3rd July 2012
Dublin, Ireland to Holyhead, Wales
It is time for Sir Thomas Leaf to embrace the Vikings and seek the knowledge of their ways. His adventuring partner Sir Rob Wildwood offered Sir Thomas Leaf a chance to experience what life was like in the Viking Era with an Epic adventure to Norway. Before beginning this “Viking Tale” … alot had to be prepared as he would be donning viking garb, learning Viking ways, eating / drinking / and sleeping in a Viking village. He also had to take his bodypainting expertise back to its origins, and learn what colors the vikings would have used and what dyes were accessible. He also had to study the Runes, symbology, and designs of this particular time period. His good Elven friend Sir Rob would be taking him under his wing, into his vardo, and onto ships for a 3 day journey sailing off to Norway for the Borre Viking Marked. Even though in general, Sir Thomas Leaf loses interest in the history of the world after the start of the Common Era, he completely gets bored after the Medieval Period. He however always has been fascinated with the Vikings, albeit not in the know about them outside of what he’s learned at the Dublinia Museum. In fact, many of his comrades always state that Sir Leaf looks quite “Viking” and sometimes many mistake his nature name of “Leaf” for the Viking spelling of “Leif”.
Packing up foodstuffs, his tent, sleeping bag, clothes, and paints together, he finished his luggage with a large roller duffelbag, small day backpack, and his satchel. He was ready to set off on this “penniless” voyage once again in company of Sir Rob Wildwood’s good will of being taken on an adventure he’ll never forget. Sir Rob Wildwood simply told him “Get your Ass to England with a week’s worth of food and you’re covered”. So here Sir Thomas Leaf sets off for a new country and a new experience. A days worth of domestic errands lay before Sir Leaf as he slowly got everything in order for travels while fighting Dublin’s soaking rain. Last minute job applications and print-out of Viking designs consumed much of his afternoon. Sweet farewells to his love Etain, knowing the future is nice that voyages such as this can be done in so much shorter time than the months to years voyages of this magnitude would have taken Viking age explorers departing from their loves for some adventuring.
On to the Busaras to catch the Bus to the ferry terminal and onto the Ulysses. Sir Thomas Leaf found the ferry ride to be pleasant. In dire need of power for his laptop, he inquired from the on-ship merchant if there was an adapter available, and as luck struck it were on sale for 70% off. He then plugged in his laptop for an evening of writing, blogging, and job hunting.
The journey across the Irish Sea went smooth sailing with no delays and in comfort and speed. As the ferry entered into Holyhead across and into Wales customs, it was pouring down rain, with a touch of cold chill. As Sir Thomas Leaf walked into the customs call he was immediately asked for his identification. The first agent questioned him with his US passport as to when he first entered the United Kingdom and how long he was staying. Sir Leaf mentioned he was an Irish resident, and after that was waved on through. Then another elderly agent pulled him aside asking if he’d ever been to the UK before, and if so, had he ever had problems with customs before. Sir Leaf said “yes he has been to the UK, no he has never had problems with customs anywhere. He was a Irish resident”. He then asked the agent if he’d like to see his residency card. The agent said “no worries, go on” and waved him on through. The passengers then switched buses, dragging their luggage out into the rain, and aboard onwards to Leeds / Bradford. After Liverpool, the bus stopped for 45 minutes break, and luckily did not force the passengers off (like it usually do), so Sir Leaf got to get more sleep and rest.
| Enjoying this tale? Please help keep this story growing. Treat your adventurer to a chai, a drink, a meal, or cover his lodging or transportation so he can keep bringing you stories in a more timely fashion. Every bit helps … He can only continue with your help. |
(note: this is an actively written blog. If links are broken or come to blank pages,
it means the page hasn’t been written yet. Check back soon.
