May 12, 2011

Inside of Outside

Woke at Buck. Cowboy Coffee. Yum. Morning song. Schlep. Pack-in. Grilled Sammies and French Onion soup. One of my fave lunches. Summer-ish weather today. Ran a missing person workshop w/Rob. Played Calvinball! Ha! Very fun. Deets, deets, deets. Helped plan lakeshore trip. Should be good. Played guitar with Anne. I love teaching one person, one thing, at one time. Talked w/ Sarah. She says I'm good @ helping ppl process their own thoughts. Sociopolitical environmental discussion w/ folks and to bed.

May 11, 2011

Inside of Outside

Day Run today! So tired to wake up. Good to be headed to the river though. Paddled w/AD. Sweet surf and headstand@Island. Taught WORMS. Interns are starting to get paddling Ohio and Steve ran Rifle left side creek-sneak. Post-split rock is a wash out. Ran Thread the Needle @ Rackett. Schlepped gear to camp @ Buck. Camp efficient. Felt good to sit. Did Risk Management night. Trev did most of the talking. Awesome principles in discussion. Anne acts an awesome dog. Hilarious. Chilled on point with Elle. Campfire, Euchre, and Guitar. Beautiful upstream.

May 10, 2011

Inside of Outside

Drove to Slate. Had to TL interns again. Really just their details though. Paddle training from Slate to Blue. Gus and me dumped in a back ferry demo. Interns did great. More swimming today. Blueberry Islands course is awesome. Programming stress fell off my shoulders today. 1st time I felt fully relaxed since Japan. Got huffy w/Emma over barrels and tents. Wilno Night! Saw Arthur, Pat. This BA crew likes to party. People dancing on tables. Danced a lot. Lots of good energy coming @ me from all. Went for a really nice walk w/Anne.

May 9, 2011

Inside of Outside

Early wake. Pull together last minute details for paddling days. Feel slightly unprepared. Loaf and Trev filled in lots of holes. My teaching was a bit dry. People getting it though. Got called a hard-ass today! Died laughing over that. Set up a Tyrolean @ the Ropes Course. Great practice. Started to get into the groove. Still feel like I have a bit of life to catch up on. Could really use a day off.

May 6, 2011

Inside of Outside

So good to be@BA. Great to catch up w/Joe! Sarah, Owen. Trev and Emma too. Met Ashley, Riley, Anne-Marie Caroline Phillips, Tristan. AM is great to chat to. Stranger is super fun. STeve says community buoyant w/my return. Already the whole staff has collectively mocked my laugh and chanted my name. Trying to plan while jet-lagged on 3 hours of sleep is tricky. River is HIGH. Watched some ropes. Trying to translate decades of paddling terms is also tricky.

May 5, 2011

Inside of Outside

Walk in the park w/bros, rents, sisters-in-law and nieces. Not present today. Or yesterday really. Mind already @BA. Good to spend a last few grumpy-ish hours wi/fam though. Pack-up and goodbye to Japan. Flew back @ the same rate the world spins. Gave my email to a pretty girl. Watched The Way Back and The Mechanic en francais. Grandpa went w/ U. Richard. I went to Mec. Bought Pogies and a siltarp. Met up w/Allison for coffee and a chat. Always great to see her. Great conversations always. Stayed twice as long as I meant to. Thought I saw something in her eye as I left. Sad goodbyes for another long time. Back @ BA for shower and guitar. Saw Owen!

Japan 5

Inside of Outside

Momentary ?? Directions to festival? Sachiko has them. Trek to the drum / azalea festival. Taiko cancelled. So sad. Jackie screams a mother's scream. Got ripped off for some delicious oranges. Traveling w/ 2 wheel chairs and 2 children takes a long time. Went to a park, a zoo. Saw Pygmy Hippos. Looked it in the eye. Saw sentience. Went shopping with A. Tash, Dustin, and Jackie. Tried on a lot of hats. Tempted to dress stylishly. Nap. Ramen dinner. So tired. 

Japan 4

Inside of Outside

Woke and trained, subwayed, and bussed to a nifty garden with some cool old pagodas and other buildings. Took some phots. Talked to Japanese woman about Canada. Went out for Sushi. My family ate Bluefin Tuna. I almost cried. Lots of fun with Alejandra today. Taught her about work, and money, and buying things. Wish I had a better thing to teach her. Pie with Matt, Sachiko, et. al. Dinner with the fam. Nice to get to know Sachiko a bit.

