all good things must come to an end

So it has come to pass, that I sit here, in the Alley Cat Cafe, drinking my immunitea, eating my banana muffin and thinking how great it will be to be back home in less than a week. Some people may have doubted this, but during it all I had never thought it would end any other way. Thats not to say that I haven’t been enjoying my stay here – still. But I think it has come time to have a break from the US, and be back home with family and friends – just to be there will be awesome.

Having been on the road now since mid December the temporary nature of life has taken its toll, and the need to relax has overcome the desire to get as much pow pow as possible. Hence, today I find myself relaxing in FoCo. With the warmth of the sun and the chill air flowing round me I took my borrowed wheels on down through campus for one last hair cut and beard trim – wont get any of those any more. The cough and cold that has been harassing me for the past two weeks seems to be melting away, and I realise that wrest is really an understated commodity.

Between coughing fits I have been in and out of FoCo. Traveling with Anna and Roh we have covered some ground starting with ice climbing where Ed and Danny provided some great entertainment. Our home was the bowling alley car park in Leadville which also had breakfast and just so happened to be the highest elevated town in North America. We found ourselves back country in Climax – an old mining town and shredded the nar in Winter Park with some awesome pow pow. Later we visited the highest suspension bridge in the world – apparently, and a salad in the snow. Boarding down The Great Sand Dunes gave us some sore, funny and sandy moments. The next morning though was pure bliss in the Mt Princeton Hot Springs and helped relieve some congestion. Matt, Molly and Megan joined us in Copper for a day of fun on the mountain. Molly’s family’s condo is so good, and I’ll always have the best memories of the place, especially getting stuck in the elevator thanks to Molly’s search for adventure. Winter Park was great again, the best skiing so far I’d say, which may not be that good but given the season here it was pretty awesome. Good powder, fun tree sections and plenty of jumps available for the taking.

With only four more days to play things are winding down, one or if I’m lucky two more days of skiing but mostly it will be time to appreciate what has come and gone, the experiences and lessons learned and the friends who will hopefully be more than just a 5month part of my life.

The Triffecta Christmas Experience

With roughly four weeks under our belt we’re still going strong and the long drives have been less of a drain than expected thanks to some good conversation, company and music. The west’s moody clouds failed to dampen our spirits, Seattle kicked us off, a visit to the Space Needle and the Human Body Exhibition as well as a loud fish market were the most memorable moments. A drive round the Olympic NP and some twi-geeking hotspots were a bonus detour on our way to Portland – our Christmas destination.

After a trip out in Oregon nearly blew us away, Vancouver lent some sunshine and whistler was picture perfect – it was a pity though the snow wasn’t the same. Onward, our journey took us from moody weather to just plain gloomy, which after a week, began to take its toll. We met a few unique individuals such as Andrew’s favourite cancer survivor from Boise, our favourite motel receptionist from the Sundance Inn in Jackson and Shelby from our favourite mom and pop shop in a random town in SD who educated us that malt and latte’s didn’t just come as malt and latte. The Tetons – much to Andrew’s disappointment – remained clothed in thick cloud cover for the duration of our stay in the Grand Tetons NP. Moose were a great highlight though, as well as a successful completion of our first junior ranger program.

Further along our journey West Yellowstone gave us some top snow shoeing and cross country skiing thanks to the lovely ladies from The Heel and Wheel which just so happened to provide some decent coffee too! – needless to say we ended up there a few times. Snowmobiling into Yellowstone – yes, awesome again, to visit ye ol faithful and her friends in the geothermal zone of Yellowstone. North Yellowstone a few days later yielded more awesomeness with a dip in the boiling river, some more cross country skiing and a visit to cook city through fresh snow was a bit surreal and almost like entering another land compared to the north west side of the park.

The driving doesn’t end but it doesn’t seem to get tiring either which is probably testament to our frequent rest stops – or driver swaps. Now its off to South Dakota via The Devils Tower which we see nicely silhouetted against the night sky. Thrashing our Kia through a semi cleared snowbank on our way to Badlands NP had us guessing whether we’d make it for a moment. On the other side we were all smiles although the snowplough driver failed to see our exhilaration. Mt Rushmore (tick) was a little smaller than expected, Crazy Horse a little less developed  than expected but the surprise package was the Mammoth grave at Hot Springs. A concentrated deposit of Mammoth remains in a sinkhole provided us something pretty unique.

