ACD Four Twenty 2016
ACD Four Twenty 2016
Day 1 - Tuesday 19th April 2016
Up early. Charge devices. Pack. Check forum. Check email. Check weather.
Flight is at 4.30. What to do until then?
Chat on the forum. I'm very much aware that several ACDers are already in town and that I'm missing the fun.
Drive to the airport. Arrive early. That's not normal, I'm usually late for everything! I find that Bristol Airport offers free WiFi for one hour so I get the tablet out and chat for a while.
The flight actually departs early and the crossing is fast. As the plane descends over the Netherlands, the sun comes out on the colourful fields below.
Netherlands
Emerging from Centraal Station, I pause for a moment to enjoy that homecoming feeling, and then it's across the tramlines towards Central coffeeshop.
The lovely people at Amsterdam Stay have booked me into an apartment just off Zeedijk, overlooking the very end of Oudezijds Voorburgwal. It's on the third floor, so lots of Dutch stairs to climb, but the view is amazing.
On a quick expedition to the Albert Heijn supermarket on Nieuwmarkt I snap several pictures of coffeeshops. I notice that The Bassment is closed and start getting photos of licence stickers on the surviving shops.
[I have over 1000 photos from this trip, including about 50 licences. These have become the start of my trainspotting project]
With the apartment set up it's time to get to Voyagers to begin the main objective - getting stoned! Straight to the counter, grab a gram and look at the Volcanoes. One is switched on but, as I rummage though the bags and bits, I find that one filling chamber is broken and other parts are missing. I ask one of the guys behind the bar about it and he says that the nearest working Volcano is at Green Place. That's not really an option at the moment because I'm supposed to be meeting people here so I roll a joint.
The first familiar face to walk in is Drugsbunny. Haven't seen you since 2013. Scandalous Monk then comes over and introduces himself. Last saw you in 2014 but have to confess I didn't recognise you so thanks for saying hello. I have a brief conversation with them until the joint hits me.
Behind the unusable Volcanoes we can see right into Batavia across the canal.
Batavia from Voyagers
More people arrive: Macky, Gapie, Occasional Bowl and Trashcanman. Macky gives me a bright red sweatshirt with 420 patches sewn onto it. Thank you. That will make me more obvious! I'm sure that will appear in photos later.
We decide to move the party over to Batavia.
We get beers at the bar and then head downstairs. It's quite busy. Trashcanman grabs a seat at the large table next to the window. Gradually the other people around the table leave so we are able to commandeer the whole space for our group.
There is a nice view of Voyagers through the window behind me.
Voyagers from Batavia
More forum members arrive and a serious session develops. There are about a dozen of us around the big table with bongs, dabbing rigs and joints flying around all over the place. It's great to meet DeLeuksteNUGS16 and OneHighMofo, who are sitting close to me. I wave at Mr & Mrs Treetop who are sitting at the far end of the table.
Conversation is limited as I descend into stupor. It's that first night in Amsterdam dazed feeling as several beers, joints, bongs and dabs take their toll. At some point Drugsbunny gives me a "special" rice krispie cake. Thank you sir. I think I'll save that for later.
Edible
Eventually people begin to drift off. A guy comes over and shakes my hand as he's leaving. Later I'm told that was Elasticband. Sorry I didn't recognise you. Later another guy says hello. I think that was Mack 10. Same apologies to you.
The full list of people I think were there in Batavia that night are:
DeLeuksteNUGS16
Drugsbunny
Gapie
Macky
Occasional Bowl
OneHighMofo
Papi
Scandalous Monk
Mr & Mrs Treetop
Trashcanman
Elasticband
Mack 10
Lemming
If you know different, please let me know.
Off to a good start. I'll sleep well tonight.
Up early. Charge devices. Pack. Check forum. Check email. Check weather.
Flight is at 4.30. What to do until then?
Chat on the forum. I'm very much aware that several ACDers are already in town and that I'm missing the fun.
Drive to the airport. Arrive early. That's not normal, I'm usually late for everything! I find that Bristol Airport offers free WiFi for one hour so I get the tablet out and chat for a while.
The flight actually departs early and the crossing is fast. As the plane descends over the Netherlands, the sun comes out on the colourful fields below.
Netherlands
Emerging from Centraal Station, I pause for a moment to enjoy that homecoming feeling, and then it's across the tramlines towards Central coffeeshop.