Japan 3

Inside of Outside

Slept for 3 hours. Then up to Tsukiji Fish Market. Denied entry to wholesale area and bluefin tuna auction. Wandered in 'accidentally.' So many fish and sea creatures. Saw row upon row of endangered bluefin. And whale meat! Horrible. Got kicked out. Wandered the rest of the market. Went to Akihibara, electronics central of Japan. Then Mt. Takao. Walked up. Nice to see some nature after Tokyo. Took a nap in the woods. Back to Shinjuku. Wow. So many people. So many Japanese people! Never seen a subway station so large or crowded. Density of ppl. Japanese women are beautiful. Dept Stores--Gucci, Prada, Balenciaga, blah, blah. Guard told me not allowed to sit on the ground. Maybe. Straight to the hotel and bed.

Japan 2

Inside of Outside

Slept in a little. Walked around town and found small local bkfst. Noodles and inari and egg. Delish. Lots of hotel hang time. Starbucks w/ Justin but no coffee. Wandered the streets. Dressed in a suit. Liked the look. Not comfy though. Hotel for wedding. Meet and greet in-laws and Japanese intros. Simple ceremony and gorgeous reception. Sachiko beautiful. Little children cute. Japanese-Cdn friendships. Food--amazing presentation. Braised endives, mushroom stuffed cabbage, sorbet de framboises. After party with Matt's friends.

Japan 1

Inside of Outside

Landed in Tkyo. Japanese service is amazing. Everything is small and crowded. At least buildings. Took a train to Nippori and met Mom and Dad. Subway to where ever we are now. Kanda? Alej and Rac are here! Played w/ Rac for a while. Alej fell asleep. Good to hang w/ family. Okimi aunts and uncles all-over. Great to see Justin and Shelli. Haven't since Sept. So much food! Packed gift bags w/ M & S. Poker to pass insomnia time.

Can, Ont - 17

Inside of Outside

Went to the grocery store. Not open. Waited. Nail treatment. Open! Bought 2 jumbo boxes of Shreddies to go w/ my soy milk. Met grandpa@airport. Dillon drop-off. Wheeled all around. Found A. ATash. Flight long. Watched many movies--Black Swan, A-Team, Kung Fu Panda, The Letter (great short), and my fave of the trip, You, Me, and All the People We Know.

Can, Ont - 16

Inside of Outside

Finish up last min deets and plan RM program w/ Trev. Pack-up. RJ! So good to laugh w/ her. Sad to leave. No deer leg this year. New interns for WAFA. Noel, Tony, Heather, Amanda, Mike. Played w/ Rook, hide and seek kinda and random stuff. Went to MKC and found my lost ring. Just where I thought it was. Drove to TO + slept in car near airport.

Can, Ont - 15

Inside of Outside

Put in four belay posts today. So much tamping. Done though, and ropes inspection too. Humid day. Interns arriving for WAFA. Theresa 1st. Seems nice. Kat, Mike, Zach, Ian too. Elle is back! Reminded me of conversation en route to Montréal--ok with being 2nd choice? Awesome sauna and a river jump! Ranch is beautiful@night. This place is energized w/ people.

Can, Ont - 14

Inside of Outside

Rainy. Dug more posts. Dealt w/ more details. Working as a duo is great sometimes and harder sometimes. ROb is back! UBC is getting closer. Japan more so. Justin got his job! Organized pictures and writings.

Can, Ont - 13

Inside of Outside

Dreamt of Autumn, and a bed sink, a plane to India, a little boy with internal bleeding, and KJ. Day off today. Yakked Chalet with Trev and ORCKA. Alright. Learning Naked as a Window by Josh Ritter. Finally starting to relax a bit. Facebooked Aus photos and caught up on stock research. Delicious cookies by Vince. Finished The Wire

Can, Ont - 12

Inside of Outside

Morning with ORCKA course. Learned 2x4 a new way. Back to BA. Moved rafts. Got a mission from Steve. Sunny! Spring is here. Dug two posts out and raked coals and straw@Ropes Course. Dinner. Love Vince's curry. Sauna. Hottest one yet. Registered for UBC, kinda. Ohio almost moved out on me for being an absent roommate.

Can, Ont - 11

Inside of Outside

Cleaned ropes and helmets all morning. Burger lunch and Barry's Bay with Vince. Got a watch and sharpies and sunnies. Fixed a barrel harness. Went to Steve's for a chat. Beautiful deck time and debrief Aus and Utah with Trev. Tom is here! More burgers and chill with Trev. Sign language is back.

