Travel | Glenn Ward

Around the world in 80 Raves – Chapter Eight – New York

It was again quite a boring trip, travelling during the day so you don’t want to sleep but it’s hard to occupy your mind. We usually end up singing along to the guitars or arguing about which music we want on. We got there at 5:00 but we had to stay just outside Manhatten in a days inn car park just the other side of the Lincoln Tunnel cos the bus was only allowed into the city between certain hours of the day it would be too much hassle. We got reasonably dressed up, as we would be spending the night on a paddle boat around New York with some of the high flyer’s. The boat was due to leave at 7:00 so there wasn’t much time; everyone was bundled into taxis and rushed to the dock. We made it in time and realised it wasn’t just some friendly trip around the island but it had three bars on board. Two floors of the finest techno and house music. And an upper deck to chill out on and look at the sites of New York. It was a free bar before 8;00 so naturally we set up camp and took full advantage before moving on to the top deck to see us set sail, do a bit of mingling and, call me a tourist but there’s some sites that you just have to see from the water. The Vodca was going down nicely and we were all up dancing, Sheryl taking it a little bit to far, I think she thought she was auditioning for a part in the movie “Striptease” or something. Fair play though, she was getting the boys attention; I just thought it was plain dirty though. It became obvious that perhaps we’d had too much to drink when we went upstairs and Boppa began talking to a Dj from the Bronx. Now, Boppa talks shit at the best of times but if there’s one thing he does know it’s his music. The conversation started of OK, Two music lovers discussing what they were into. The guy was heavily into his techno and when Boppa said he was into drum and base it didn’t go down to well, neither did Boppa rapping at him. Anyway, we avoided boppa getting thrown of the boat, mainly because I was holding him on the boat, but it all kicked off again when we tried to leave at the end of the night, and “I don’t want to talk to you, cos you smell like my poo” defiantly didn’t help. Nice one Bop. We avoided it all again and started to make our way to the after party, party at a local club only to have the guy run down the street and punch bop in the back of the head as we were walking away, then it defiantly kicked off Phil turned and swung at him with the camera tripod and took a direct hit. This time A girl we had met on the boat who new these people calmed it all down and Boppa and I got in a taxi with her to go to the next club. We thought it was finally over but as we got to a set of traffic lights, a car screeched up next to us and we were told we were going to die tonight and followed us to the club, the girl got out to go and talk to them again and we went over to a donut shop next to the club, fortunately in there was a policeman eating dohnuts. Nice one. The decision was made though, once we told the crew that they had threatened to kill us and although it was all funny at the time we were very drunk and probably didn’t realise how serious it could have been, especially as we were in New York. So not only did we get to see the major sights but have a good night out and experience some of the people of New York and almost got shot, quite an evening.

It had been a long night so we didn’t wake up until midday again. Then we headed straight onto the island, the girls went shopping for cheap clothes and I took the opportunity to find a tattoo parlour and get my tattoo done as we didn’t have time and we would be away from the sea for such a long time it would give it a chance to set in. There were plenty of places all in the same part of town so we had a look to see which looked the most professional the went in to negotiate a price. Joel who already had plenty of tattoos was making it out to be really painful but he’s been scared of needles most his life. I expected to be biting on a stool or something but the only time it really hurt was when the needle went over the bone of the spine, then I got quite a twinge. It took a couple of hours but I was well pleased with the finished result although wearing sticky tape and clingfilm on my back was quite annoying. We had to rush back to the bus to get changed. For the first time tonight the group would split up, Joel Bex and Boppa would go to a club called “ceeby jeebys” they would find one room to be a goth night and the other five Punk band auditions, and that’s about as much as I can tell you about there night. Us on the other hand. We would meet up with some of the people and models from Elite model New York. I was I bit nervous. We would be going to high-class bars and although the guys were a similar age group, what would I have to talk to models about? We arrived at the Tribeca Grand, a very swish place run by the same people who run the Soho Grand in London, apparently. They even had some one in the rest room helping you wash your hands, something I’d never seen before. We met Roman and Sheri who were organising the night and all their friends and sat down and ordered some drinks. With out a doubt this was the best group of people we had met on the trip so far. They were all interested in our trip and how it came about and interested in what we did. There lives weren’t exactly dull either so we had plenty to talk about. It seemed that their number one priority was to make sure that we had a good night. We left in taxis on the way to “Joe’s Pub” one of the hardest places to get into in New York, but with these guys we just skipped the long que and walked straight in, the atmosphere in the place was fucking amazing. Once inside it was quite packed but that was soon sorted when the promoter cleared a table right in front of the stage and we all sat down on the sofas. At this point the champagne arrived and the drinks just kept on coming. The acts on stage were amazing and everyone we were with was up for a right old laugh. A couple of the guys had said to me that one of the girls, Tarin was interested in me, but she was so perfect and I didn’t fancy making a fool out of myself with someone who is way out of my league. The night was easily the best so far, we were getting on with everyone really well and we decided to move onto the final club of the night. I left the pub with Tarin and we were getting on but I wasn’t going to make a move and spoil it all. We got in the taxi for the Luhan Club, owned by Steven Boldwin. We stopped of at a shop next to the club and got some chocolate then went down into the club, which was underneath a restaurant. It was quite small inside but quite cosy. The crew relaxed with the filming and joined in with the drinking. Everywhere in the club had sofas again, so it was a great place to finish the night. I had lost out with Tarin, as she was talking to some other guy for the rest of the night which was annoying cos apparently she told Chantal that she was interested. I found a comfy spot with everyone on the sofa and we stayed until about 5;00 in the morning and I was under the impression that we were meeting up with them again tomorrow.

