how that happened.It was Sunday and time for another mountain escape. I was unsure if it was going to happen as

PErnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-14064444851548634382007-11-06T17:25:00.001+01:002008-12-10T22:23:05.159+01:00

Last Friday night I attended what could arguably have been one of the concert highlights of the year for this counter cultural oasis in the grasslands. Modest Mouse was in town and despite the show selling out in 7 minutes I had a ticket. Outside Mac Hall desperate fans were paying up to several hundred dollars for tickets, but some experiences are simply priceless. In tune with my new life

PErnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-70706028997073702542007-10-30T20:49:00.000+01:002008-12-10T22:23:06.422+01:00

Alright, it has been weeks, but the Belgians want to know the story so I will now provide some explanation for these pictured antics. As you may be thinking this is distinctly unlike the Per most people know, but something had to be done. The basis for this endevour was two fold. Bicisport needed a win in the Elite mens event. Bunnin was our man. He had been very consistant on the podium at

PErnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-1530899942916145342007-10-30T16:01:00.000+01:002008-12-10T22:23:07.025+01:00

More mountains, more magicAfter a Saturday filled with heckling at a cross race (hopefully more on that later, photo sources are needed to do that justice...), riding a messenger race in the downtown after dark and taking over 17th Avenue by bicycle until the early hours (more later, photos again), Sunday's hike was to serve as a welcome tranquil relaxation from the hectic 24 hours prior.The

PErnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-63228593433592824622007-10-30T15:59:00.000+01:002007-10-30T16:25:22.320+01:00

January 7, 2008. Bergen via Chicago and Copenhagen. One Way. Days are numbered. Evacuation order in effect.

PErnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-57555337913322110142007-10-24T06:53:00.001+02:002008-12-10T22:23:08.519+01:00

Yamnuska, made it to the top of second bump from right.It never ends. Today I climbed Mt Yamnuska with Shona, unbelievable, where have these mountains been all my life? I am addicted. 5 peaks in 16 days. So how did I get myself to the mountains yet again? The power of spontaneity. I was looking into flights at Travel Cuts getting a smoking deal quote from the agent when the mobile started

PErnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-45398627698664048262007-10-23T17:14:00.000+02:002008-12-10T22:23:08.815+01:00

Brann er blitt serie mester i Norge, men de fleste som leser denne bloggen forstar null og niks akkurat na, dermed slar vi over til et sprak alle forstar. For the rest, Brann just won the "Elite Series" in soccer, its huge,...in Norway. After over 40 years without it "Gullet er Hem!". Ironically Bergen's team name "Brann" means fire in Norwegian, I find it incredibly close to flames. And since

PErnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-70871163488238951242007-10-22T06:36:00.000+02:002008-12-10T22:23:09.618+01:00

What it looks like to have the world at your feet...View from not quite the summit.Now officially addicted to alpine adventure I yet again found myself in the Rockies today. This time we took it to the next level and hit Rundle Mountain in Banff. Nestled in the shadow of this monster of a mountain, Banff provides a last blast of Calgary influenced tourist trap emptiness before you escape from

PErnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-3292198681383901062007-10-22T06:24:00.000+02:002007-10-22T19:51:26.336+02:00

For J Sparls.The title of this track tells the exact story of my life. Constantly tracking treasure down, and finding it everywhere!Gabriel & Dresden, an influence in the vast world of electronica which you no doubt have been touched by if you frequently treat yourself to this genre. Hailing from San Fransisco this duo comprised of DJs and producers Josh Gabriel and Dave Dresden have been

PErnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-90017128959554800412007-10-16T17:35:00.001+02:002008-12-10T22:23:10.922+01:00

Panorama view from top of Big SisterTop of the worldIn perhaps the most random turn of events since...late August (my life seems at times like an endless array of random occurrence) I ended up on the top of a mountain again yesterday. Within a 30 hour period I ended up spending 12 hours on mountains, incredible, this is how it happened. On Sunday after the Grotto Mountain adventure I ended up

PErnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-88752180729612387602007-10-16T17:09:00.000+02:002008-12-10T22:23:11.554+01:00

Backside with traverse from false summit from the far left to were we stood half an hour later on the summit.View of Canmore from Grotto Mountain false summitThis Sunday I found myself back in the Rockies for another alpine adventure with a solid crew of cyclists. This time we were going to take a look at Grotto Mountain which we had observed the week before as being a potentially good hike. From

PErnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-17417597751040211882007-10-09T17:48:00.000+02:002008-12-10T22:23:12.529+01:00

Half way upView from the summit towards Canmore with our veteran guide.This past Sunday I was finally able to escape the city lights and sounds to the Rockies for a day of hiking with adventure hungry Sparling and a crew of young buck cyclists. The route planned was 'Tea Room" which heads up the south slope of the range to the north of the city of Canmore. From the base we could see a distant

PErnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-72257004734533890362007-10-05T17:02:00.000+02:002008-12-10T22:23:12.670+01:00

The year's biggest supercross extravaganza which has been generating absolutely no buzz the last months is going to blow you away...back to Edmonton early. It's canceled.Apparently the city has a high turnover of parks paper pushers and the time frame for ABA races is longer than anticipated. In addition 6 classes and revolutionary plans for 2008 requiring money to be made are not conducive to

PErnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-60431899384774260652007-09-28T16:25:00.001+02:002008-12-10T22:23:12.984+01:00

Calgary is always am incredibly inspiring place for a few short weeks in late September-early October. With cold nights and the great number of leaved trees in this city the skyline is set ablaze this time of year. Yesterday I thought about the few opportunities one gets to really experience this glorious season and with the light conditions yesterday evening I knew the time was now. After dinner

PErnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-17507877721119171142007-09-26T00:00:00.000+02:002007-09-26T00:20:59.130+02:00

Been watching some NRK and doing some thinking and I believe I have discovered the ultimate expression of freedom. Imagine the feeling of hiking for several hours up a mountain to a desirable point and then simply jumping off the ledge and sailing through the air to your starting point at the base of the mountain. Imagine the blend of athletic ability, natural experiences and thrills. Imagine

PErnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-36888638157525253282007-09-23T19:16:00.000+02:002007-09-23T19:30:04.024+02:00

The first Modest Mouse song I ever heard shortly after the release of their third album "Good News For People Who Love Bad News". I immediately fell in love with the sound, acquired their latest work as well as previous albums and became a fan. Although Modest Mouse is now a household name they have been in existence since 1994 ,but their early work was largely unappreciated by the masses. With "

PErnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-74826159117862018442007-09-21T23:56:00.000+02:002008-12-10T22:23:13.477+01:00

As the weather begins to drift towards crisp and drab, it is time to enjoy those meals that bring back warmth and comfort. Meals this time of year tend to be closer to neutral in flavor, incorporating seasonal root vegetables, salt and rich components. On the menu yesterday was a Norwegian classic, Raspeballer med Salt Shinke or Raspeballer with Salted Pork. The raspeballer are the base of this

PErnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-90505231897061906242007-09-17T21:51:00.000+02:002007-09-17T22:07:37.338+02:00

It has been a strange last couple of weeks. Back to Calgary, back to school, back to work. I am back to everything I was up to when I left in April, but missing on key element...motivation. With only a few more months left of my university career and Canadian chapter I know what kind of a life can start in January, but I am really struggling to get myself there. I am taking 6 classes to finish up

PErnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-64944017232964681452007-09-05T17:57:00.000+02:002007-09-05T23:59:09.301+02:00

It is time for some more good music. This time I would like to share with you another act that saw the light via the "Bergen Wave". Not long ago I featured "Royksopp" which was also part of this musical revolution, only this time I am showing you another side of the movement, moving away from electronic music to an acoustic pop sound. Kings of Convenience are comprised of Erland Oye and Eirik

PErnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-45468398305188827972007-09-04T16:55:00.000+02:002008-12-10T22:23:13.595+01:00

