Author Archives: casper

Balkan 2011 – Part 3

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Day 11 (2/8-2011)
Got up, now for the fun stuff (right, sometimes one should not look forward to things which might come). The Transalpina is an interesting ride. The conditions change, as they are working on it, as in laying tarmac and removing it again.

In 2011 the North side was great, new tarmac, and great bends… south side is something else…

15% decend, around a sharp corner, no tarmac, just disappear, and a drop of 20cm, it would only reappear some kilometers later… in rain – no fun… Only thing which saved my ass was the ABS.

Turned right where most people turn left (don’t really know where it is), but got out of the mountains for a short while and got on the DN67d, which would take me to the Donau (Iron Gate). What an awesome, excellent nature, fairly good road, and no traffic.

Got to the Iron Gate, only to figure, that to get out onto the dam, one have to pass into Serbia (not on the program today, sorry). Stopped at the next hotel (Hotel Tudor), and yet another good looking receptionist (if I only was in my 20′s), who’s sister strangely enough works in Denmark (if you ever meet her, say hi from me).

These Eastern Europe hotels, are very strange, the restaurants/dining rooms, are as big as ball rooms, but there are hardly anyone there, it’s very weird to be the only one in a room the size of a stadium.

Nice sunset….

Day 12 (3/8-2011)
Last day in Romania… would I come back, probably…
Got lost, and ended up driving a 100km detour, goes with the territory (give me an GPS, and I’ll show you how to get lost). Followed the Donau to the first river crossing into Bulgaria.

And “where is the boat” ?

As I like big structures (me a boy) I wanted to have a picture of this big dam/lock I saw on D56B (N44 19.107 E22 34.143), but a guard with a very big pice of metal on his hip was saying “NO” when I said “photo”… so no photo…

Got to Calafat to take the ferry to Bulgaria…. right

There are times in life where one really have to decided if one should not just find another way…….

Well got on the “boat” and got to talk to a young Bulgarian in a Merc with UK plates, him and the girlfriend was on the way back home for vacation.. and he agreed that driving in Romania is interesting.

Bulgaria here we come…..

Continue with Balkan 2011 – Part 4

Balkan 2011 – Part 1
Balkan 2011 – Part 2
Balkan 2011 – Part 3
Balkan 2011 – Part 4
Balkan 2011 – Part 5
Balkan 2011 – Part 6

Balkan 2011 – Part 4

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Bulgaria…….

Now one would think that would be the difficult, it’s not, 2 minutes and done, welcome. Only exception I had to pay €6 euro for some kind of health tax, something one can live with (I think).

Right, so what next, well the plan was to get to Belogradchik to see the famous rocks.

Well they are kind of interesting

One of the things which I learned the very scary and almost fatal way, is that in Bulgaria they do not use salt during the winter, they use sand, and they to not remove it again… two very big wobbles laster, and I decided that Bulgaria is not the place one should go to get ones “chicken strips” removed.

Found a hotel (Hotel Rock), and went for a walk, nice town, could stay for a few days, but will continue tomorrow.

At this point, I would say that Bulgaria is nicer than Romania, more green stuff, cleaner, and nicer people.

And the food… ooohh. Had a salad, Ovcharska salata… ohhh, not the last one

Day (4/8-2011)
Just a day to enjoy, started out early, and just followed the road to Veliko Tarnovo, and as Loney Planet say nice things about it, I checked into Grand Hotel (due to the view..), bad idea, my room was on top of the restaurant, where it seams they have live music every day until 12pm, I did complain, and I left next day….

Had a walk around, and yes, it’s a nice place, and pleasant people.

Had yet another salad…

Day 14 (5/8-2011)
As I decided to leave a day early, I made an informed decision on to goto the Black Sea (wouldn’t hurt would it).

Everything was going just find until a bit T-junction, where I had to stop, and the idiot in the car behind me didn’t … didn’t look too back on the bike, a panier slightly bend, and a massive scratch on the car (me happy’ish) (2 days later ….), but got the number plate if something else would show. So if someone know someone show is driving a Honda with plate CD-669D in Bulgaria, tell him that he’s a fool….