When everyone else got up I really couldn’t be bothered so they went into New York to shop and I slept some more then stayed on the bus while we drove around Manhatten shooting General Views, then bill dropped us of and me and Richard went to meet the others in time square from there me boppa and Joel jumped in a taxi and went to go up in a helicopter and see Manhattan from the air, Joel had already done this before so after we met the crew just me and bop went up, we could only take the little cameras so while boppa filmed us I filmed the shots out the window. It was boppas and mine first time in a helicopter and it was the best location to do it in trust me. As soon as the ten minutes were up we left to go see Ronnie Sys in central park. The strange thing was as we got out the taxi at the park literally five metres away stood Petes friends that we had met in Myrtle Beach. You don’t get many coincidences much freakier than that. The guys from last night said they may be coming to watch the show so I kept my eye out for them and we went in. It was a real good atmosphere, we were right down the front in the VIP area just to the right of the stage. It seemed there was no plan to meet up with the guys from last night as Richard told us we had to be at a club called spa on the other side of town. I didn’t like the club much, I thought it was very trying to be cool but not quite achieving it, with music plucked from my 1997 CD collection. It wasn’t as bad as I am making out I suppose it was a cool looking place and the people in there seemed pretty cool. I was just pissed of caus they cleared a booth for us gave us a fake bottle of champagne then after half an hour cleared us out the booth and I didn’t think that was very classy at all. Everyone else felt the same and we got bored pretty quick. So after a walk around the club we left quite early and bumped into some of the guys from the night before in the queue on the way out.

More 80 Raves

Around the world in 80 Raves – Chapter 7 – Woodstock

We began the longest section of the trip so far and headed for Woodstock travelling through the night. The bus stopped around ten in the morning and we all got off to eat in a little silver stylish diner. The surrounding landscape had changed overnight, it had now become hilly and it looked a little more like woodland. I had a chicken burger to start of the day and then we sat outside and waited for the crew to finish doing what they needed to do then a quick stop at Walmart for some supplies and back on the bus on our way to a campsite for the evening. We arrived mid afternoon. There was a river nearby so we spent the afternoon paddling in little two man open canoes and we got to travel to the launch site in a bus just like the school bus on the Simpson’s which for me was more of a highlight than going paddling. Back at the site the owners had pitched some tents for us but we had no intention of sleeping in them as we would be travelling through the night again, but it looked good on camera. We had one on one interviews for the rest of the evening and took it in turn to do the barbeque. Once everyone had finished we met around the barbeque, got the guitars out and had a good sing along. Even though we didn’t actually camp it was a cosy experience all sitting around the campfire in the woods with other family groups around us but it had to end at 3:00am to get to Woodstock in time.

I slept most of the journey wondering what Woodstock would be like, obviously in the past it has been one of the most famous events in the world and we were all expecting to re live the Woodstock that everyone talks about. We got there around 4:00pm and made our way to the site, it was on a long straight road with fields either side as we got closer there were more and more tents and people and noticeably a lot more mud. We started to get kitted up for what we now expected. Joel being the genius he is gaffa-taped shopping bags to his feet. I put my old trousers on but although I only had one pair of shoes was not putting bags on my feet for anyone. Bill dropped us off near the entrance to the field. I was expecting it all to be the best festival I had ever been to with a huge atmosphere. Instead I got thousands of stoned hippies in a field that looked like it had been freshly ploughed with a barn in the middle that they were calling main stage. I felt a little conned but hey I’m at Woodstock and not many people can say they’ve been there, mind you if they saw it not many people would want to go there. It was a good laugh though, in the sense that there was a lot to laugh at. In between dodging the deep sections of mud we got talking to a few nutters and listened to a lovely tie die enrobed women with a banjo singing to the heavens how great god is and how the flowers make her feel really happy, which was lovely. And the bloke dancing in front of the stage well he looked like there was a force was trying to trip him up but he was having none of it, he would stay on his feet no matter what. Back at “main stage” Joel and Boppa was talking to the organisers about getting up and playing a few songs. Unfortunately not until tomorrow though which meant we would have to come back in the morning. We left sort of late afternoon, everyone was cold and wet and we had “Wild Wild West” on DVD back at the bus, which seemed to be calling our name. Although I am glad I experienced it, I probably wouldn’t be tempted to go back and as my trainers were covered in shit and I needed to walk around Manhatten tomorrow, When Joel and Boppa went to play there to songs I didn’t bother. I do feel a bit guilty though if I had have gone I would have doubled the amount of spectators at centre stage.

