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.

more fun in the lack of sun

Life is a cycle, and so another week has begun – in-fact this week is already half gone and is actually gone before i know it. Memory escapes me what are the occurrences, and if they are even interesting, but by Friday I find myself at a gym. Its at Miramont, $5 fridays with the outdoor club for climbing – a bargain, and so I don some shoes and a harness. Anna is with me, and is actually the main reason I’m here. I have never been enthusiastic about climbing, maybe its because its hard,  or maybe its because I think I suck. In any case I’m here, success keeps me going, failures give me something to think about and my forearms are killing me… but it wont be the first time I hit the ropes… or more appropriately – the wall.

Go green, go RAMS! The day is the first chilly one I’ve experienced since arriving at Fort Collins, its brisk, and its the first football game of the season – CSU Rams v Weber State. There are free shuttles, free food, free T’s, free pom poms, and some free face tattoos to really get into the spirit of the game. I give the pom poms a workout and do some chanting but this fails to ward off the cold which is slowly sinking into my core. Its not a standard game but the crowd is entertaining and a close finish helps me survive the 3+hrs in the cold.

Continuing in that vein, cold and tired, the last thing I feel like doing is riding my bike into old town, but with Anna by my side and in a similar state of consciousness we make the journey into old town somewhat laboriously. Its either Lucky Joes or the boys but something changes as soon as we get there and for the rest of the night its a mixture of yelling, laughing and peanuts which spills out onto the street after the bar has closed.

Despite the late night, Anna and I are up again, bright and early, although the day is anything but. The outdoor club is hiking grey rock and 33 +- take the opportunity. Its a gloomy day in Fort Collins but as we head into the mountains it brightens up and is actually a perfect day to get out of town. A decent good hike, some fun scrambling gets us to the top for a grilling with some snags and hotdogs. The type of meat here is something to get used to… kinda makes you want to be vegetarian.

… bugger me rubes! I find out that night that modest mouse and the yeah yeah yeahs are heading up a concert at red rocks… today! quite obviously too late to catch that one and was the last opportunity to get to the red rocks for a concert before winter. I feel bad about being so disappointed after such a good day, but it hovers over me, teasing me, taunting me as if it knows I have no argument to rid it… and its still there… in the back of my mind, opposing my usual disregard for disappointment. But I find it ok… I feel normal.