Coming back to Colorado though was like coming home, even though it wont be home for much longer it has become a comfortable place to live, familiarity with the mountains, the city and the people. We get a day there, which is mostly spent faffin about old town, a brewery tour of New Belgium and a deli/sandwich bar were popular stops.

Again we hit the road, this time after our first breakfast burrito from Big City. We are off to Telluride, for 5 days and despite the less than average snow base it is a week I will look back on with great memories. Especially tumbling down a couple of black runs, and leafing down some moguls, thanks to Molly’s lead.  Andrew and John ran round the mountain ticking off the runs and despite a knee jerk, Johns skiing came a long way, as well as Andrews turns.

Well a quick visit to Mesa Verde NP, Arches NP and Canyonlands NP pretty much finished us off. An asian dining experience that was surprisingly good and a Hockey game which was a little one sided and a tea factory tour were and eclectic mix to bring us to the end of the trilogy christmas experiences with John and Andrew. And thats not to mention Marcellas random introduction at the end.

…sigh

Closure. Normally you need closure over an unpleasant experience. But for me now, its closure over the past 4-5months. It feels like an end of an era, English have gone home, Aussies have departed on their separate adventures, Americano’s have disappeared back to their respective families and soon, I too will be departing the great state of Colorado for more fun and adventures.

I have been taken under by a cold over the last couple of weeks and with finals and last minute assignments and a bunch of people to say goodbye to I didn’t have much time left in it for anything else but sleep. Actually, thats not quite true as I did find time to snowboard – which, with my speed improving along with my abilities, is becoming more and more fun.

And so now, in the serenity of my own company, and with nothing beckoning but an airport waiting lounge and a 2hr plane flight I feel very quite ready for the change of pace and company when I meet up with A&J this evening. I’m not sure how it will play out exactly, not sure how the energy within will reveal itself during the next 3-4 weeks but at the moment I’m just happy its there. So, I have no expectations over the next few weeks other than the will to enjoy it, relax, and soak up the friendships, American people and countryside.

… some reflection?

Now, thinking over the past 4months its hard to see where I came from and where I am now and what all went on in between. And I won’t hide the fact that I’ve got to know more women here as friends than I have guys, which I think has always been easier for me to do. I have done more outdoor activities than I have in the past few years combined, I have done more drinking than I have in the past few years combined and I have made more friends than I have in the past 10 years combined.

But what does this tell me? Actually it might be an opportune moment here to say that anyone who knows me and wants to offer some outside perspective on this I’d love to hear it – if you want to give it. I have learned a few things from this, some I’ll recognise and some will go unnoticed. And I suppose all of life is a growing experience anyway so maybe this is not that bigger deal. One thing I do think though is that this has been a making-up-for-lost-time kinda experience. So, it is what I wished I had the chance to experience years ago – something I needed to experience and get out of my system before I could move on to bigger and better things. I’m not sure if the wrest of my time here will just be an extension of that or if it will now change to a new phase, where I’ll search for new interests, but I guess time will tell. This may sound obvious, but life seems to about doing the things, achieving the things that you’ve always wanted to (no matter how lame), and through that you grow, and through that you realise new things you want to achieve, and hence – hopefully – grow more.

Well, I think I’ve come to the end of my time here – at the Wild Boar at least anyway. Go home, lunch, finish packing, clean, and then I must head off… there’s always more adventures to be had!

skippidy doo da

As I muster up my creative inspiration over a latte and an almond pastry my thoughts are taken back to late october… its a little while ago now and I think I’ll have to skip one or two ‘moments’ to get me through to a more present date. But I shouldn’t skip Halloween. Its on Saturday, but for some reason this year I end up with some people who want to start Thursday. I have borrowed some of a pirate costume off Becca and have bought myself some dreadlocks and hat for a wig. We get plenty of attention being some of few that have taken to the costumes early, and its a great laugh and a good time. The next night it starts all over again but I don’t enjoy it quite as much because of my lost wallet from the night before. And then by Saturday night, I think we’re all too tired to really enjoy it… which just goes to show our exuberance didn’t quite align with our physical capabilities! lol

I begin to get into a habit of regular brewery tours which has only recently been broken due to thanksgiving break. But I don’t seem to get bored of them and the high octane beers seem to always bring me to the end of the tour a happy man.