We left Woodstock around midday after the boys had fulfilled their life long dream and played in the barn at the shit-ridden field to an audience of one at Woodstock. We picked them up from the entrance where the annoying teenager had been waving on cars shouting go on, keep going for the past two days now. I don’t know whether he thought the drivers would forget to keep driving down the straight road if he wasn’t there but they seemed to be doing ok.

More 80 Raves
“Around the world in 80 Raves” Chapter One – The proposal
“Around the world in 80 Raves” Chapter Two – Ready for the off!
“Around the world in 80 Raves” Chapter Three – Miami
“Around the world in 80 Raves” Chapter Four – Daytona Beach
“Around the world in 80 Raves” Chapter Five – Myrtle Beach
“Around the world in 80 Raves” Chapter Six – Atlanta
“Around the world in 80 Raves” Chapter Seven – Woodstock

Joel and Boppa get thrown off the Jerry Springer stage on Around the world in 80 Raves

Joel and Boppa get thrown off the Jerry Springer stage on Around the world in 80 Raves

I had to upload this clip as I think it’s absolute TV gold! Joel and Boppa get thrown off the Jerry Springer stage on Channel 4′s Around the world in 80 Raves back in 2000.

Around the world in 80 raves – Chapter Six – Atlanta

Hit the road around 11:00 the next day. We were travelling though the day so when I wasn’t looking out the window to see where we were and how the landscape quickly changed I tried to exercise in the isle of the bus and obviously got some quality sleeping time in. As soon as we arrived in Atlanta it was dark, so wasn’t worth exploring the place so we jumped straight into taxis and went straight to a club called Karma, which is owned by an English guy that would meet us later. How can I describe it, it was sort of a break beat / hip-hop / drum and base club, a place the stars apparently liked to hang out at and not be hassled by the fans. It was sort of underground, down some stairs and a regular sort of bar with a few added extras like the odd monster sized bed here and there to relax on with a DJ room and a dance floor where the punters were going wild. Some of us went down to the dance floor, but it took others a while to get used to being in a mostly black club. Apparently Christina Aguilera, Lenny Cravits and Michael Jackson were some of the names that had been to the club. Just as we were finding it a little hard to believe though Busta Rymes walked in as we were talking to the manager Pablo at the bar so we took the guys word for it. We remained cool and didn’t want to seen to be the only ones in there asking for his autograph and acted like he was just a regular guy, but Chantal couldn’t help herself she had to go and say hi and shake his hand. After lining the shots up on the bar for us Pablo gave us a sort of interview although it was hard, there wasn’t much space for us all to get in and hear what he was saying over the music. Basically he was a richboy from London who decided to go out to the states and set up a stylish bar, like you do. His club was cool though and we stayed till around 5:00 before going back to the bus via a 24hr BP garage for munchies and a pint of milk.