Where in the world is pdot?In the past I have always counted Great Britain as one of the countries I have visited. The truth is I had never actually left Heathrow thus without passing through customs I can hardly count it. That all changed when I attempted to travel through that famed luggage losing, headache causing no mans land in the London 'burbs.Friday was going to be a long day regardless

PErnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-20006947601572708682007-09-03T16:24:00.000+02:002008-12-10T22:23:14.366+01:00

I am now back in Canada, but before I tell you how that ended up taking 24 hours longer than it should have its high time to publicly express my gratitude to those who made my Belgium experience in 2007 such an incredible one.This may not have been a year for great athletic achievement on paper, but personally I know I was stronger this year than ever before. This road season has been all about

PErnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-56307971814974304572007-08-30T13:58:00.000+02:002008-12-10T22:23:14.508+01:00

On Tuesday I decided to take a day trip to the last unexplored Flemish city on my map. After a quick hour and a bit on the train I arrived to a newly renovated Antwerp central station. With three levels of trains, it is quite the sight and marvel of engineering. The station set the tone for my visit in this port city. Antwerp is known as a business center and traditionally served as a barge

PErnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-62037686339902022902007-08-27T18:08:00.000+02:002008-12-10T22:23:14.898+01:00

Last week I embarked on a 5 hour spin just to see what I could see. I was riding along one of my regular routes when I started seeing Eneco Tour signs marking the course for the days stage from Antwerp. I decided to follow the signs and was delighted to find that they where guiding me in the direction of Brakel and some of the best climbs in the area. Just before Brakel I pulled over to witness

PErnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-1462051914712493532007-08-22T18:42:00.000+02:002007-08-22T18:53:21.889+02:00

On Saturday I was back in racing mode and ready to challenge a hard course in Lennik. This town is only a half hour ride from the house and I have ridden in the area a great deal over the past three seasons. I had a time and I had a town, so I set out early to once again compete in the famed kermesse scene. I arrived in Lennik down a familiar road knowing that the race must be starting at a point

PErnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-38471290084428948482007-08-21T13:04:00.000+02:002007-08-21T13:09:15.049+02:00

"Dont leave your blogger account open when you leave the computer"Thanks to Sammy for taking responsible advantage of such a situation an posting a fake Quote of the Day yesterday. P dot productions is not about to start a Quote of the Day feature, but this one can stay up as a tribute the ever sharp mind of Sammy.On a serious and related note the blonde ones are better than the brown ones and I

PErnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-34222707259239546052007-08-20T18:14:00.000+02:002008-12-10T22:23:15.073+01:00

When you can't get blonde ones,don't give into the brown ones....You'll be sorryPère Leffe

PErnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-30209019392211872722007-08-20T15:47:00.001+02:002008-12-10T22:23:15.172+01:00

Flanders has some incredible culinary specialties, many of which are not widely recognized internationally. One of these are mussels which makes sense as Belgium shares a mussel rich coastal region with the Nederlands. Mussel season is synonymous with mid to late summer and thus it being that time of year again I had the pleasure of endulging in this tasty sea creature last week. I ordered the

PErnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-85536392674646336832007-08-17T14:47:00.000+02:002007-08-17T15:02:51.229+02:00

"So what ever happened to that trip to Verviers for the mtb marathon worlds?" We deserted the flanderian urban sprawl early Saturday afternoon and set our sights on Verviers which is a city of fair size close to the more famous center of Liege. The area is famous as the gateway to the Ardennes region which means endless lush green rolling and semi mountainous terrain, plenty of lakes and rivers

PErnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-76274425090136875712007-08-16T13:05:00.000+02:002007-08-16T13:06:13.892+02:00

The biggest day of 2007 and perhaps of my cycling career. 100 km of pure adrenaline. Enjoy.

PErnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-37925976584788540722007-08-08T09:59:00.000+02:002007-08-08T10:08:46.717+02:00

The adventure continues this weekend with an incredibly surprising twist. From racing with Boonen and McEwan to Interclubs to Stage Races to Post Tour Crits to an mtb race!?! I did race mtb once. In fact I even raced a World Cup, the last one before our good friend Filip got busted for EPO, but that is another long story from before the blogger days. One thing I never did while racing mtb was

PErnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-84416205936796190562007-08-08T09:42:00.000+02:002007-08-08T09:55:14.630+02:00

In the spirit of the end of the last post I found it fitting to share with you a catchy chart topper that is rocking more than one world here in Europaland. The track is "Relax, Take it Easy" and the artist is Mika. This song is one of the most played on Belgian pop radio and music television for the moment and is sitting firmly at the top of various charts across Europe. Mika is a Lebanese born

PErnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-6309009218387534192007-08-08T09:30:00.000+02:002007-08-08T09:40:37.064+02:00

On Saturday I lined up for another race in the Flemish heartland. This time it was 11 laps of 10 km on lots of cobbles and broken pavement on a hilly circuit around the famed Affligem Abbey (where the beer originally came from). Before the start I actually ran into two Canadians who would also be racing. One had just arrived after a stint with a Spanish team that didn't go as planned and the

PErnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-17215011847154116682007-08-01T09:16:00.000+02:002008-12-10T22:23:15.618+01:00

Merckx is a good draft...On Monday evening I took part in the biggest and oldest post Tour de France criterium in Belgium and seeing as it was one of the biggest nights of my life I want to ensure that I document it properly. I am in the process of creating a monster of a post to take you through the experience so be patient and look forward to a spine tingling story in the very near future.

PErnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-78963069248994856832007-07-30T13:06:00.000+02:002008-12-10T22:23:16.126+01:00

The bunch in full flight through the streets of Liedekerke during Stage 5.Over the top of the cobbled climb early on in Stage 5.In a world of hurt. Top of the cobbles Stage 5.I suffered...The racing started on Wednesday with a 155 km on rolling roads with two significant climbs per lap. From the beginning I was at the front and got on race radio in the first lap in a small break, but the speed

PErnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-77118580164240961572007-07-24T09:55:00.000+02:002008-12-10T22:23:16.254+01:00

Het Nieuwsblad announced that two more high profile riders will be lining up in the Aalst criterium on Monday. Christophe Moreau (French National Champion and recent Dauphine Libere winner) and Cedric Vasseur (Stage winner Tour de France 2007).A full list of riders will be published in the next week as contracts are finalized, but you can be sure I will represent well. I plan to take this

PErnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-54448486889561913962007-07-22T13:10:00.000+02:002007-07-22T13:36:13.861+02:00

The week is over and after 4 races it has been a long one, but it should have been longer... Thursday I went to the Ninove pro race to see what I could do with the big boys. With this race also serving as the pro provincial championships the big guns were out and blazing. The usual suspects of Chocolade-Jacques, Jartazi, Quickstep, Unibet.com and Predictor-Lotto were there Landbouwcredit and to

PErnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-62339466239454255242007-07-19T10:20:00.000+02:002008-12-10T22:23:16.553+01:00

Yesterday I received word from team management on a couple of really exciting developments. First off I will be racing the post Tour criterium in Aalst on July 30th. At the press conference yesterday they confirmed Giro winner Danilo Di Luca, Belgian champ Stijn Devolder and many other top pros as participants. The post tour crit is a 100km highly exclusive affair attracting tens of thousands of

PErnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-69095723454867028792007-07-19T10:10:00.001+02:002007-07-19T10:20:12.218+02:00

Well if you are following my schedule you know that I had a couple of races this past weekend. On Sunday the race was in the village of Borsbeke on a tough circuit with a climb, lots of super fast field roads and a technical 7 corner final km finish with some cobbles. I felt somewhat off from the start and despite doing my best to get in the winning move I missed it as a strong counter went from

PErnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-52355299123013358462007-07-13T11:08:00.000+02:002007-07-16T11:40:23.710+02:00