The lovely people at Amsterdam Stay have booked me into an apartment just off Zeedijk, overlooking the very end of Oudezijds Voorburgwal. It's on the third floor, so lots of Dutch stairs to climb, but the view is amazing.
On a quick expedition to the Albert Heijn supermarket on Nieuwmarkt I snap several pictures of coffeeshops. I notice that The Bassment is closed and start getting photos of licence stickers on the surviving shops.
[I have over 1000 photos from this trip, including about 50 licences. These have become the start of my trainspotting project]
With the apartment set up it's time to get to Voyagers to begin the main objective - getting stoned! Straight to the counter, grab a gram and look at the Volcanoes. One is switched on but, as I rummage though the bags and bits, I find that one filling chamber is broken and other parts are missing. I ask one of the guys behind the bar about it and he says that the nearest working Volcano is at Green Place. That's not really an option at the moment because I'm supposed to be meeting people here so I roll a joint.
The first familiar face to walk in is Drugsbunny. Haven't seen you since 2013. Scandalous Monk then comes over and introduces himself. Last saw you in 2014 but have to confess I didn't recognise you so thanks for saying hello. I have a brief conversation with them until the joint hits me.
Behind the unusable Volcanoes we can see right into Batavia across the canal.
Batavia from Voyagers
More people arrive: Macky, Gapie, Occasional Bowl and Trashcanman. Macky gives me a bright red sweatshirt with 420 patches sewn onto it. Thank you. That will make me more obvious! I'm sure that will appear in photos later.
We decide to move the party over to Batavia.
We get beers at the bar and then head downstairs. It's quite busy. Trashcanman grabs a seat at the large table next to the window. Gradually the other people around the table leave so we are able to commandeer the whole space for our group.
There is a nice view of Voyagers through the window behind me.
Voyagers from Batavia
More forum members arrive and a serious session develops. There are about a dozen of us around the big table with bongs, dabbing rigs and joints flying around all over the place. It's great to meet DeLeuksteNUGS16 and OneHighMofo, who are sitting close to me. I wave at Mr & Mrs Treetop who are sitting at the far end of the table.
Conversation is limited as I descend into stupor. It's that first night in Amsterdam dazed feeling as several beers, joints, bongs and dabs take their toll. At some point Drugsbunny gives me a "special" rice krispie cake. Thank you sir. I think I'll save that for later.
Edible
Eventually people begin to drift off. A guy comes over and shakes my hand as he's leaving. Later I'm told that was Elasticband. Sorry I didn't recognise you. Later another guy says hello. I think that was Mack 10. Same apologies to you.
The full list of people I think were there in Batavia that night are:
DeLeuksteNUGS16
Drugsbunny
Gapie
Macky
Occasional Bowl
OneHighMofo
Papi
Scandalous Monk
Mr & Mrs Treetop
Trashcanman
Elasticband
Mack 10
Lemming
If you know different, please let me know.
Off to a good start. I'll sleep well tonight.
- OneHighMofo
- Posts: 1720
- Joined: Wed 25th Feb 2015 06:04 pm
Re: ACD Four Twenty 2016
Great report Lemming - thanks for the photo's and lovely to meet you mate.
I think you've got the ACD list right for the Batavia session (what a stonker) - mind you I didn't even know that Mack10 or Scandalous Monk we're there! Bugger! Would have liked to have met them (maybe I did - who knows?)
Looking forward to the rest of the report
I think you've got the ACD list right for the Batavia session (what a stonker) - mind you I didn't even know that Mack10 or Scandalous Monk we're there! Bugger! Would have liked to have met them (maybe I did - who knows?)
Looking forward to the rest of the report
Re: ACD Four Twenty 2016
Cheers for that, nice little read on bus from work to brighten a dull day
- Black-King
- Posts: 245
- Joined: Tue 9th Mar 2010 08:25 pm
- Contact:
Re: ACD Four Twenty 2016
Yes the beginning of a very nice travelogue I think.. Nice to have some pictures too!
Also looking forward to the rest.
and how was your central zeedjik apartment if I may ask?
Also looking forward to the rest.
and how was your central zeedjik apartment if I may ask?
RASTAFARI RIGHTEOUS KINGDOM http://rastafari-christ.webs.com/
- notsofasteddie
- Posts: 1028
- Joined: Fri 1st Jul 2011 07:05 pm
- Location: S.E. USA
Re: ACD Four Twenty 2016
Yes, you are!! Your travelogues are always special!!Lemming wrote: Off to a good start.
Re: ACD Four Twenty 2016
+1Your travelogues are always special!!