We were up around 12:00 the next day to begin our day as women. Before the trip Richard said if he could sort it out would we enter a transvestite beauty pageant and at the time we agreed. Although he didn’t manage to get us in the competition because the competitors were quite serious and it might seem like we were taking the piss a bit, he told us that all the audience would be dressed as women and if we didn’t we would be the odd ones out. So our day would be spent visiting a clothes / costume shop picking out women’s clothes and matching shoes. A tranny called fristy would show us around and pick out the lamest clothes I had ever seen so we ignored her and went with my intuition and picked out something completely different. It was actually turning into quite a funny day; we had got used to everyone laughing at us and now were making the best of a bad situation. Once we had an outfit it was onto to a make up and wig shop where we met our chaperone for the night in his male form. He gave us the lowdown on the event and scared us with some tranny facts, but we got the wigs or hair pieces as he liked to say and some make up tips here we also met two girls one of which was Pablo from the night before’s x girlfriend and I must ad she had possibly the nicest pair I have ever seen. Then went back to the bus where the girls had the most fun they’d had since playing with Barbies. They took it in turns painting our nails and putting all kinds of stuff on our faces until they were happy we would pass for ladies, well transvestites anyway. I put on my little black mini skirt on, tucked my balls into a tight pair of boxers and pull on my fishnets and to finish, a matching boob tube and a classy wig. You may be surprised but I made quite a lady if i do say so myself, me and Boppa got some whistles as we stepped of the bus. But wait… then there was Joel, imagine a poorly dressed Mrs Doubtfire that can’t walk in heals and that’s Joel. Our limo arrived driven by some weird looking bloke and out stepped the guy from the wig shop, completely different and I don’t even want to imagine how he achieved the look, it was scary. We got to the hotel where the event was being held and it was on one of the top floors so we had to walk from the limo past all the regular people to get there, but by now it was alright! we had gone way past the realms of embarrassment into the realms of who now gives a shit. We got in around 8:00 and surprisingly it had all already started, so we went to our VIP table where we had a good view of the stage and also the audience, and we realised that it was more a gay thing and we were definately in the minority being the ones dressed up. What the hell we had plenty of wine on the table and it wasn’t long before I’d forgotten what I looked like. Well at least till I went to the rest room. About half way though Boppa and I were set the task of going and talking to some trannies and gays and the like to educate ourselves and get it all on the Sony cameras. We got talking to a few groups of people getting them to tell us stuff to the camera. Then I spied, I think the only straight women there that evening, so while talking to her she noticed I had a pierced nipple and without asking had a look. I saw my opportunity and told her how rude she had been, tonight I was a women and that kind of thing is just not acceptable which resulted in her getting her tits out for all too see. Good work Glenn. They all came back to our table and Robin, the girl took quite a shine to me, I’m not sure why though I was dressed as a women so I spent the after show party getting to know her. I have no idea what the others got up to. It wasn’t too late and one of the guys we had met earlier invited us all back to his flat so we went there. I was still with Robin and the guy who was going to give her a lift home was walking us back to the bus so she came on board and we took advantage of the back room although we were soon to leave Atlanta so didn’t get any nookie although it was fun and she looked good naked.

More 80 Raves

Around the world in 80 Raves – Chapter Five – Myrtle Beach

Again we travelled through the night and arrived at around 6:00, had a quick look at the beach but as I didn’t get much sleep last night and we weren’t in an exciting location, in fact we were miles away from the touristy area although there were a lot of hotels. I decided to go back to bed for a while and get up at 9:00. Had a look at the beach again now there were people around and it seemed to be a bit of a family beach. It had been arranged that we would meet up with a record and skate shop owner. There we would find out a little bit about the local scene and what we were doing that evening. Unfortunately the night before the local police had broken up the three day rave Global 2000 that we had planned to go too, so we arranged to meet up with Pete the owner and he would make sure we saw what goes on, or if the rave had unofficially been moved then he’d take us to it. It was still early so we went to the tourist part of Myrtle beach, had a quick look around the gimmick shops where in one souvenir shop we found death stars and throwing knives, I don’t know what goes on in this town but I hope everyone didn’t carry those around with them. Sarah had arranged tickets to the local theme park so after a quick Mac Donalds we like big kids went to ride roller coasters and relive our youth, not that we’re old. On the way back we decided to make a beer stop and get some supplies for a barbeque, we set the barby up in the car park got the drinks out and the party started with Pete and his crew turning up soon after on his motorbike and a car load. There was Pete and the guy that worked in the store, his two gay friends from New York and Greg, a true red neck he had the accent and everything. We carried on drinking and got to know the guys who would be like, our guides for the night. W e got the possibilities from Pete for the night and decided to go to a place called club Millennium. Pete took Sheryl on the bike while the rest jumped on the bus and we were dropped at the club in style. In the club there were two rooms, one sort of hardcore house and the other more popular music, dance stuff that makes the charts and R & B. In the second room Greg managed to pick up two girls to join our merry band of clubbers, and I have to say one of them was hot. We next to moved onto a gay bar cause some of the guys wanted to pickup someone but we decided to stay on the bus for that one as me and Joel got harassed enough just directing Bill reversing the bus in the car park. So we went onto a place called Masters, the place Global 2000 (the rave) had been moved to since the raid last night. It was basically a Golf club that had been converted into a club for the evening, three rooms playing three styles and people everywhere, spilling out onto the golf course, break dancing, dancing to hard house and I don’t know whether it was security guards or cops walking around but who ever they were they had fun chucking Paul and Phil out when they realised they were filming and hadn’t been given permission. Everyone in the place was cool, we lost Sheryl very early on in the night, Joel had flaked early and Bex went to look after him so it was just me Chantal, Boppa, Greg and the two girls from the other club, which I got on really well with, although so did Boppa and Greg, but I got her number at the end of the night so I was happy. We partied till 5:00 in the morning. Bill drove us back to the car park after that, where the other guy’s cars were parked and they drove the girls back to their hotel, as they had to check out by 7:00am.