It has been far too long since my last installment of "Tune of the Week", but I have been searching high and low to find something shocking, something so incredibly good that I may never be able to top it. I believe I have finally succeeded. I frequently tune in to DJ Friendly on the NRK broadband network. His selections are based on a laid back electronica philosophy, but they remain

PErnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-67766887188134067822007-07-13T10:18:00.000+02:002007-07-13T10:46:19.429+02:00

These last few days have been somewhat irregular from what you might expect of a rider based in Belgium...I did a training block. This week was race poor with time trial provincial championships and top competitions occupying that majority of the calender. After my solid race on Sunday and a day off to check out the tour on Monday I embarked on a three day training block to spike the form for

PErnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-52359223478269592612007-07-12T10:21:00.000+02:002008-12-10T22:23:16.781+01:00

The big man is back and Norway can celebrate yet again. For a while I thought he was back eating too many kjottkaker in the back of his parent's caravan. Now if only CSC would ditch that pesky yellow jersey and let Arvesen put his energy into something other than controlling the peleton at 35 km/hr....

PErnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-5417090750391371982007-07-10T23:06:00.000+02:002008-12-10T22:23:17.866+01:00

Countless cafes in the city center were decorated much the same as this one.Yesterday I had thought I might be doing day two in Ramsdonk, but instead I made a rash decision and boarded the train to Gent to witness history in the making. After 40 minutes of watching Flanders rocket past me as I rode the iron rails I tried to slow everything down and enjoy the experience upon arriving in Gent, but

PErnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-37247496768015212432007-07-09T23:46:00.000+02:002008-12-10T22:23:19.606+01:00

The city of Gent in the heart of Flanders hosts the Tour de France for the third time in historyTornado Tom. When you own a Lambo only this can be better...Perhaps the first pictures of Boonen's new bike for tomorrow's stage celebrating his return to green.I have somehow managed to find a wireless signal in my room, but I need to get to bed so please enjoy the pictures and brief captions and look

PErnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-75003099262764765252007-07-09T23:43:00.001+02:002007-07-09T23:46:30.708+02:00

The story of my life...yesterday's race. Missed the first break, got in the second one, broke my rear derailleur cable with 30km to go, broke my wheel with 25km to go, crossed the line 23rd in my 52-12 with my wheel tick-tacking away rubbing my brakes and frame. Better luck next time. Collected my 10 Euros prize money, rode to Opwijk for a birthday party, ate lots of expensive cheese, drank a

PErnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-5936504988662872632007-07-07T13:49:00.000+02:002008-12-10T22:23:20.584+01:00

Norsk-Belge FusionOn Thursday I opened the diners club season officially with a Norwegian “Grot Fest” at the pad on Papenbergstraat. I imported some rommegrot, risengryns grot, flatbread and sausage from Norway on my last trip to bring the Norse kitchen to my friends here in Belgium. On the menu was the previously mentioned dishes which are in rough translation sour cream porridge and rice

PErnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-87584283493034859642007-07-07T13:46:00.000+02:002007-07-07T13:49:03.475+02:00

Wimbledon, the British Grand Prix and the start of the Tour de France. It's a big weekend in the wide world of sports for the UK and the world. It should also prove to be a good weekend for sport participation as I attempt to redeem myself in Ramsdonk on Sunday after Monday's disastrous racing attempt. I am now 95% over my cold/flu and feeling ready to compete again. After spending the beginning

PErnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-51622970694933703172007-07-04T15:07:00.000+02:002007-07-04T15:19:48.430+02:00

Alright, first thing is first. The race I did before I left for Norway went well. I spent about 100 km in three different breaks and finally found myself in the winning move of 24 riders. Being in breaks all day is hard, I cant sprint, I finished 23rd... I also rode 30 km to the race in the rain, and then home again in worse rain. Life is beautiful. After that epic day of wind and wet I took of

PErnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-4323860340511537682007-06-26T23:29:00.000+02:002008-12-10T22:23:20.845+01:00

