Road Trip 2011

It’s time. Random road trip for 2011 is here.

This year? Congratulations, Gent, Belgium! My Science Fiction Show co-host Keith Houin and I will be appearing at the FACTS Convention in Gent, Belgium Oct. 21-23. My friend Mario has graciously agreed to come along for a trip that includes almost 19 hours of driving. We’ll be talking about the podcast, recording segments, and trying to grab interviews from the likes of Jeremy Bulloch, Dirk Benedict, Julian Glover and Kenny Baker.

We won’t actually have a table, as the convention staff ran out. However, we will be the disapora of our own podcast, wandering the floor and eventually, with some luck, returning to our homelands. We’ll also be handing out a few goodies, like CDs with all 20 of the podcasts and our fantastic new opening theme song by guitarist Aaron Kusterer. (I’ll have a separate blog about Aaron’s generosity and skill next week)

I’ve never been to Belgium (but I’ve been to Oklahoma; that reference may be lost on some, so, here …). I’m told Gent (or Ghent) is a hip, cool place. Keith, Mario and I then should be able to fit in like gum under a table. ;) We’re looking forward to the chance of mingling and brawling with some Tuskin Raiders. We’re also looking forward to just hanging out and attempting to cobble through the myriad languages we will encounter.

OMG. JUST REALIZED. IT WILL BE LIKE HANGING AT THE CANTINA BAR IN ‘STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE.’ WIN!

In past years, the random road trip has taken me to places like California (from upstate New York in 52 hours; LIKE A BOSS), Czech Republic (randomly selected something on the GPS and hoped we wouldn’t end up as a lost reel from ‘Hostel’), Tennessee (moved a storm victim from there to Massachusetts), and beyond. Though this trip is not as random (it’s been planned for about three months), it does have the “driving a hell of a long way for something” element. It also has the “anything can happen” moment, which, as a writer, makes me very happy.

Nine hours there. Nine hours back. About 33 hours on site with hundreds of costumed Europeans whose ears will be primed for our audio incursions. Fortunately, we have a hotel room and gallons of Stella Artois beer to which we can retreat if needed. Plus, you know … science fiction convention. Pure joy all around. Sleep, I’m hoping, will be at a premium with after-Con parties and the like in abundance.

Have questions about The Science Fiction Show or the FACTS Convention? Text me at 321-285-6750. ID yourself and I’ll answer them. We’ll have updates on the Science Fiction Show Twitter feed, as well as our Facebook page. You can subscribe to our podcast on iTunes (and we’d love that) or listen on our web site, www.myscifishow.com.

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