I didn’t get up till 2:00 the next day as expected and no one was in the mood to do anything big so we went to play crazy golf, which turned out to be quite a laugh. I don’t know who won but it obviously wasn’t me or I would have remembered. There was no plans to do any filming for the evening as we were in Myrtle beach for a while so we took the opportunity to go out with Paul and Rory, we weren’t near any decent bar so we wondered down the road until we found a reasonably swanky hotel and used there bar. Sheryl had a phone call from Pete and we managed to get rid of her pretty early again, “bonus”. After a few drinks it didn’t take much before we were feeling pissed again after last night. But we all had a good lengthy chat and it was a good bonding night to get to know the crew a little better. And we got to go to bed at a reasonable hour.

Today was a bit slow, spending most the day waiting for Sheryl to get back and no one was really getting of there arses and organising anything to do apart from the girls who had started on the art project and had gone of taking photos of people on the beach. So I got my windsurf kit out and although it wasn’t the best conditions took it to the beach, everyone else sat and chilled out and I went for a surf “mustn’t grumble”. Sheryl got back and met us on the beach, and it was time to do something as a group so we all went to an all you can eat Chinese Buffet restaurant called “China Buffet”. At the end of the meal we met up with Pete again and moved onto a bowling alley. For a drink and a game of ten pin. This time we managed to talk bill into coming with us which probably wasn’t a good idea cause he fully kicked my ass, he came first and I came second. We went back to Petes place for a quick smoke and to play playstation for a while, then after Chantal and Boppa had a little tiff with the director Phil about buying a little bag of weed we went back to the bus. Again quite late but I was getting used to not having any sleep.

Tuesday was the crew’s day off, but Paul and Rory had always wanted to go shooting so they invited us to join them at a proper firing range. Unfortunately they wouldn’t let us have more than a 2.2 as we had to show I.D. and we weren’t 21 but they were still powerful and we were only shooting the shit out of paper targets so we weren’t fussed. That night Chantal met a guy at the local store and he invited her to an 80’s night at a local club so the girls, last minute decided to go there. But we took the opportunity, as there was plenty of drink on the bus to have our first lad’s night in without the girls. Myrtle beach had been different, we hadn’t crammed as much into a short space of time, which at times allowed us to get bored, and do things like break into the local tennis courts and play foot tennis with a basketball I had won on a fairground stand. But it had been good not rushing from one place to another and let us relax a bit. We planned to leave for Atlanta first thing in the morning where the trip would begin to lose its grasp on normality.

Around the world in 80 raves – Chapter Four – Daytona Beach

I had high expectations of arriving in Daytona Beach, I had seen plenty of programmes on tele of spring breaks in Daytona and it is quite a famous place so I was hoping for a party. We arrived in the middle of the night everyone else was asleep but I heard the bus stop so I got up to see where we were. Sarah and some of the crew were rushing around, we were either lost or there was trouble finding where the bus was allowed to park. I had planned to go for a swim as soon as we arrived in every new place but a lady at the hotel had said it probably wasn’t the best idea while it was still dark as there was a heavy rip running. After stretching my legs I went back to my bunk to wait until we arrived at where we would stop. It was still dark when we got to the hotel car park and we all agreed it would be a good idea to watch the sun rise over the sea at Daytona Beach, trouble is we were all still sleepy so in the pitch black we raided the freezing cold hotels outdoor pool then jumped the fence onto the beach with a bundle of blankets and sat huddled waiting to see the dawn on a misty Daytona beach. Its hard to explain the feeling of this trip, you are excited but at the same time relaxed caus there’s the crew sorting everything, making it all run smoothly so you have no worries, all you have concentrate on is having a good time and then we do stuff like watching the sun rise on a beach with your mates, it looks like a postcard and your are kinda blown away. Everyone needed a little more sleep as you don’t get much on a moving bus and the crew had gone to bed as they had been up all night so it wasn’t worth doing anything crazy or outrageous without getting it on tape, so never mind we all went back to bed. I couldn’t sleep much though, we were in a new place and there was stuff to see and do, so I got up and went to a local hotel to grab a map and leaflets on what we could do that day then went back to wake the others up, they were a bit slow so as it was a beach orientated place Chantal and I went to look at the shop’s to see if we could find some decent clothes, while the others got there asses into action. The plan was to have my tattoo early in the morning and then in the afternoon have a go at something exciting like parasailing. After walking the whole length of the beach road going in every shop and keeping it healthy with a burger and a milkshake for breakfast at Maccy D’s it was obvious that the crew would not be joining us and that meant I would not be getting my tattoo today. I was quoted $240 as well which might have contributed to Richard saying “no”. The crew joined us in the afternoon and as you were allowed cars on the beach, which was quite annoying when you’re trying to chill out. We hired a car anyway and drove up the beach with intention of turning around and driving to the other end of the beach… real cool like! and going parasailing, although none of us had a driving license Joel cruised the beach and we messed around while the cameras filmed from another car. As we were coming to the end of the beach we looked around, the sky went from being clear to there being a big fuckoff thunder cloud, right where they were parasailing, it was quickly decided that none of us fancied hanging from our pants in a big electrical strom cloud strapped to a wet parachute and being towed by a lightening conductor. So that was off! We left Daytona earlier than planned. We had had a few disappointments but it had been a good day and we had been to Daytona Beach, which was good enough, and lets face it I’m on a trip across the USA for seven weeks! mustn’t grumble!