View from the top of UlrikenI am currently in Bergen Norway taking a few days off the bike and away from the cycling crazed land of Belgium. Iarrived yesterday afternoon and am staying with my sister who is studying medicine here. We have been on a couple of solid outings and the weather has been incredible. Check out the Flickr photoset link below to experience what I personally believe to be

PErnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-75182111197845140572007-06-26T23:17:00.000+02:002007-06-26T23:29:47.245+02:00

I am getting really far behind with the blogging, but like I said last time it is mainly due to the loss of my wireless conection at the house and also because I have been rather busy the last few days. On the weekend I raced both days. Saturday we drove to the race in the pouring rain and hoped for the skies to clear up the entire way to Londerzeel. Once we arrived the weather did improve and I

PErnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-20669884041637478812007-06-19T19:23:00.000+02:002007-06-20T11:26:43.387+02:00

It has been a while since my last post mainly due to the fact that the random wireless signal from one of the neighbours at the house has dissappeared, hopefully temporarily.After the infection diagnosis on Thursday the racing for the weekend was up in the air. Originally the plan was to do an interclub with the elite team, but on Friday my doctor pulled the plug on that plan. He was concerned

PErnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-16869719525665167092007-06-15T15:15:00.000+02:002007-06-15T15:27:59.185+02:00

After crashing on Sunday I took a couple of days easy, took care of my wounds and then lined up in Neiuwrode-Holsbeek. I was not feeling 100%, but with the interclub this weekend I knew it would be an asset to get a hilly race in in preparation. Before the start my left leg was quite sore and I had a slight inflammation below the biggest of the wounds, but I thought it was getting better and

PErnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-56354319253679997282007-06-12T22:45:00.001+02:002008-12-10T22:23:21.034+01:00

Where on earth can you get 6 eggs, 18 Senseo machine coffee pads, 1 kg of fruit & nut musli 1 kg of washed locally grown carrots and a bunch of bananas for $6.50? The answer to that and many other questions regarding how a broke bicycle racer can eat well can be found at your local Aldi. Aldi Markt is a common site in centers all over Belgium and my favourite location can be found only minutes

PErnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-38700022591122313962007-06-11T22:28:00.000+02:002007-06-11T22:43:16.647+02:00

Yesterday I rode 35 km to a race just outside Halle in Lembeek. Another day, another kermesse. This time however I was pleased to see a course offering a great deal of climbing and equally a great deal of tight and narrow roads on the descents in contrast to the relatively flat and none selective courses of late. The race started well. I felt really comfortable in the bunch, never under pressure

PErnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-5769994747699841112007-06-09T09:59:00.000+02:002007-06-09T10:13:58.210+02:00

I need to go training this morning before I head out with the VWF team to be their mechanic in the team car for their race today, but its raining so I will blast of a quick post.I raced on Thursday in Gent, an evening kermesse of 16 laps for 120 km on a windy course. With 78 riders it was on the small side compared to my last outing, but I knew this was my chance to get my name in the paper and

PErnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-4944538938548284802007-06-06T10:04:00.000+02:002008-12-10T22:23:21.980+01:00

Mario with the winners spoilsThe PatioDriving the teletubby carThe place to be in Liedekerke on a Sunday afternoon.This past Sunday was the first ever Grote Prijs Sportzone, a race put on by the team sponsor Sportzone. The race was for the VWF, which is similar in structure to the ABA at home. There are 6 categories based on skill and age. Each category does a race of around 60-70 km on a 5-8 km

PErnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-37957957593460932942007-06-05T22:21:00.002+02:002007-06-05T23:02:30.133+02:00

My first dive into the real deep end this season turned out to be an exciting and frustrating day at the office. The papers here in Belgium were a buzz with anticipation of the event and this morning everyone in this fine country knew that Tom Boonen would be contesting the 63rd edition of Gullegem Koerse. They also knew that he was bringing 13 teammates, and when I heard that I knew this could

PErnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-46475736711209305042007-06-04T22:37:00.001+02:002007-06-04T22:40:31.855+02:00

