Our flight is delayed 20 minutes but we're soon airborne and on our way across the North Sea. Igraine is in the window seat so I ask her to get a shot of some bulbfields.
I believe this is Heiloo, looking towards Egmond aan Zee, so we're taking a quite northerly route.
Touchdown is on the remote westerly runway, miles from the terminal, so the rest of our journey is being driven overland in a big jet-powered taxi. Finally inside Schiphol, we find that the new passport procedures aren't too onerous and don't delay us much more than usual.
Next up is the train and our first attempt at buying transport by debit card. We've been assured that our Monzo debit cards will allow us to check in and out of trains and trams. Trepidatiously, we present our cards to the magic yellow pillar. A moment of hesitation and ... we're through! A good omen for the week.
As we emerge from Centraal Station the clock on the Old Church says we're about 40 minutes later than my best case for this point, so not too bad. Our hotel, Ben Centre, might even be visible from here, in the gap between the Grasshopper and the Victoria Hotel.
Checking into the hotel is straightforward and we meet the hotel cat. Our room is up many meandering flights of stairs and, when we find it, Igraine is pleasantly surprised. Another good omen. The room is tiny but clean and well maintained with what looks like a newly fitted shower. Basic but good enough as a place to sleep.
Our first appointment is at The Tribe bar at 8 o'clock, where we're hoping to meet the rest of the party. It's now about 6 o'clock so enough time to go on a scoring mission. I fancy some Lemon Bubble from Bagheera so I post a message on the live thread to anyone else around.
Warmoesstraat
It's a thrill to be walking up Warmoesstraat once again. So much history here. Even in my experience it's changed a lot. It was once a perfect coffeeshop crawl from Hunter's at one end to Stones at the other.
In the picture above on the left Burgerfabriek was once Sheeba. Next come Route 66 and The Tribe. The bright orange Wok To Walk is on the site of Highlight. Beyond that are Stone's Café, Elements of Nature and Belushi’s at The Winston.
On the other side, Pancake & Co was once Het Oerwoud coffeeshop, next door to the back entrance to our hotel. Further along, after the gay clubs, are Big Shots and Stone's Nightclub.
It's a lovely warm evening to be strolling through Old Amsterdam taking in all of the familiar sights, sounds and occasional whiffs of weed as we pass coffeeshops.
Inside Bagheera, we find Gapie sitting on his own.
[with hindsight, maybe signs of toothache]
I'm very glad to find Lemon Bubble available. I also find a working Volcano with a large bag. In no time the bag is filling with vapour and my already ecstatic mood is getting even higher. Gapie says he's waiting for AzLaker to arrive and reclaim the bong he's looking after for him. Incoming messages indicate that some of the rest of the gang are heading straight to The Tribe.
There is no Volcano at Tribe so I fill several bags in rapid succession. By this time my state of mind is verging on manic. I return to the bar for more supplies of drinks and weed, asking the bud tender whether he can suggest anything else as nice as the Lemon Bubble. It turns out he's an Indica man and can't help so I grab some White Chocolate Orange because it sounds nice and claims to be a cross with Tangie. In my excitement I somehow manage to buy some random customer a joint by confusing the card machines. Must calm down a bit.
More Volcano bags then we're joined by BatRadia. Lots of friendly greetings but I'm already struggling to speak. Soon we're also joined by Luvtick and her sister, Bhavaani_Deanna. As you probably know, Luvtick wrote some classic travelogues here a few years ago about her adventures at the High Times Cannabis Cup with USbongLord, now available as a podcast. Luvtick and Bong were both major contributors to these forums but I never met either of them until now so this is a real privilege.
There is so much to talk about with everyone here but all I can manage is a big stupid grin. Deanna tries to tell me a little about her fascinating life but my mind is everywhere at once and I'm utterly incapable of focusing. I make a mental note to ask her more in future days.
Time has moved on and it's approaching 8 o'clock. We've heard that some of the gang are already at The Tribe so we should go and join them. Leaving Luvtick and Bhavaani_Deanna at Bagheera, we make our way back to Warmoesstraat. Along the way I'm impressed by the intensity of colour everywhere. The Headshop looks particularly amazing in glowing blue, as I point out to BatRadia. [Now, seeing the picture I took I can see why he didn't understand what I was on about
]The Tribe
In The Tribe we find Ghost, Trad and AzLaker already getting the party started. These three are staying together this year and it's great to see them all again. Shortly we're joined by Jolly and then Luvtick and Bhavaani_Deanna rejoin us. Ten ACDers in a bar with lots of beer and weed equals party time!
Adding a few beers, vapes and even a dab, courtesy of Ghost, is keeping me flying along nicely. Despite this, I'm vaguely aware that Gapie is not as happy as the rest of us.
Suddenly there's a big bang. I look towards the source of the drama and see that Gapie has collapsed at the bar. It seems he's been in extreme pain with toothache and it's caused him to faint and bang his head.
Naturally the bar staff assume he's drunk. They take him outside for fresh air and give him some water. A bunch of us concerned friends gather around and assure the staff that the issue is not intoxication. Having recovered sufficiently, he heads home for some much needed rest. A little later, messages from him let us know that he's safely there but with a bump on his head as well as toothache.
Meanwhile the session continues in the bar. Foraging parties are despatched to hunt for pizza and the beer and vapes continue to flow. The music seems to be getting louder, pumping out some rather cheesy pop.
Eventually most of the crew are ready to retire. They've already had a long day. That just leaves Jolly, Igraine and me still wanting more. Specifically we want more weed and the nearest coffeeshop is Babylon.
Babylon
I've never been in here before. We grab some Cali Kush and sit down for a little mini session. The world is getting very hazy now.
That brings on the munchies so we get some chips and mayo from Vlaamse Friet on Oudebrugsteeg. Eating along the way, we cross Damrak to Snoop Dogg 2. Here we go for some Bubblegum.
With that, Jolly says goodnight and we take a little detour on our way to our hotel.
It's been a fantastic first night. We're all here, everything has gone to plan (except for Gapie), it's not raining and Amsterdam is still lovely.
You may have noticed that I managed to note a few of the things we consumed. This is unusual and not likely to continue. I can't tell you what was good and what wasn't except that the Lemon Bubble was smooth and a nice buzz and White Chocolate Orange wasn't. After that I've no idea! For some proper strain and shop reviews please see Ghost's posts.
Zaandam and Haarlem tomorrow...