More 3D Sat Nav software apps for the iphone including Copilot Live and Navigon MobileNavigator

iPhone App Sat Nav Blog Series
Finally! A 3D Sat Nav application for the iPhone – Sygic Mobile Maps Europe
More 3D Sat Nav software apps for the iphone including Copilot Live and Navigon MobileNavigator
And then there was Tom Tom – iPhone App, 3D Navigation

Since my post at the time I discovered the Sygic Mobile Maps Europe, 3D sat nav app, there seems to be more popping up on the app store including a roumour that Tom Tom will not be far behind. Also prices are getting competative which is nice considering the cost of the iPhone in the first place. The second one I noticed was Navigon MobileNavigator I can’t provide a review as I have not installed them all on my phone but here is the interface below and you can make your own mind up onthe app store.

The 3rd and one I can comment further on is Copilot Live, I used to have their software on a htc touch diamond, I have to say I was very pleased with it and that’s coming from someone who was an ex tom tom owner, again have look at the interface below and make your own mind up, I think it looks great!

Roll on Tom Tom’s App, i’m looking forward to seeing what they produce.

Can’t go green, would go green! Electric Motorbikes! Why aren’t they here yet?

As I am in the Market for a new commuter since my GSXR 600 K7 in black (nice!) got nicked the other month I seriously considered the electric motorbike I saw whilst scrolling hotukdeals last night. I went through to the Firebox site and was very impressed although I think my 12 mile journey with a top speed of 30 mph would push my current stress levels over the limit. Don’t worry though! I didn’t stop there, surely they could not be the only Eco bike on the Market for around the thousand pound mark! And to be honest, I would probably pay up to the cost of my last motorbike if I thought it would do the job for some piece of mind, super cheap and convenient commuting. I had heard of the GoCyle and that that was available on the cycle to work government scheme so I started there.

The GoCycle is very convenient and operates as one of those pack down in your handbag jobbies that someone always hits you in the shins with on the train. Super light and enough power to last the journey but only a top speed of 15 to 20 miles an hour. Don’t be confused when you see it everywhere with a monthly charge on it you can buy it outright for about 1000 to 1200 quid, which if you place it in the push bike Market sounds expensive but as a motorcycle alternative it’s very reasonable, still, not the one for me so I moved on.

I had missed the Gadget show last night but had a tweet saying there was an electric bike on there so I caught on Demand Five. Looking on the Zero website I began to get excited with there range of models and higher top speed (55mph or 90 kph). Although with the higher speed and stunning design came a higher price, and only currently available in the states.

Another, again road legal, stunning looking, and with a reasonable speed are Brammo Powercycles. Probably my favourite looking, this bike again only available in the states at the moment. A point to note that although these two bikes haven’t made it across the pond yet the US government are offering a cashback incentive to get people on them which is positive.

My search couldn’t end here, I had not really found much considering Firebox were selling the original one so cheap, so reluctantly I started adding scooter into my search criteria. It was then that I came across Vetrix Electrics which had UK in the title so things looked promising.

A good top speed of 60 mph, 1 penny a mile and two seats but look at it!! and I couldn’t find a price for it!

Again, no givvy uppy! probably my favourite yet apart from the price of £7650 not including V5 registration, which I could buy a new gsxr for, is the Quantya Evo1 Strada. A simple website where you can get to the details of the bike quickly, Swiss made, available in the UK, nice photees and spec. 42 mph, holds a charge for 2 hours riding and takes 120 mins to charge, looks nice to.

I shouldn’t leave the big guns out. KTM have announced they will have something in their showrooms for 2010 and rumours are Yamaha and Honda will not be far behind in 2010.