It is official, Tom Boonen will be lining up tomorrow in Gullegem. Per Strom will also take to the start. Gullegem Koerse

PErnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-1222500615509919672007-06-04T16:05:00.000+02:002007-06-04T22:19:58.452+02:00

Belgian hits are what the world needs to hear to get a bit of feel for this place. Fixkes are a popular band of guitar strumming charmers who regularly top the national pop charts. This is track has topped the "Ultratop 50" charts since the beginning of March. Nice little tune and a peek into minds of a unique population.FixkesKvraagetaan

PErnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-2516911565354860862007-06-03T23:29:00.001+02:002008-12-10T22:23:22.158+01:00

Tornado Tom With a weekend off from racing Sammy, Nathalie and I loaded up the Opel and spent a day following stage 4 of the Tour of Belgium on Saturday. After the ITT the gc was pretty much decided, but stage 4 was to be a tough stage with several incredible climbs as the race made its way from Herzele (close to home) to the Ardennes. Our first stop was the stage start in Herzele to take

PErnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-8623100515990837952007-06-01T22:17:00.001+02:002008-12-10T22:23:23.449+01:00

Prime LapMichael Charles, our French speaking sprinter, stretches his legs at the front while I lie in waiting...Off the front trying to make it happenSitting prettyGoing on the attack on the cobbles.Crits in Belgium are relatively rare compared to North America, but in my experience when the Belgians do decide to put on a crit they do a fantastic job of making it memorable. This 66km crit in the

PErnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-35070306520575784632007-05-30T22:31:00.001+02:002008-12-10T22:23:24.620+01:00

These are pics from the first Wolvertem which I already wrote about. The second race in the same area two days later turned out to be a big mess with 8 of the strongest riders getting away super early. I didn't even know a break had gone and when I heard they had 35 seconds I promptly started going on the attack with the stronger looking moves. I got in several promising moves, but they never

PErnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-87816881781894219332007-05-28T10:32:00.000+02:002007-05-28T10:45:35.902+02:00

This long weekend I am doing two races in Wolvertem and area. The first was on Saturday and today we race again in Nerom. Saturday's race went relatively well. I felt good the entire race, but in the end the high speeds didn't favor a breakaway and for the first time this year the race ended in a true sprint for the top spot. With an average speed of just over 45km/hr I knew it was going to be

PErnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-35912501610449455512007-05-24T10:33:00.000+02:002008-12-10T22:23:24.912+01:00

If you want to follow results from Belgium and confirm my claims check out Wielerbond Vlaanderen. Follow the links to Uitslagen, Weg and then click on the date of the race. There are often several races a day so scroll down to the appropriate race.

PErnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-5005230242112577962007-05-24T10:08:00.000+02:002007-05-24T10:24:51.400+02:00

Another day, another race. After the fiasco in Pepingen I was ready to get the good vibes back and ride a solid race. With a big weekend coming up with races on Saturday and Monday yesterdays race was perfect to get some confidence back and tune the legs for the weekend. Just over 120 riders took the start in the quaint town of Steenhuffel. The 120 km race started at 17:00 so the local population

PErnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-29479356757908235212007-05-22T13:54:00.001+02:002007-05-22T14:06:09.775+02:00

I know its a few days late, but after this performance I was down and out for a bit wondering where all the hundreds of hours had actually gotten me for this year and why I am seemingly slower... This was an incredibly rough race and after surviving most of it, the constant accelerations and dramatically downsized group after the first hour made my day just short of riding out the suffer fest.

PErnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18247323.post-66332407936695180792007-05-19T21:57:00.000+02:002008-12-10T22:23:25.962+01:00

What does this part of the world look like? The other day I took a spin along the Dender to the city of Aalst and then made a loop back to the commune of Affligem. This is some of what I saw and the beginning of a new series on pdotproductions showing you what I see everyday in my temporary home. The clocktower in the square in Aalst is the oldest structure of its kind in BelgiumThe local

PErnoreply@blogger.com0