Some time afterwards I ran into some Bulgarian bikers, who where on the way to a bikers rally at the Black Sea, and drove with them until Varna (they where insane… what trafic rules!!!), but incredible friendly.

I went south from Varna, and ended up at a camping, in the rain, and got my self a hut for 2 nights.. at €20.. not too bad one would think.

But, uu, iiihhh, dirty… Moved the bed linnen with 2 fingers, and got my sleeping bag. And the toilet/shower was even worse.

Got to talk to an elderly couple from Switzerland, and after some food went to bed (not really nice that is), but had a good long nights sleep.

Day 15 (6/8-2011)
At the beach… and glad that I’m not fond of swimming as the water is blood cold.

Otherwise just reading, eating, and sleeping a bit…

And just enjoying the view of the locals…

And irking over the russians in torpedoes… so 70′s.

Continue with Balkan 2011 – Part 5

Balkan 2011 – Part 1
Balkan 2011 – Part 2
Balkan 2011 – Part 3
Balkan 2011 – Part 4
Balkan 2011 – Part 5
Balkan 2011 – Part 6

Balkan 2011 – Part 5

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Day 16 (7/8-2011)
Pack, set ready, next Stop Moto Camp Bulgaria, which I’ve heard lots of nice things about.

Some nice roads

Some nice scenery

And a few monuments

I stopped at one point to get some gas, and noticed while I was eating yet another ice-cream, that my left side pannier was kind of off. After some inspection I discovered that when I was hit from behind the whole panier rack had been move 3cm forward, and 2cm up, and the pannier itself was bend quite heavily. Blast, not what I expected (and should have seen earlier). But things happen, and I was still in one piece and on vacation.

Arrived at the Moto Camp (not that easy to find, with missing signs.. they disappear, ie. people steal them). But was introduced to the puppy (Harley – Doug likes, if not love Harley Davidson bikes), and the putty cat, who is the master of the place, and knows it.

Harley…

who is also an escape artist… She is permanently depressed as not enough people want to play…

Was given the option of a room, and that was it. Decided that I’d probably stay for 2 – 3 days, you know just to relax a bit.

Day 17 – 22 (8 – 13/8-2011)
Motocamp……. yes, I know, not 2 -3 days. Way to nice, and relaxing.

The place is in the middle of know where between Sevlievo and Veliko Tarnovo, in Idilevo, a small village, where nothing happens, except when bikers arrive or leave, or just ride around.

The place is owned by Polly and Doug (Bulgarian, American couple), with the help of Ilvo. While I was there, Doug was on yet another trip to somewhere (Russia, Magadan), but I didn’t mind to much – Polly didn’t yell at me that much, anyway (do not say stupid things without being told off).

Tough lady…

and the local kids love her …

One of the long term residents show up next day (I think), Andreas a German who show up, stay for a couple of days, then bogger off to somewhere (leaving his stuff behind), then show up again… btw. he is a cool dude, done the most amazing things, and have a very cool bike (Yamaha TT600R Belgarda, drooll…, if I lived in a place where one could do more gravel and off road I would get one of those). First time he showed at the Moto Camp it was for a few days and ended up staying for a month.

Weather was pleasant to very hot, ~30c to 37c, then after a few days drop to 25c and rain for a day, then back up, just as I like it.

One of the things I discovered is that food in Bulgaria is great, very great actually. My favorite dish is Moussaka, it’s like one can’t get enough of it… very bad as on can only eat that much.

I went for a ride with Andreas and Svetlana to a typical village nearby, and had even more great food…. (when does it stop), and I was loosing weight (what’s wrong what that country).

And went for a small ride around the area, one could spend weeks just running around on the bike….

Not everything is perfect, the country does not have any money, and people struggle.

But most people are friendly, and very welcoming. As long as one keep away from the tourist areas.