Surely in a world where the effect of our carbon footprint is making a noticeable difference to the earth. Import shouldn’t be an obstacle and we should definitely not be waiting for some relatively small importer to decide to ship a load over. The government, rather than fighting wars based on oil ownership and prices or coming up with feeble congestion policies to reduce traffic and pollution should stop taking the stupid pills and produce on mass what already exists. People would buy them, cycling commuters, motorcyclists and everyone who pays a fortune on train tickets weekly an never actually gets to sit down.

Finally! A 3D Sat Nav application for the iPhone – Sygic Mobile Maps Europe

For a while I thought I was taking crazy pills! All this hardware on an iPhone yet I was still getting from A to B following a little dot across a google map. I payed a visit to the app store this weekend to investigate remote desktop software and came across the first 3D Sat Nav software, Sygic Mobile Maps Europe, visit the website here. Well it looks good as you can see below. I cannot provide a user review as it carries a price tag of £59.99, justifyable if you were going to spend on another device topping the £100 mark. More infof below

The app has most of the features of regular hardware but potential seamless phone function integration for the car because, yes! It’s on your phone!

Professional guidance
Intuitive design, easy to read as you drive, crystal-clear spoken voice instructions and route guidance.
Safety on the road
Everything you need to drive with confidence from advanced warnings on railway crossings and fixed speed cameras to alerts on speed limits on the roads you drive.
Make phone calls
Millions of Places of interest (POIs)* loaded with the app to help you find anything from restaurants to airports.
Speak the lingo
Set the software to your preferred language for spoken and text.
Premium map coverage
Minimise the risk of driving a route where the road layout has changed. Sygic uses the very latest maps from Tele Atlas and WhereIs.

Here’s the current (1.08.09) app store rating 3.5 from 40 ratings and here’s what some users have to say about the app

Around the world in 80 raves – Chapter Three – Miami

Everyone was up real early, and already, although tired, everyone was on a high, even though it would be hours before we were on the plane and even longer before we were in Miami. It was all routine at the airport filming what was needed. Like showing our passports getting the tickets and all that stuff. When we got into the waiting lounge Richard gave us the two Sony DV cameras that would be our toys for the rest of the trip. It was just an average plane trip, long but we entertained ourselves as you do, watching every film, eating, sleeping, throwing the shit food at each other, tooth paste on the finger tickle the nose, all the usual stuff. But lets not over dramatise a plane trip. We got to Miami at roughly 3:30 but took hours to get though customs, where we got slightly split up and needed to find each other before we walked out into the arrivals where the cameras were waiting. After showing bits of paper at every door I went through I finally got through to the bag collection and met up with the others. For the first time we would experience what it was like being filmed in public and the reaction we would get from passers by. We were slightly briefed, then we walked out into arrivals where Bill our driver who was holding a bit of cardboard with our names on. We had to act normal, introduce ourselves to Bill, ignore the camera and try not to notice that the entire airport thought we were a pop band or something. It was so weird but sort of cool. When we left the airport we got a shock, it was so hot and it was like breathing thick air, I had not felt that since I lived in Barbados. After that trip we all needed a fag, it was sweaty and we had not got used to the air but we squeezed one in anyway, and after we had packed all our kit in the holds under the bus, Bill introduced us to the bus which would be our home for the next seven weeks. You may feel sorry for me living on a bus but don’t, it was a true rock star tour bus with two TV’s Videos and DVD players, air conditioning, a kitchen, 9 bunks, it was luxury, a bit cramped but luxury. We had to get on the road quickly because we were parked illegally. We had to get to the famous south beach where we would park right close to the action and intended to stay for a few days. Obviously the first priority on arrival was to run straight to the beach and check out the water. It was lovely but not for long, time was getting on and everyone was desperate to go out for the first time, a drink and a good meal was needed after the long trip. After a quick shower on the beach we got back to the bus to meet a lad the girls had met. He would later become known as weirdo No.1. He had stopped to talk to the girls as they were leaving and seemed ok, he decided to show us around as he had been there a few days and said he had found a cool bar at the other end of the strip. It was an Irish bar and we decided to enjoy a tasty burger and a few drinks without the cameras. We had no trouble getting served although we had been told that Miami was strict on drinking laws. Everyone got tired real quick and decided to go for our first night on the bus early.