Great reporting as usual - thanks Lem
Re: ACD Four Twenty 2016
OneHighMofo - great to meet you too. My report can't compete with yours or DeLeuksteNUGS16's on so many levels: writing, detail (how do you manage to remember so much?) or bud porn (my camera is rubbish at macro).
matty223, Kermit, Black-King, notsofasteddie, talkrum - thanks for the encouragement. More soon.
matty223, Kermit, Black-King, notsofasteddie, talkrum - thanks for the encouragement. More soon.
- OneHighMofo
- Posts: 1720
- Joined: Wed 25th Feb 2015 06:04 pm
Re: ACD Four Twenty 2016
Thanks man much appreciated - and I have no idea how I remember it. Quite frankly I can't remember what I did yesterday so the only answer I can give with any certainly is 'fuck knows'.Lemming wrote:OneHighMofo - great to meet you too. My report can't compete with yours or DeLeuksteNUGS16's on so many levels: writing, detail (how do you manage to remember so much?) or bud porn (my camera is rubbish at macro).
matty223, Kermit, Black-King, notsofasteddie, talkrum - thanks for the encouragement. More soon.
Looking forward to more of this report.
Bravo sir!
- Willjay
- Posts: 2573
- Joined: Fri 2nd Oct 2009 08:28 pm
- Location: The keystone state, in the land of prohibition
Re: ACD Four Twenty 2016
looking forward to the rest of the story
www.stopthedrugwar.org
www.mpp.org
www.drugpolicy.org
www.mpp.org
www.drugpolicy.org
- TwoCanucks
- Posts: 4736
- Joined: Tue 10th Feb 2009 01:03 am
- Location: Amsterdamage
Re: ACD Four Twenty 2016
Glad you enjoyed your trip and looking forward to the rest of your report
Re: ACD Four Twenty 2016
Day 2 - Wednesday 20th April 2016 - part 1
As expected, I slept very well after last night's session. As I wake the sun is streaming in. Happy 4-20! Our deal with the weather gods has paid off again for another year.
Staggering around looking for a timepiece, it feels very early. Maybe I can join the expedition out to Baba. Find my watch. Oops! Not only have I missed the Baba mission, I'm already running late for the meeting at Voyagers!
Round the corner to Voyagers. Wow! Loads of people! There's most of the band from last night plus FlyByNite, Danny211204, 1st Born, Smirks and Mowie. This has got to be the best turnout we've had for at least a couple of years.
A quick hello to everyone and discover that the Baba expedition did indeed take place but that the shop was closed when they got there. They tell me that it's a nice area and I recount how I nearly stayed in an apartment around there a few years ago. Back then I'd explored the area on Streetview as part of my research. I resolve to try to get out there at some point.
Having briefly chatted to everyone, I promise to meet them all in Bluebird shortly. I then head off to the Albert Heijn supermarket on Nieuwmarkt to replenish supplies. Mr & Mrs Treetop walk with me to AH.
Drop the shopping off at the apartment, make a brief post on the forum live thread and then go to rejoin the crew in Bluebird.
There are even more people here. I get to meet Pot Doctor. I think this is where I first met JDog too. It's a complete takeover of the ground floor, inside and out.
Upstairs I grab some old-fashioned Neville's Haze and a drink. Just as I'm about to ask if I can photograph the menu, I notice the no photos symbol on it.
As those there will testify, I had a camera slung around my neck at all times so, as the staff are distracted for a moment, a bit of covert activity results in a picture accidentally being taken.
Bluebird menu
Back downstairs I proudly announce to FBN that a menu pic is in the can.
Roll a joint to add to the massive session in progress and soon talk turns to getting to 420 Coffeeshop and the webcam. It's actually quite early but before long we have a large group gathered outside ready to move.
Initially I lead off across the road and through the little square around the Zuiderkerk.
Zuiderkerk. Note the time on the clock - we're running early.
Soon we're loitering around outside Basjoe. Far from herding cats, this is more like a school trip with a long snake of people marching up the road. They set off in a different direction than I was intending but I figure it will work just as well so I just fall into line. Meanwhile Papi, who has really got into this herding idea, is running up and down the line like a sheep dog.
Someone mentioned wanting chips earlier. Well, actually I think they said 'fries', for it was one of our North American friends. I consider a diversion down Kalverstraat because I seem to recall a chip shop next to Dampkring but the front of the column is already on the Singel so we carry on.
