Grouse Grind

Just spent the last few days in Vancouver, visiting an old friend (Jim McDougall) that I knew from high school. We also lived together in Halifax and on a kibbutz in Israel back in the 70's. Man, time just keeps moving doesn't it? On Monday, I had the day to myself, so figured to just walk from downtown Vancouver to Stanley park, and then maybe over the Lion's Gate bridge. It was a gorgeous, sunny day, if a tad warm (as in extended heat wave in the mid-30's). The walk went well and I ended up on Capilano Road, trying to sneak into see the famous bridge ($30 to walk a bridge not on my list of tourist activities). I walked up to Capilano River Park and hiked down (way down) to the water for a bracing swim, then tried to brook my way back to the infamous bridge. Not a lot of luck there. The water was low, but not that low. There were a few cross-chasm walking bridges in the Park, so I contented myself with that.

Back on the road, I made my way up to Grouse Mountain and decided to the Grouse Grind just had to be done. I had been walking 4-5 hours by then, and it was now 1:30 PM. Great time for a gruelling hike, wouldn't you say?

The first 20+ minutes were fun. Steep, but not deadly, and there was shade. I figured I'd soon see the 1/2 way mark. Well, I saw a sign, but it was the 1/4 mark, which also marked the end of the 'soft' climbing. Yowsa! It was time to hunker down, slow down and start rationing the water. The hike got brutal and just stayed that way right till the end. The middle section wiped that little smile right off my face.

Lots of people on the Grind that day. Could see 1/2 dozen people ahead and behind me most of the way up. A delicious cold Coke at the top costs $3. I had already decided that I would pay $10 if that is what it cost.

All in all, a stupid Gonzo thing to do on a seriously hot day. I suffered for the next 24 hours, no doubt about it. That being said, telling people that you hiked from downtown Vancouver to the top of Grouse Grind has a certain cachet...in my mind at least.

Judy Norbury

I just finished my first week of Wwoofing. It was a very cool experience. Working outside all day, every day, eating healthy, basic food (some of it from the garden), meeting new people, adjusting to life on the road. The last time I did anything like this, I was in Israel working on a kibbutz. Same idea, you work for room&board. Of course, I was a lot younger then and didn't have so many habits. It is good to break out of the slowly hardening mold my life has been in the past few years.

I spent the last few months reading about Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Sahara and have just started getting into India (thinking I might just have to go there). Wouldn't you know it, Judy was born there and had written a book about it. Her mother had moved there with her husband and they had lived a magical life with a big house and quite a few servants. The book was a fascinating read. To be reading about someone's life as you live with them is a unique experience. Both Judy and Ross had been back to India a few times.

It was a great week. Judy celebrated her 60th birthday. Lots of family and friends visited. I joined Ross for his weekly peace rally in Courtenay and really enjoyed helping them work on their property.

The picture above says a lot. Ross is a bicycle designer, Judy is in a wheelchair. A very cool couple.

Let your freak flag fly

3 days of music, fun and sun! What a great way to spend a weekend. I've been in B.C. almost 2 weeks. Stayed a few days with Becky and family in Victoria, then up to Courtenay to visit Michelle, spend a few days with brother Jon in Comox, see Jo-Anne and family and back to Michelle's to start checking out Woofing farms.

Michelle was lucky enough to scrounge weekend passes to the Vancouver Island Music Fest. We spent all day Saturday there, checking out various artists, doing a bit of shopping, eating and swimming. It was hot, damn hot! The weather was gorgeous all weekend. I went there Friday afternoon and was there all weekend except to sleep at Michelle's. I absorbed everything I could. Would have camped there if possible. There were musicians from all over the world and I still only saw 1/2 of them. This means that I could have gone to the festival and had just as an amazing time, seeing completely different bands. Too cool!

The event was extremely well organized. It's the festival's 15th year and there has obviously been quite a bit of talent behind the scene for those years. Everything just worked. The crowd ran the gamut from babies to aging hippies and everyone was in a mellow, friendly mood.

An amazing weekend. A special memory. Hey! I got to see Arlo and Los Lobos. Jim Byrnes and Eric Bibb. Wow! So much fantastic music.

Ready...Set...JUMP!

The planning is all done, the job is gone, the homestead is as stable as I can get it, Regina is ready to take over the running of the house and I am on my way! Who knows what the next 6-12 months will bring. One thing you can be sure of...it will not be the steady job/paycheck, cubicle-based lifestyle of the last few decades.

Christmas this year may see my nuclear family spread across the globe. Regina might be in New York for a visit, Emily might have moved from Florida to California, Sophie may well be in Korea and I will hopefully still be on the road, maybe still in New Zealand.

I have a bit of $$ that fell out in the retirement process, my health is an asset and my headspace is ready to see more of the world. I'm ready!