On day two I woke up about 6.30 and went straight for a swim in the sea, then got the shopping in early so that the rest of the day was free to do what ever. It was decided that we would go jet skiing on Key Biscayne, which we did in style. Sheryl was asleep when we arrived so we decided to leave her and met up with a guy that was listed in the Miami guide book, negotiated a jet ski for an hour, so we could swap, get an even go and watch/film each other. They were pretty cool although as someone who does a lot of water sports there’s only so much you can do on them, it was a good laugh though and towards the end as we were getting bored the owner decided to let me take Joel and Boppa out on his most powerful three seat jet ski. We got it going after we got the weight forward, Joel and Bop stood to wave to the cameras, when they sat back down however, the ski rocked sideways and they were in the water at speed. I turned around, Joel was about crying and had taken a knock to his ribs and bop was a bit winded but laughing about it. The main crew had gone to film Virgin Atlantic for the arrival that day, so we had a couple of hours alone without the cameras so we headed back to south beach. Sheryl had found out that we hadn’t woken her to go jet skiing and boy did we know about it, all of her teddies came flying out of her pram in all our general direction. We all went to chill on the beach for the afternoon and Sheryl decided to stay on the bus, sulk and join us later. For the first time as the girls sunbathed, we swam in the warm sea, we realised the size of the blag we had finally pulled off… it was finally real. As we went back to the bus the cameras caught us at the shower on the beach. We made plans to go back and eat at the Irish bar from last night because we knew we could get served and were in favour with the staff (double shots). We had soon had our fill and after talking to some freak that was into dog fighting we were all in the mood to move on to the club, which was just down the strip. The only problem was there was a coppa on the door and although we had arranged to film in there, they were checking everyones ID’s and when Sheryl decided to get her fake ID out in front of a cop we thought it about time to do a runner. Our first real night of the trip and already the over 21’s thing had got in the way of our valuable drinking time. After checking out a few other places, we realised that everywhere was being strict. Everyone was feeling a little bit pissed off so they went back to the bus and the cameras called it a night, while boppa and I decided to go back to the first place with Sarah, the tour manager and Richard, the assistant director, where we had e few rounds of sex on the beach compliments of the waiter, “nice man” and had quite a good chat about stuff. Got back to the bus quite late where we found weirdo No. 1, by the way Weirdo No. 2 was the guy into the dog fighting, Joel had already hit the sack, and No. 1 was talking to the girls in the lounge, he was talking shit so me and Boppa went straight to bed. Richard got the little camera out to capture his spiritual and yoga talk on tape, but he was having none of it, apparently being filmed captures and steels a persons soul and he didn’t wish to be filmed. So Rich pointed out that we were making a documentary, made him feel stupid and verbally kicked him off the bus. Nice one, now we could all get some sleep, but wondering whether the freak would come back and get us in the night, psycho. We didn’t see him again.

I thought a lie in until 9am was allowed the next day followed by the best thing in the world. Throwing your sleepy self into the warm sea while there’s still the morning mist on the beach and the sun is still low in the sky. Today would prove to be comparatively boring although chilled and relaxed. We planned to hit the road around 2.30pm so we spent the day doing individual interviews on the beach. Which meant we were free to mess around swim and get some photos of Miami to put in the photo album. There was a feeling of excitement again today, although our trip had already begun, it was the first time we were actually travelling and until now we had avoided all being on the bus at the same time. The interviews were quite straight forward, getting our feeling about where we were, what we were doing and being with the other guys on the bus, we hadn’t been there long and we were all enjoying ourselves so there was no conflict and no juicy stories yet. The bus left around 4.30 a little later than planned. The plan was to meet up with and interview a rave promoter in Orlando although while on the way we found out he had a meeting, so it was cancelled. Everyone spread out on the bus, watching TV, listening to music, chatting and looking out the window at the landscape, which was slightly different to what we were used to back home. It was late evening and hunger set in so we pulled into a shopping area. Joel and I decided to make a break and go exploring, we found one of those, nic nac, sell everyone type shops,we bought a picnic basket that had plastic cutlery in so we would have stuff to eat with on the bus, then found a dunkin’ doughnuts and decided to fill up the healthy way with three dohnuts each and a large coffee. We found the crew and the others in a Chinese, which made me slightly jealous so instead of watching them eat we got the keys to the bus and went to mess around with the little sony cameras. I tell you what; using our picnic hamper as props we would make good QVC demonstrators.

Around the world in 80 Raves – Chapter Eight – New York

Around the world in 80 Raves – Chapter 7 – Woodstock

Joel and Boppa get thrown off the Jerry Springer stage on Around the world in 80 Raves

Around the world in 80 raves – Chapter Six – Atlanta

Around the world in 80 Raves – Chapter Five – Myrtle Beach

Around the world in 80 raves – Chapter Four – Daytona Beach

More 3D Sat Nav software apps for the iphone including Copilot Live and Navigon MobileNavigator

Can’t go green, would go green! Electric Motorbikes! Why aren’t they here yet?

Finally! A 3D Sat Nav application for the iPhone – Sygic Mobile Maps Europe

Around the world in 80 raves – Chapter Three – Miami

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