So here we are on Koningsplein. It's only 3.30 and we said we would be here at 3.45 so we mill around on the pavement discussing what to do. Gradually we move across to the island until we're all gathered there. I point up at the camera and we make various half-hearted waves at it, not really sure if it's the right moment yet. Someone pulls out a smart phone and gets a live view of us on it.
After a few more attempts at a wave there is a general consensus that we've completed that task and it's time to get to a coffeeshop. For some reason we walk along the tramlines before crossing the road. Looking back we see that some of our party are still on the tramlines and a tram has arrived. It stops and rings its bell frantically but, naturally, our crew are oblivious.
I'm glad to say that, despite our being early, stoned and suitably chaotic, some members back home did spot us and posted screenshots and videos:
spidergawd: https://www.coffeeshopdirect.com/forum/viewt ... 60#p392598
WLow: https://www.coffeeshopdirect.com/forum/viewt ... 60#p392603
talkrum: https://www.coffeeshopdirect.com/forum/viewt ... 75#p392864
stuart1976: https://www.coffeeshopdirect.com/forum/viewt ... 02#p392602
Unlike our orderly procession from Bluebird to Koningsplein, at this point everyone scatters around the Spui. Some disappear into food vendors, others shoot off in different directions. Nevertheless, most of us soon assemble outside 420 Coffeeshop to find that it's already quite full and there are a lot of us.
Some of our crew outside 420 Coffeeshop
It's lovely in the sunshine on the corner outside the shop. Some go inside, others just look bemused. A small group of the more hyperactive youngsters decide to head off somewhere else. They quickly list several prospective shops and then shoot off on a mission to somewhere.
Meanwhile, inside the shop Smirks has found a bong and is busy filling it for 4.20. A bit of space has developed so more of our group pile in. Just before 4.20 Rob_OG walks in. This is a pleasant surprise. We manage a brief chat before I get distracted by something. At 4.20 enormous joints appear from behind the bar, just like they used to in the old 420 Cafe (de Kuil). Tradition is upheld.
Back outside, many of our group are now across the road in the sunshine beside the canal. Some stragglers from the Spui have caught up and we've also been joined by Choppermike. I have a quick chat with him.
It turns out that the breakaway party have gone to Betty Too so we decide to go and join them.
Betty Too
We find the group upstairs in Betty. Our enlarged group now manages commandeer a large table, another brilliant conquest like in Batavia last night. The shop staff don't seem entirely happy about hosting such a large group, however. Not sure why.
Betty Too menu
I note that, following the demise of the original Betty Boop, Betty Too seems to have adopted the name of the old shop.
At this point I take a quick break at the apartment before rejoining the group at Utopia where we're assembling for our boat trip.
Walking in to Utopia I find a good crowd. This is encouraging. I say hello to Ingi and then begin counting raised hands for the boat. Somehow I get to nine, including Mrs Macky who has now joined us, but Mr Macky insists we have eleven although FBN wants to drop out so that gives us a perfect ten.
Stay tuned for the boat trip, Utopia trophy and 420 cafe in part two...
As expected, I slept very well after last night's session. As I wake the sun is streaming in. Happy 4-20! Our deal with the weather gods has paid off again for another year.
Staggering around looking for a timepiece, it feels very early. Maybe I can join the expedition out to Baba. Find my watch. Oops! Not only have I missed the Baba mission, I'm already running late for the meeting at Voyagers!
Round the corner to Voyagers. Wow! Loads of people! There's most of the band from last night plus FlyByNite, Danny211204, 1st Born, Smirks and Mowie. This has got to be the best turnout we've had for at least a couple of years.
A quick hello to everyone and discover that the Baba expedition did indeed take place but that the shop was closed when they got there. They tell me that it's a nice area and I recount how I nearly stayed in an apartment around there a few years ago. Back then I'd explored the area on Streetview as part of my research. I resolve to try to get out there at some point.
Having briefly chatted to everyone, I promise to meet them all in Bluebird shortly. I then head off to the Albert Heijn supermarket on Nieuwmarkt to replenish supplies. Mr & Mrs Treetop walk with me to AH.
Drop the shopping off at the apartment, make a brief post on the forum live thread and then go to rejoin the crew in Bluebird.
There are even more people here. I get to meet Pot Doctor. I think this is where I first met JDog too. It's a complete takeover of the ground floor, inside and out.
Upstairs I grab some old-fashioned Neville's Haze and a drink. Just as I'm about to ask if I can photograph the menu, I notice the no photos symbol on it.