Continue with Balkan 2011 – Part 6

Balkan 2011 – Part 1
Balkan 2011 – Part 2
Balkan 2011 – Part 3
Balkan 2011 – Part 4
Balkan 2011 – Part 5
Balkan 2011 – Part 6

Balkan 2011 – Part 6

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Day 23 (14/7-2011)

Well all good things have to come to an end, and sunday morning at 11:15am I decided that I had to leave, otherwise I would never get home again.

So I packed up, paid my bill, after 7 days it was 96€, I was shocked, but who am I do discuss these things.

And left (sadly), but all good things come to an end.

And, Polly, Doug and Ilvo, just to be warned, I’ll be back in 2012….

So off, direction Sofia, and then Belgrade…

The road to Sofia goes through some awesome nature, and unfortunately I did not have time to spend more time there.

In Sofia, I stopped to get gas, and was asked very politely by the gas station attendant (young man) if he could take a photo of the bike, how often does that happen… and yet another ice-cream.

Got to the border, and into Serbia, which was easy enough, wasn’t even asked if I had insurance (which I actually do have), got some local money, decided to change €100, which gave me a huge amount of local money – felt like a gangster in the 30′s (big role of doh). Went up through a amazing gorge close to the the Old Mountain National Park (worth another visit). And stopped for a salad (again), which should later prove to be a very big mistake. This one gave me an e-coli infection, next day, and the following week my whole body was hurting, and ended up living on paracetamol and water for 2 days.

The perpetrator

It was nice, but afterwards I don’t think it was worth it….

At some point I started looking for a place to sleep, but for some strange reason the hotels where on the oposite side of the motorway, and after the exit, without any signs.

Got closer to Belgrade, got to the peage, at around 8pm and it was hot, like hot, the queue for the payment was so long that I had to turn off the engine so that it would not over heat.

Then finally in while passing through Belgrade I saw a hotel in the distance, got off the road, and booked a room for the night.

Nice, view and everything

Day 24 (15/8-2011)
Next morning, breakfast, on the bike again, towards, Croatia, Slovenia, Austria, Germany….

Hot like in Hot, 37c at the Serbian Croatian border… and flat… which never stopped…

Got to Slovenia, where it started to piss down, why do I always have to get into these kind of situations. Finally entered Austria, stopped at Las Legas for a cola. Humm, don’t really like Austria, Austrians that much, and combine it with HD’s…

Found a self service hotel further on, got something to eat, and a nights sleep…

Day 25 (16/8-2011)
Up early, DO NOT SNEEZE…. crap (no not that way)… Did I mention that I do not really like Austria. You pay for a vignette, but still have to pay for some of the tunnels. Got to München, the Ulm, then Stuttgart, now next thing would be to find Touratech so that I could get a new left side pannier rack. They are ~100km south of Stuttgart….

Friendly people, very helpful, and yes I could have the left side only, and yes he would keep it until next day.

Found a hotel, something to eat (not really that fun at all… DO NOT SNEEZE)…

Day 26 (17/8-2011)
Last day on the road, I hope….

Got to Touratech, got my stuff, incl. a new GPS (Garmin Zumo 660), as my old Zumo 500 was starting to show the tolls of +100.000km on the road in all weather conditions.

After some struggling, and a bit of swearing to the pannier rack changed, and back on the road.

Got to the flat country (The Netherland), stoppe shortly to see a friend who was house sitting in the east of the country, and no thank you no food for me… cup of tea will do, still NO SNEEZING.

And arrived at home around midnight… tired, and happy to be home…

Balkan 2011 – Part 1
Balkan 2011 – Part 2
Balkan 2011 – Part 3
Balkan 2011 – Part 4
Balkan 2011 – Part 5
Balkan 2011 – Part 6

Apple – Extending an wireless network

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One of the thing when one buy a wireless only computer like an Apple MacBook Air (USB 100mb/s sucks), is that the next thing one start looking at is to get 802.11n, which currently is the fastest option for wireless. There are many options out there, some of them good, some less. I decided to get a 5th generation Apple Airport Extreme, which on paper have many good things to be said about it. but it advertises WDS which should be great, but combine it with an Apple Airport Express, and you’ll figure out that it not that great… you’ll be limited to 802.11g for your whole network, and it very hit and miss to set up (just do a google search for it).