Meanwhile entertain yourself by going backwards into the blog below)
Do you enjoy these tales? Want more? Buy Sir Thomas Leaf a chai tea, gas, or lodging, and he’ll tell you a tale …
Any contribution, $1, $5, $10, $20+ will help more than you can believe
and will add more adventures, photos, stories, and reviews for your pleasure …
Photography is copyright 2012 by technogypsie.net as photographed by Leaf McGowan, Thomas Baurley, and other Technogypsie photographers. Photos can be requested and/or purchased, on a individual per photo basis, as well as permission for reproduction can be granted by enquiring at http://www.technogypsie.net/photography.html. All content of this web page is copyright Thomas Baurley / Leaf McGowan / technogypsie.net.
- In its 7th year … The Chronicles of Sir Thomas Leaf are back … The Great Walkabout Down under and Sailing the Seven Seas will be on hold in its completion for the time being due to funding & time it takes to process the photos, write, and design the pages – these tales should resume back in production come August 2012. Meanwhile, we are focusing on current journeys of Sir Thomas Leaf … hopefully (funding dependent) … live … day to day … If you’d like to see this happen, NOW is the time to pledge support or send in your donations as Sir Thomas will be journeying on the tightest shoestring he has yet travelled on … A $5 donation will buy him a chai where he can get online and weave you a tale with photos … otherwise, you’ll have to wait as fate allows publishing … But we digress … Lets begin … the Chronicles of Sir Thomas Rhymer … and a Viking Tale … This is to replace the failed funding project of the Pirates which couldn’t happen like we wanted it to so is being replaced by this adventure, which will ‘eventually’ be turned into a book …
3rd July 2012
Dublin, Ireland to Holyhead, Wales
Slept in late today as I intended at getting up early 7’ish or so, but wound up crawling out of bed at 11:30 am. Last sweet cuddles with the love of my life … as tonight I’ll be departing for an epic adventure to Norway, via Bradford England where my good elven friend Rob Wildwood will be taking me under his wing and sailing me off to Norway with him for a Viking festival. While I may “look” the part of a viking, I’m quite new to this whole culture, outside of people mistaking my creative name of “Leaf” for “Leif”. The day sped by pretty quick as packing was to be had, preparing foodstuffs, and getting the tent, sleeping bag, clothes, and paints together. I’m doing this epic adventure again penniless as Rob simply told me “Get your Ass to York with a week’s worth of food and you’re covered” … so here I set off for a new country and a new experience. I’m not sure how I’m going to pull off traditional Viking body paints as its still quite not understood, but I’m giving it a try. I’m learning Runes, Viking symbols, and art as we speak. Also had to get my paperwork together for Welfare, to prove to them that Ireland is my new permanent place of habitation. They were requiring proof I sent all my stuff to Ireland, proof I left my job, proof of how I supported myself in the USA, and proof I’ve joined associations, committees, and clubs here in Ireland. All I had was the Aer Lingus excess luggage dispute letter, my letter of resignation to the Army, and contacts for the few committees I’m part of. Not like I can afford memberships or association fees? sheesh … this is for Job Seeker’s Allowance.
Off to stand in line to mail off the letters then quick pop/drop to Aldi to get some cheap foodstuffs for the trip, back home in the soaking rain, and a mis-hap taking the wrong bus back and having to walk more in the rain. Last minute job applications and print-outs of Viking designs and I was out the door … sweet farewells to my love …
Thank the Goddess that us Explorers now can take shorter trips rather than being gone for years to get from one country to another for a task away from our loves!
Off to the Busaras for the Bus to the ferry terminal and onto “Ulysses for a trip to Holyhead. Nice ferry, good services, and now that I have a proper adapter, plugged into the electric current with free wifi ….
The journey across the Irish Sea went smooth sailing with no delays and in comfort and speed. As entered Holyhead across into Wales customs, pouring down rain we entered customs where they asked for our IDs. The first agent questioned me with my US passport when I entered and how long I’m staying, I mentioned I was an Irish resident and he passed me on, then another elderly agent pulled me aside asking if I’ve ever been to the UK before and if I’ve ever had problems at customs – I said no, and told him I was an Irish resident and began to pull out my residency card, and he said – no worries, go on. We changed to a different bus, dragging our luggage and onwards to Leeds/Bradford. After Liverpool, bus stopped at a station for 45 minutes, this time the driver let us stay on the bus to sleep, so I got rest.