Kevin, Lowden, Anna, Meredith and myself attend our first hockey game of the season which offers a good deal of getting a free Av’s game which gets played next week. The Av’s are the Colorado hockey team, and the games are pretty big. I really enjoyed watching the college games so it’ll be awesome to see the real deal next Friday.

I finally get my hands on a snowboard. 100dosh for the board, bindings and boots which is a pretty good deal… although I’m already wanting to upgrade! lol… typical. Anyway, after Kev helps out with a wax, its off to Copper Mountain for my first weekend up in the mountains. There is a big group of us, and we all bundle into Molly’s condo for a fun weekend… and my first day on a board! Needless to say I ended up on my arse a good number of times on my first run. But thanks to Molly’s tip on the falling leaf I was soon slinking my way down the mountain. After that I was up and going and falling over was more related to trying to get on the toe side of the board which proved tricky, but on my second day I had it going well… although it still requires some concentration on technique… talk about tiring! But so much fun to do wel and I can’t wait to get better!.. hopefully.

Somewhere, 3 weeks from when I lost my wallet I finally get it back from the pOlice. What a tail chase that was. But I was lucky to get it back so I wasn’t complaining… at least not to their face. Some live bands during the last week before break make it a fun week and especially on Thursday night… seems to be when I have the most fun, probably because I’m normally well rested! But for some reason it started well and just kept goin all night. Ended up sleeping the night at the lads and had a casual stroll back home in the morning with Anna… via mugs 4 breakie. Hmm, pleasant and peaceful as I remember it, which was noice

snowie

The weather can be rather moody here, snow comes and snow goes, and sometimes shorts are an option too. But despite the many and varied activities life seems to be settling into a rhythm, and I am finding my apartment more enjoyable for relaxations and entertainment on the odd occasions too.

Tardiness on my posts takes me back a few weeks to when my bike was stolen at Colins army party, which was perfectly placed to give me no sleep for the next days hike up to Grey Rock and climbing with the NRRT350 team. It was a good day but there was something about the day that just didn’t seem to settle on me quite right. It was perfect weather, still, clear blue skies but despite this I wasn’t overly captivated by it. Maybe it was just me, and maybe my memory remembers it differently to how it was, but the climbing routes I couldn’t find enjoyable and despite my camera having a huge fall and surviving I still couldn’t get excited.

Nevertheless, the beauty about days is that each one is a new one  and the next day I enjoy a more casual day and my first visit to Boulder. Its a pretty nice city, no building is higher than 3 levels so as not to block out the views of the flat irons on the mountains above. I like its open street mall and relaxed ambiance but there is something about the city that stops me short of liking it too much. Maybe its that it feels more like a city, and it might be that it feels a little too planned, and lacks the random individuality and organic growth of a truly unique town.

So as time moves on I get acquainted with football which is good fun, not because of the game but because of how enthusiastic everyone is over it. Any score is wildly celebrated, and active participation is something that I get used to. I see some more of the Poudre Canyon from a rock climbing perspective… its just a shame I suck at it. A drive to Denver for the art museum, some chilly weather and the very tacky Casa Bonita which was so overrated it was beyond disappointing.

That chilly weather turns into more snow, this time the snow is too much for many trees which drop their branches from the weight of the snow. It makes for an awesome transformation, and my lack of exposure makes it even more entertaining. This time I enjoy the fact that my face  is being covered in snow, my feet are starting to get wet but I don’t seem to be feeling cold… I swear its colder in Tassie at +10c. A big arse snowman emerges from the foot of snow thats fallen and pizza, wine, cheese and dancing at Merediths place with her flatties makes for a random finish to an already special day.