But there is an other option; use the Airport Express to extend without using WDS, and it works great, the Airport Extreme will do 802.11b/g/, and the Airport Express will do 802.11b/g, only limitation is that the Airport Express needs to be “close” to the main AP as it will not use Ethernet to connect, and really interesting things happens if one try to connect the Ethernet port on the Airport Express, like a broadcast storm, which locks down the whole network.

The setup is really simple; on the

Airport Extreme

  1. in the wireless options select the option to allow the network to be extended

Airport Express

  1. unplug the Ethernet cable!!!
  2. unplug the power
  3. while plugging it into the power, press the reset button
  4. when setting it up, select to extend an existing wireless network
    1. in the drop down list select the network to extend
    2. provide the password for the network
  5. save the settings, and your ready to go
  6. put the Airport Express some where it can reach your main AP, and it will extend the range

Quite simple, but a cause of yet more gray hair.

WMware ESXI – suspend all guests

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I have an VMware ESXI 5 which I used for testing things, but I don’t want it to run all the time, and using the vSphere Client to stop all the VM’s and then stop the ESXI server is a bit too much effort.

So I figured out how to do it from the commandline using ‘vim-cmd’.


#/bin/sh

VMS=`vim-cmd vmsvc/getallvms | grep -v Vmid | awk '{print $1}'`
for VM in $VMS ; do
     PWR=`vim-cmd vmsvc/power.getstate $VM | grep -v "Retrieved runtime info"`
     if [ "$PWR" == "Powered on" ] ; then
          name=`vim-cmd vmsvc/get.config $VM | grep -i "name =" | awk '{print $3}' | head -1 | cut -d "\"" -f2`
          echo "Powered on: $name"
          echo "Suspending: $name"
          vim-cmd vmsvc/power.suspend $VM > /dev/null &
     fi
done

while true ; do
     RUNNING=0
     for VM in $VMS ; do
          PWR=`vim-cmd vmsvc/power.getstate $VM | grep -v "Retrieved runtime info"`
          if [ "$PWR" == "Powered on" ] ; then
          echo "Waiting..."
          RUNNING=1
          fi
     done
     if [ $RUNNING -eq 0 ] ; then
          echo "Gone..."
          break
     fi
     sleep 1
done
echo "Now we suspend the Host..."
vim-cmd hostsvc/standby_mode_enter

This is working just fine, until one discovers the there is no where to store files on the ESXI servers file system without having to restore them after a reboot.

A bit of googing gave me an answer, create a directory in one of the datastores and save it there.

Like in ‘/vmfs/volumes/datastore1/scripts/’, where vanish from after a reboot.

Now to wake the host again, requires that one enable wake-on-lan (wake on PCI and PCIe normally should do it), and then use the wakelan / wol utility;

# wol <mac addr>

This it’s possible to hide ones noisy computers somewhere far far away.

RHEL6 – disable IPv6 on an interface

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I’ve been having fun upgrading, or should one say migrating to RHEL6 (Scientific Linux 6.1). As run KVM (Virtualization) I have a bridge running for my VM to connect to the network.

Now I suddenly noticed that IPv6 was enable on my ‘eth0′ which is part of the bridge, this should not happen as it can cause communication issues (yes I got IPv6 enabled devices on my network). So after a bit of searching I found a bug from Redhat (bug#496444) which states that IPV6INIT=no does not work for a single interface, in fact it does not work at all. The bug is still open.

Now after a bit of searching I found something which works just fine:

# echo 1 > /proc/sys/net/ipv6/conf/ethX/disable_ipv6

To make this permanent add it to /etc/rc.d/rc.local then IPv6 will get disabled every time the server restarts.