Can, Ont - 10

Inside of Outside

People arriving! Rob! Ohio! Great to see people. ORCKA folks too. Trailers today. Tires and ropes and other stuff. Went for a paddle with Emma and Trev. Cold! Ran the middle chute. That was fun. Nearly pulled my skirt. Didn't. Donkey is here! with long hair.

Can, Ont - 9

Inside of Outside

Details, details. So many details. Inhaled lots of melted plastic. Snow all over. Beautiful. Good to see some snow. Emma! So good to see her. And Jeff too! Finished memorizing Boston. Looked for a house.

Can, Ont - 8

Inside of Outside

More boats. Look for lost boat. Not lost. Prepped Ranch. Prepped Vehicle Kits. SC Kits. Paperwork. Feel like I need to do more. So much to do. Chilled in the evening with Trev. Sauna and cooling off in the snow. Watched the Wire.

Can, Ont - 7

Inside of Outside

Office, office. Got outside! Did some physical labour. Moved lots of boats. Drove AD home. Forgot to fill gas. Had to go back. Hannah's is same. Got some choc soy milk. Sewed my fave shirt. NEY. Blog.

Can, Ont - 6

Inside of Outside

Another office day. So much office time. Got heaps done though. Manual finished. Sched finished-ish. Went for a paddle. High water. Cold! Brain freeze. Ice still on the river edge. Reorganizing stuff.

Can, Ont - 5

Inside of Outside

First Aid stuff. More paperwork. Guitar with Trev in the evening is great. Watched The Invention of Lying. Strange to work 9-5 at Boundless. My body thinks its in Australia.

Can, Ont - 4

Inside of Outside

Paperwork work. Lots of it. Planning. Prep. Living at Ranch is great when no one's around. Still trying to catch up on life.

Can, Ont - 3

Inside of Outside

1st day of work. Boundless is . . . same, different. Good to see AD, Gus, Loaf, ML. ADs for dinner. Rook is a great driver at 2 years. The addition looks great. Lots of windows.

Canada, Ontario, Day 2

Inside of Outside

Wake at a ridiculous hour. Unpack some. Pack some. Sleep. Sleep. Wake. Pack some more. Pick up car with Gramps. Stop by to see Kev and girls and F and F, and Grandma. Drive to Boundless. Always driving. See Trev! Sleep. Sleep.

Canada, Ontario, Day 1

Inside of Outside

Parents at Buffalo. Good to see them. Home drive. So tired. Start laundry and sleep. Sleep. Sleep. Wake. Do stuff. Made a ring with dad. Sleep.

Aus 81

Inside of Outside

Another early morning. To the airport. Leaving Australia. It's been good. Delayed flight. Missing hubcap. Flight attendants were matchmaking. Flew to LA. Missed connection. Flew to Chicago. Spent the night. Got to hang out with Katie! Very good to see her after several years.

Aus 80

Inside of Outside

Early, early morning goodbyes. Bittersweet. Sad to drive away from Mittagundi. Drove to Bendigo. Dropped off hired car, and went to B and C's. Very grateful.

Aus 79

Inside of Outside

Great morning. Played hide and seek with little kids. Went to the movies and arcade with the whole crew. Played video games and ate cheesecake. Drove back to Mitta. Best hot shower ever. Love wood fired showers.

Aus 78

Inside of Outside

Drive to Wangaratta. Oops. Left all my stuff at Typo. Music Festival with the whole crew. Sweet walk and fun in the creek. Naked man strainer. Waited for an hour for a burrito. So nice to rest my head. Ran a relay race with Becc. Good music, but best dancing with a DJ after the bands.

Aus 77

Inside of Outside

One more Hakka. Farewell to boys. Pack up and clean. Drive to Mitta. Chill. Watch the Lion King, and a warm cold night.

Aus 76

Inside of Outside

Journey day. Across the lake. Stop at rope swing. Hike. Cross the creek. Hike some more. Lunch by the river. Made an awesome rock tower. Creek walk for some. Hakka for all. Back to creek. Back to lake. Back to swing. Back to Typo. Learned how to play Aussie Footie.

Aus 75

Inside of Outside

Joinery day and blacksmith. Boys loved them both. They made cool stuff. I made Jarrah wood guitar picks. Don't work very well. Watched a movie under the stars. Beautiful. Learned how to play Rugby.