 

pewy

well, my list of things to do is piling up, but I finally lodged my tax return thanks to mums data mining and it seems I’ve been wasting alot of time looking online for cheap snow gear – and I still haven’t bought anything… hmm, maybe I should shop online more often. In any case, this weekend I think I’m pretty tired (whats new hey) and the weekend is meant to be spent in the mountains on a ice mountaineering workshop. But as the weekend draws nearer, the weather starts to turn icy, and our trip is canceled which is quite a bummer as it would have been an awesome experience… and just an fyi, snow is normally unheard of this early(17th of Oct i think) and by friday night it is snowing crazily. So after the homecoming parade which is really quite average I’d have to say – but amusing – and absolutely freezing too. We got frizzled at the bomb fire as the snow started to blow in and the wrest of the night we warmed ourselves up with some dancing at Luckies with Shane, Ryan and Wes and a little more on the way home in the Van.

Alternate plans turned to a day in the mountains with the CSU international community and oddly enough turned out to be warmer in the mountains than back at FC. It wasn’t as adventurous as what I’m used to, but the rollerskating was quite a challenge – and lead to Matt breaking his leg! oops. Anna and I sung to everyone – give me a home among the gum trees, and by the days end I was well stuffed (probably more attributable to the previous nights events).

I can’t really recall sundays events… but I think later that night we visited Matt, to check up on the aftermath of yesterdays rollerskating, and helped Meredith with an apple spice cake… yum, hadn’t had one of those in a while… and it was still cold… brr. But I  I haven’t really been cold since. Its so much easier to handle it here, and I think its because its not normally windy – thank goodness for that!

time is not constant

Its funny how even with the lack of sleep, time seems to still be motoring along like it has something to catch up to. I’m pretty sure my posts are getting further behind, and maybe thats because I lack the mental energy required to bash them out – which may or may not be attributable to my increasing sleep deficit. There is snow falling outside the window as I sit in the Alley Cat, drinking extra hot coffee with a lemon poppy seed muffin, which is giving me a rather mellow mood.

While its a shame the time is going so quick here, it is just as shameful that when I look back I struggle to remember all the good times I’ve been experiencing here. Luckily however, photos bring them flooding back. Like Annas and my awesome bike ride around fort collins, which we only really made it half way cause we got sidetracked by Odells and decided we’d do some homework with a few beers. Something which Meredith and Kevin gladly joined us for.

Later that week Sheryl plays in the orchestra, and I manage to squeeze in some more brewery visits with a few comrades from the NRRT350 class. The weekend, as usual, provides more outdoor entertainment with a rock climbing trip at Table Mountain in Golden and then a mountain climb up Pittingell Peak with the Outdoor Club. The climb is warm given the wind and snow we were expecting, but the summit provides some rather brisk conditions, which make me thankful of the mild temperatures below. That night was enjoyed with some half price meals and pints at CB Potts – Sunday nights after 9.

 

 

A Weekend in the Wilderness

A journal of the Wilderness Leadership weekend at Pingree Park – an edited version.

I like friends, I like aussie rules football and I like beer, and that is how it started on Friday night. I guess it was a big night, heaps of face paint, heaps of yelling and somehow between then and Saturday morning I found myself riding my bike with Anna and two mates, up Shields St in the bitter cold at 10 to 7 in the morning in search of a breakfast burrito from Qdoba.  Anna joked how funny it would be if we bumped into Rodney and no matter how unlikely, that is how it happened. As we arrived Rodney was there, meeting us at the door, and I think my greeting was a little over ambitious for that time of morning especially given the state of my face – still painted (or smeared) in the St Kilda team colours.  Our awesome friends ordered a burrito and coffee as Anna and I made a mad dash back to our apartments to pick up our gear, I furiously cleaned up my face which proved more difficult than I had imagined. But was back at Qdoba to pick up our breakfast and headed off, wobbling down the road with our burrito and coffees in hand by half7.

