As per the unwritten Vancouver code I will be dedicating a large percentage of my weekend to the outdoors - the Grouse Grind to be specific. It's also known as "Mother Nature's Stair Climber," It is a 2.8km hike that takes you up the face of Grouse Mountain, at the end you end up climbing 853 meters... 1.5 times the height of Toronto's CN Tower (2,800 feet of elevation gain in just 1.8 miles of trail). Yes, folks in the period of 40 minutes (or less if you're super hard core) or more - did it in about an hour the first time up - you can have walked up one of Vancouver's most beloved mountains. And no, this is not a mountain like Burnaby - although that may actually take you just as long to climb as it's more sloped, this is a skiing mountain and straight up she goes, so much so it's normally a tram up to the top. So I'll be doing that twice this weekend. I think we've clarified I'm crazy already so are you really surprised? First time with the girls - Morgan and Kathleen - green as they go, and horrified - but I as I told Morgan it's really not that bad - it's just all the lamenting people do afterwards to make themselves sound like they really accomplished something - now the people who race the Grind - they have accomplished something.... Anyways, so Sunday casual, and Monday Sheldon will be successfully handing my ass to me as I'm likely curse and maybe even ralph* my way up the hill at a heart pounding 40minute pace - good gracious shave 20 minutes off the last time? If I do I can tell you the world will know. Other than that - dinner with Jess and Chris -I would even say inking time - but Sven hasn't gotten back to me with the translation and I'm not really looking for a guaranteed exit from the nest act right now - September maybe, but not right now - having it on my foot will piss her off to say the least - I mean she cried last time and I can hide it. I've got some vegan treats up my sleeves... and if I'm lucky I'll finish the bio I'm reading on Dorothy Day before I head back to the Grind next week. And for all those wondering - the run is happening tomorrow - and I'm giving the dating site one last crack purely for the moral support of a fellow Canadian gal - maybe there will be strength in numbers.
Picture couresty of Craig Zone
5 comments:
jenn...are you sure you'll be able to MOVE the day after nevermind do it again? kudos for the efforts though
stretch stretch stretch, before, after during, or you'll be in a world of pain the next day and mr. hockey is going to have to throw you over his shoulder
any thought to visiting again? this weekend wouldn't have worked but what about the next few?
haha, the last time I did it, it wasn't bad, so I figure it should be fine - we'll see. As to visiting ... the weekend of the 24th looks the best so far - it's the one with the most time off, now granted I don't know what's happening move and job wise - if that's happening at all - so I don't know
JENNIFER! seriously. this is the trip. do it: http://www.caminodesantiago.me.uk/
looks like it's a pilgrimmage that people take at their own pace. my girlfriend spent maybe $2000 incl airfare/food/board. she said 15 euros on food a day and 5 euros for the hostels where they all prayed and ate together (about $27 a day). $2000 for 1.5 months. that's cheaper than living in vancouver for 1.5 months. she said it was the best trip of her life (this coming from a girl that just came back from GREECE, not to mention all the other places she's vacationed). all the solitude (even though she went with friends), time to reflect, to meet people, and it's a great work out. she walked all day. every day. she did some walks from UBC to VGH and back with textbooks in her backpack to get ready for it. i think this is totally the thing for you. if i wasn't tied to this job, i would totally go with you, because i think it makes it that much better to go with someone. seriously. seriously. pray about this.
here's the link if you missed it
don't these photos look awesome? you can save the fancy pants paris and venice and everything else for somewhere in the distant future but this is such a great thing for the NOW....
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