Ultimate Everything

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September 15th 2007

Published: September 15th 2007

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Jono Dahna

the typical summit shot

from the top

This blog is in danger of becoming a photo blog at the moment, not that there is anything wrong with that. But words are hard to come by if they don't happen straight away. Events and conversations become a blur. I guess it is also that I am using words all day for work, so they get all used up by the end of the day.

I will try to write a little more regularly again, but in the meantime, here's a recap on the last couple of weeks:

Jono's parents - Marilyn and Richard - got here just over ten days ago have been renting out the house above our cozy little basement apartment again, like mum and Dad and J did. They are in Torronto at the moment visiting a friend, but will be back here again in a few
days.

Needless to say it has been great seeing them. Having friends and family around from home makes the world feel small. We have not
really done very much with them, mostly leaving them to be self sufficient tourists. A challenge they have taken in their stride, quite literally, when they walked all the way to

Damo taking in everything

and around Stanley Park from Waterfront station. Jonno took a day off work and took them up to Squamish to show them around, and show them our favourite piece of rock. (We are very predictable tour guides aren't we?) We all went for a bit of a paddle at Deep Cove on another day, Jono and I in our trusty sunny innova in the sun. I got drenched and noted that the water and air temperature both seemed to have taken a dramatic dive since I last went out with mum and dad. The weather though has turned on its absolute charm, to the point that I feel no one will believe me when I say that sun is a rare event here.

I haven't taken any days off but Jono and I both plan to take some time off in a week or so to go to the Rockies with Marilyn and Richard which we are excited about. Can't wait. Although, I don't think a week is going to be long enough for all the climbing, hiking, exploring, white water rafting and hot spring bathing I'd like to do there. But then life is not long enough for

Bertram experiencing the ultimate

all the (ready for the big list) climbing, hiking, traveling, bike riding, surfing, swimming, kayaking, camel riding (why not), scuba diving, hang gliding, reading, dancing, playing, writing, drawing, cooking, eating, drinking, talking, thinking I want to do. I cut the list short there, as I am sure you all know. Suffice to say, such is life. Enjoy what you get, and I am sure I will enjoy a week in the rockies. How could you not? It looks like an amazing landscape.

So, away from the future back to the past. Last Saturday Jono and I could not resist the temptation to climb on a sunny day, knowing that sunny days were going to end very very soon, when rain and grey skies will settle in and be our world for months. So M and R went and spent some time with Barb and Brian (the guys that they met on their Europe trip and that we have spent a bit of time with already over here.) And we... went climbing, just to be different.

It wasn't just an average day of climbing though, as the photos show. It was brilliant. We hooked up with Bertram and Damo

Damo

life, granite and everything

and did a 15 pitch climb - called Ultimate Everything, about 350 - 400 vertical meters. A satisfying and exhausting day of cracks and friction and slabs. I only led one pitch. But next time…

Now back to the present, and the dinner that Jono has made for me waiting on the table. Stir fry with fat rice noodles. Yum.

Additional photos below

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