The atmosphere of the wilderness crew seemed a little subdued, and I gather the impression that I’m not the only one suffering from lack of sleep. But we all pile into the ‘party van’ and have a sleepy drive up the Poudre – so peaceful and so helpful to my state of consciousness! We arrived and soon were in our cook groups heading up the trail to the loooove shack. Walking and talking we are all captured by the beauty of the aspens turning from fiery red, thru brilliant orange to mellow yellow.

After a quick bite at the love shack, new groups are formed for the second phase of our hike – bush bashing up to the top of the tree line. So, in a new group, which just so happens to click rather well, we take it in turns to navigate up, through the forest. We are all capable, and are all relaxed enough to let each other lead – or maybe its just that we’re too tired. Walking up through the forest was pretty choice, no defined track, ducking, weaving, the clean fresh air and the periods of crisp snow under foot.  Meredith found herself upside down at one stage – the weight of her pack too heavy to pull herself out of the logs she was wedged in. So despite a few nervous moments we made it to the top of the clearing in good time. We played a few games; although I’m not exactly sure what kind of game involves sitting on me in a squat position but it was fun anyway, a circular massage and then a human table idea which somehow we managed to pull off, and was a lot of fun. An hour or so laying on the ground using each other as pillows and having a snooze was awesomely relaxing and capped off our hike perfectly.

I am cold now, most of the clothes I packed are on my back and we quickly break into our hike groups to share our good and bad experiences for the day. Bed comes soon after admiring the stars and I decide to sleep open under the trees. With Meredith (such a cool name that one) as company we chat about the warmth of our OAP sleeping bags and how glad I am that I didn’t bring my own. But eventually drowsiness takes over our conversation and leads us to sleep… only to wake up sometime later, the wind is strong and sounds like a never ending wave crashing on the beach. My nose is cold, which sometimes spreads to my face and ears. I also find it difficult to lay still, the slope gradually tugging me down the hill and my liner twisted inside my bag slowly restricts my rotations and makes it even more uncomfortable. Nevertheless, I do manage to find another hour or two of sleep.

Up and at em! Noice sunrise over the mountains – our direction for our hike this morning, and it is nice to be snapped out of my semi conscious slumber. I’m now looking forward to breakfast and a hot drink – a coffee thanks to Cole. Most of us may have lacked sleep but there was no lack of enthusiasm as we head off from our windy home. Walking out I hear someone saw moose. And so I keep looking toward the tree line as we rock hop our way up the mountain. We are forced to change direction and so I take the opportunity to search the scrub and I see a tanned blob moving against the sway of the branches. This was awesome, my first male moose and a good view too from above.

Today we climb Fall Mountain, its good fun, a decent hike but not too taxing and we all make it to the top. These are good times, and there feels like good vibes amongst the whole team. The walk back down is also good, and a snow fight between Meredith, Anna, Melissa, Kevin and myself was pretty spontaneous, a great laugh and left me shaking snow out of my dacks as we continued walking down the mountain. The walk down to Pingree saw the end to our camp trip which was full of kisses (Hersheys) and some quality conversation topped off a great weekend.

Aussie Rules

This is the week of the AFL grand final and so a party is organised for Friday night, the Arctic Monkeys are playing in Denver and this weekend is a camping trip through NRRT350. I have been busy searching for an aussie rules footy ball, and I find that Denver (Bulldogs) has a team which trains on Wednesdays. So, this coincides nicely with our attending the Arctic Monkeys, and make a detour to pick up the ball.

I’m not sure what I was expecting but the crowd definately weren’t as into it as I thought and getting pumped up was hard. But, they were awesome to hear live, and the Air Born Toxic Event – who followed – were top entertainers and their songs were easy to get into. A few overpriced beers didn’t go astray either and lubricated a pretty choice evening with my flattie – Ramin, Sheryl and Anna.

I can’t recall Thursdays events but I’m sure its all in preparation for Friday, I organise for an introduction to Aussie Rules on the CSU IM fields which is great fun. Luke and Anna help out with introductions and after a bit of practice we play a game between about 14 of us. Its fun to see some panic with the ball, others dedication on the ground and how most loose the concept of hand balling with someone on their heels. All the guys and girls have fun and enjoy a good laugh at least every 5 seconds.