As those there will testify, I had a camera slung around my neck at all times so, as the staff are distracted for a moment, a bit of covert activity results in a picture accidentally being taken.
Bluebird menu
Back downstairs I proudly announce to FBN that a menu pic is in the can.
Roll a joint to add to the massive session in progress and soon talk turns to getting to 420 Coffeeshop and the webcam. It's actually quite early but before long we have a large group gathered outside ready to move.
Initially I lead off across the road and through the little square around the Zuiderkerk.
Zuiderkerk. Note the time on the clock - we're running early.
Soon we're loitering around outside Basjoe. Far from herding cats, this is more like a school trip with a long snake of people marching up the road. They set off in a different direction than I was intending but I figure it will work just as well so I just fall into line. Meanwhile Papi, who has really got into this herding idea, is running up and down the line like a sheep dog.
Someone mentioned wanting chips earlier. Well, actually I think they said 'fries', for it was one of our North American friends. I consider a diversion down Kalverstraat because I seem to recall a chip shop next to Dampkring but the front of the column is already on the Singel so we carry on.
So here we are on Koningsplein. It's only 3.30 and we said we would be here at 3.45 so we mill around on the pavement discussing what to do. Gradually we move across to the island until we're all gathered there. I point up at the camera and we make various half-hearted waves at it, not really sure if it's the right moment yet. Someone pulls out a smart phone and gets a live view of us on it.
After a few more attempts at a wave there is a general consensus that we've completed that task and it's time to get to a coffeeshop. For some reason we walk along the tramlines before crossing the road. Looking back we see that some of our party are still on the tramlines and a tram has arrived. It stops and rings its bell frantically but, naturally, our crew are oblivious.
I'm glad to say that, despite our being early, stoned and suitably chaotic, some members back home did spot us and posted screenshots and videos:
spidergawd: https://www.coffeeshopdirect.com/forum/viewt ... 60#p392598
WLow: https://www.coffeeshopdirect.com/forum/viewt ... 60#p392603
talkrum: https://www.coffeeshopdirect.com/forum/viewt ... 75#p392864
stuart1976: https://www.coffeeshopdirect.com/forum/viewt ... 02#p392602
Unlike our orderly procession from Bluebird to Koningsplein, at this point everyone scatters around the Spui. Some disappear into food vendors, others shoot off in different directions. Nevertheless, most of us soon assemble outside 420 Coffeeshop to find that it's already quite full and there are a lot of us.
Some of our crew outside 420 Coffeeshop
It's lovely in the sunshine on the corner outside the shop. Some go inside, others just look bemused. A small group of the more hyperactive youngsters decide to head off somewhere else. They quickly list several prospective shops and then shoot off on a mission to somewhere.
Meanwhile, inside the shop Smirks has found a bong and is busy filling it for 4.20. A bit of space has developed so more of our group pile in. Just before 4.20 Rob_OG walks in. This is a pleasant surprise. We manage a brief chat before I get distracted by something. At 4.20 enormous joints appear from behind the bar, just like they used to in the old 420 Cafe (de Kuil). Tradition is upheld.
Back outside, many of our group are now across the road in the sunshine beside the canal. Some stragglers from the Spui have caught up and we've also been joined by Choppermike. I have a quick chat with him.
It turns out that the breakaway party have gone to Betty Too so we decide to go and join them.
Betty Too
We find the group upstairs in Betty. Our enlarged group now manages commandeer a large table, another brilliant conquest like in Batavia last night. The shop staff don't seem entirely happy about hosting such a large group, however. Not sure why.
Betty Too menu
I note that, following the demise of the original Betty Boop, Betty Too seems to have adopted the name of the old shop.
At this point I take a quick break at the apartment before rejoining the group at Utopia where we're assembling for our boat trip.
Walking in to Utopia I find a good crowd. This is encouraging. I say hello to Ingi and then begin counting raised hands for the boat. Somehow I get to nine, including Mrs Macky who has now joined us, but Mr Macky insists we have eleven although FBN wants to drop out so that gives us a perfect ten.
Stay tuned for the boat trip, Utopia trophy and 420 cafe in part two...
Re: ACD Four Twenty 2016
Another nice report.
I am definitely planning on meeting up with you guys next 420.
I am definitely planning on meeting up with you guys next 420.
Re: ACD Four Twenty 2016
good read so far , must have just missed you , sorry I couldn't stay a bit later , maybe next year
Sending out the good vibes to those that need them right now