Aus 74

Inside of Outside

Chores. Went to the lake to canoe, fish, play. Boys rangy. Group chat. Better. Started learning a Hakka. Clare told Tavale it's my birthday, so everyone shook my hand today.

Aus 73

Inside of Outside

Rode with Tavale to pick up guys. Rope? License plate? Hours later . . . Played I spy with high school boys. Ping pong all the time. Welcome chat. Swimming hole frickin' cold. Drove to Paradise Falls. Shit show. Literally.

Aus 72

Inside of Outside

Early morning hike to breakfast at Langfords. Jane, Raku and Becc all showed up. Drove to Tawonga and de-issued, then to train and best lunch ever by Raku. Spent afternoon with Bec in Albury. Went to the movies! Drove to Typo and got settled. Longest wood-fired shower ever.

Aus 71

Inside of Outside

Beautiful, beautiful high plains. Great weather. Ate lunch in a tree. Hiked / Ran to the top of Mt. Nelse. Some grumps. Camped by the Octopus tree. Played Sardines and ate couscous. End of trip chat. Took Sampson for a walk under the stars.

Aus 70

Inside of Outside

Woke guys with pterodactyl noises. Final pack-up, photo, and walk out. Another quick hike. Made camp hours before sunset. Word games by fire. Played celebration, funniest game ever. Also song wars. Sampson is good. Bec and I spent time with him in the evening.

Aus 69

Inside of Outside

Rafted with Bec, Becc, and Mike. Did safety talk. Mike wrapped a raft. Guys had a great day. Waterfights galore. Sun everywhere. Bec and Becc failed to get me out of my raft, but close. Jane gave me a beautiful rock. Learning how to juggle long skinny things. Birthday goodbye party at Ians! Blindfolded, kidnapped, and awesome food. Cake, lion suit, piano playing, and a pylon. Amazing.

Aus 68

Inside of Outside

Day out with Tavale and the Yea school guys. Rafted this time. Surfed a long raft-y thing. Tackled Kim into the river. Got tackled back. Drove back to Mitta. Tired of driving. Stargazed with Jane. Good night.

Aus 67

Inside of Outside

Day of Abseiling. Spent most of day playing mind and word games. Got the blokes hooked. Practiced twirling my stick. Getting pretty good. Awesome view of valley and river. Drove back to Alex and car slept.

Aus 66

Inside of Outside

Porridge so common now I forget to mention. Farm day! Chopped wood with blokes, then made morning tea and lunch. Spilled hot tea on my ankle. Ouch. Huge blister. Made pasta salad lunch. Afternoon in the orchard. Pokémon themed mafia.

Aus 65

Inside of Outside

Hung Becc's pack in a tree. More hiking. Jumped the creek. More silence. More stick twirling. Pack so heavy. Stopped by a stream for a water fight. Saw a cool bidirectional bug. Bread is awesome. Walked into Mitta to warm welcome. Had to run to the dunny. Dinner and relax. And mafia.

Aus 64

Inside of Outside

Chocolate chip pancakes with a stranger for breakfast. Picked up by the crew and headed to Wild Horse Creek to hike. No horse though. Stick twirling begins. Silent hikers, but fast. Lunch spot and the carrot war begins. Evening of bowl frisbee and mafia.

Aus 63

Inside of Outside

Day with Tavale and the Alex school guys. Good crew. They rafted. I canoed. Laughed. Splashed. Fun times. Stopped at OEG. Saw Laura! Had to get past the secretary though. Drove back to Mt. Beauty.

Aus 62

Inside of Outside

Prep in the morning. Most everybody left. Lunch with Jacinta by the dam. Taught Party not to follow my car past gate. Drove almost to Alexandra and slept in the car by the side of the road. So much driving.

Aus 61

Inside of Outside

Spent the day in Mt. Beauty. Chilled in the laundromat. Back to Mitta. Rode Sampson and Phil bareback. Sampson is great. Phil is stubborn.

Aus 60

Inside of Outside

Built a bridge with Raku. Used Jarrah wood by accident. Kept a piece. Cleaned the showers and drying room with Jane. Got a tour of Ian's and Sean's from Jane. Beautiful over there, esp. Ian's. Drove to Tawonga to hang out with Arby at Arby's. Awesome. Dancing, tomato sauce fights, chilling on the roof. Raku climbed a huge pine. Inspiring. Toby . . .