When finally the light fades and we’re all too tired to keep playing anyway, we split and meet together in another hr or two at The Stonehouse, a sports bar in old town. But thats not before getting some makeup out and lathering up the face with a good covering in the team colours. Anna is Geelong and I’m St Kilda. We get some funny looks on our ride there but I’m not sure whether its the face or the balloons attached to my bike… maybe a bit of both. The bar isn’t too busy and so we take up residence in front of the big screen with a channel change just in time for the kick-off. The boys – Dustin, Ryan, Shane and Wes come, some peeps from the outdoor club and a few others and face paint is a great novelty to get everyone in the mood to support their adopted teams. Its great fun and a great night, one which we almost get kicked out after a glass gets knocked off a ledge and almost collects the manager below… “we’re going to have to ask you guys to leave”… “no, no your not” which just so happens to be a great laugh – afterwards. Despite the 7:30 start in the morning the night continues with a random ride in some dudes truck and a few more drinks down the road. That night/doesn’t see any sleep but does see an interesting morning, as the start of a new adventure with the wilderness leadership team begins.

Procrastinations a bitch… study is even worse

Finally I am in a week where I feel I must study… or do I? I make an effort every now and again… or, actually I know I keep procrastinating until Thursday and now that its here I still struggle to get any meaningful amount done. Today is the new presidents inauguration and there is free lunch on campus. The amount of free stuff on offer here is truly awesome, but I know we’re paying for it in fees, so I don’t hold back and make sure I get enough for tomorrows lunch too. Cam the ram is there, looking utterly depressed as usual. Sheryl is there, in true Sheryl fashion making plans for Jason Mraz while Anna and I check out a bald eagle and wander round fishing for more freebies. We do succeed eventually, catching some free transfort T’s. We jump on a multi-cycle with some other randoms – its a spirited but short joy-ride.

Time is disappearing fast and tentative plans for a salsa dance that night are snuffed out. Sheryl is keen to join me for some study and so we settle in at the Alley Cat for a coffee and a browse over the text books. People are calling me, and I feel my grip on bond yields weakening, and before long, my mind has has completely abandoned debt securities and is looking forward to a few brewskies up the road with the boys. Its pretty helarious, made even more so when some cops turn up to break up the ‘party’, there is 5 of us and they look bitterly disappointed by the poor show… Wes tries his best to entertain them tho and its not long before we’re all givin ourselves hernias as they head off in hope that their next call offers them something more entertaining.

Well, despite 4hrs sleep, i get up and attend an exam at 8 the next morning and it seems to go ok. I have an assignment due Monday too but continuing in the same vein as my last test I leave it to the last minute. I am enjoying this late night study business actually and find it clears a whole lot more time during the day for other frivolities… like brewery tours. The Lads, Anna and I head up New Belgium and enjoy the free tour and the free sampling, which ends with a free postcard opportunity destined for Anna’s folks. That night Elizabeth is playing, an open mic night at the Alley Cat- that girl’as got talent. The evening ends up a late one after visiting the really tacky bondi beach bar, we enjoyed the 4 aussie songs tho but missed out on the free fosters – probably the only time I’d drink it – and ended up the night or early hours of the morning at Colins and Andy’s place listening to John Butler, looking thru Colins slide show and trying to play the didg.

Saturday, the late nights are wearing on me, and tonight its decided a camping trip is in order, Becca is keen and Anna and I make no hesitation. Indian Peaks Wilderness, its the first glimpse of some turning Aspens, squirrels help themselves to our almond mm’s which we still haven’t tried yet and sleep eludes me yet another night. Beallagh gets initiated on a 2mile hike up to diamond lake and that afternoon I sit down and try to start my assignment due the next day. Oopsie daisy Sheryl, water is suddenly everywhere my computer absorbing most of it through the keys. Shit, poop, bugger. My notes are spread out over the kitchen, only to be burnt moments later when a hotplate is turned on to boil some water. Its a comedy of errors but I’m to tired to care, and although Sheryl feels bad I am kind-of grateful that I have been released from the late night study tomb that I otherwise was destined for.