jfin is here…

Drove up to Vancouver with Hill on Friday evening, collected Kirsty & Mike (after checking out their nice new digs), and then drove on through to Whistler Village. Only about 5 hours driving time, not too bad at all.

Snowboarding on Saturday, cruising around the Blackcomb side of the resort. Spent some of the afternoon watching the Superpipe and then in the evening the Big Air that were part of the Telus Ski & Snowboard Festival. Skiers were most impressive, throwing down huge 1080’s in the pipe and even a 1200 off the table. Whistler Blackcomb is huuugee, I can see why people rave about the place. Can’t wait to go back on a real powder day.

Sunday was sleep-in, followed by a short drive and then stroll around Squamish - a world-famous bouldering and rock climbing destination. Took our shoes and the pad and tried a few of the easier problems but it continues to be a reminder for me of just how weak I am. :)

Uneventful drive back .. the road border checkpoints are much more relaxed than airports.

Photos here.

.. to find the one with the lease for my old Sunnyvale place. Which it turns out I had agreed to move in to on May the 1st. Last year.

Which is indeed funny, because I’ve just found and agreed to move in to my new Seattle room (Kirkland to be precise). But that won’t happen for a few weeks. On May the 1st. This year.

Funny how things can change over a year. :)

Listening to: Fela Kuti - Mistake (Live at the Berlin Jazz Festival, 1978)

… they like their beers dark.

And it’s definitely grown on me. The Black Butte Porter from the Deschutes Brewery (in Bend, OR - near Smith Rock) is awesome. The Obsidian Stout is also good.

Anyway, it’s (nearly) the weekend. Stop surfing the Interwebs on your computer, go get a group of people together, and play Telephone Pictionary. It’s fun.

Listening to: James Brown - I Got You (I Feel Good)

.. but then 5.30pm, hiking up Alpental with Hill, boards strapped to backs. 6.30pm, standing at the top of Armstrong’s Express, with snow falling and blue-turning-pink sky above. 6.40pm, riding deep soft fluffy dry fresh through the trees, leisurely turns down the completely deserted skifield towards the base lodge. 7pm .. hiking again, for another sweet sweet run. :)

Not half bad for a spring Monday evening, and quite possibly last ride of the season. Now this lifestyle, I could get used to.

Packed up the car and drove north for 14 hours over the weekend.  845 miles, approx 1350 kilometres.  For context, Auckland to Wellington return is about 1280 kilometres. I’m now officially a Seattleite.

Listening to: The Black Heart Procession - It’s a Crime I Never Told You About The Diamonds In Your Eye